Fleet Readiness Center Southeast Paraloft

They provide intermediate level maintenance, inspections, testing, checks and the calibration of all the aircrew survival equipment supporting the P-3, S-3, H-60, EA-6B and air wings. "We are pretty much suited to work with any and all aircraft survival and egress equipment," stated 800 Division Leading Petty Officer PR1(AW/SW/PJ) Paul Fazio.

The paraloft is capable of testing, repairing and servicing more than 12,000 different types of survival equipment each year. This division is also responsible for maintaining parachutes, life rafts, oxygen regulators and all other egress and life support systems.

PR2 Ryan Coomer reads through the electric package assembly instruction before working on the piece of equipment.

The paraloft is a highly demanding and important work center. "We are the life link between the aircraft and aircrew," said Fazio. "We can not afford to make any mistakes because the lives of the crews are in our hands."

The 800 Division consists of 40 highly trained and professional personnel. There are several shops within the 800 Division that work as a team to ensure all the equipment is returned to the commands in a timely manner. In the 81A shop, workers inspect, repair and pack all the parachutes. "We not only ensure that the chutes open properly, but they have to separate properly in the water as well," said PR2 Ryan Coomer.

The 81B shop is responsible for all the life rafts and associated equipment. "We ensure there are no leaks in the rafts and repair them if they find anything wrong," added PR2 David Chambers.

PR2 Chris Yarter unscrews a harness on a parachute to be replaced.

PRAN Pierre Pierre folds a LRU-13 seven-man life raft.

AZ2 Lawanda Manigault does quality assurance checks on all paperwork prior to issuing gear.