may retain an explosive residue capable of presenting a hazardous condition. The ejection seat, parachutes, and survival equipment with installed CADs must be stored and handled by authorized personnel only. They must be stored and handled only in an area designated and approved by the maintenance officer. Safety devices and pins must be kept in good condition and used only with the individual CAD for which they were designed. When a loaded cartridge-actuated device is not in use, the safety device or pin must be installed. Substitute materials must not be used to replace safety pins installed in CADs. If inlet and outlet ports are present in a CAD, they must be covered with a protective cap. If a protective cap is not available, you should use the shipping cap when the device is not installed. Except in an emergency and by proper authority, CADs must not be installed in or removed from aircraft during fueling or defuel- ing operations. CADs installed on or in ejection seats, parachutes, or survival equipment that remain installed during maintenance evolutions do not require removal prior to storage in the maintenance space. CADs removed from ejection seats, parachutes, or survival equipment must be properly safetied and protective caps and plugs must be installed as required. Removed CADs must be stored in a ready-service magazine approved for Class C ammunition storage unless they are required for reinstallation on the same day; in which case, they must be stored in the area approved by the maintenance officer. Markings When the sealed inner container of a CAD is opened, all CADs in the container must be stenciled with indelible ink to show the computed container open date and expiration date. Before inserting a cartridge in a cartridge-actuated device, the cartridge expiration date must be checked to ensure the cartridge will not become overage before the next periodic maintenance of the air- craft in which it is to be installed. Problem Areas The Naval Safety Center receives messages of interest to AMEs. The following paragraphs contain a few examples of some of the problems that have been received by the safety center related to ejection seats. Several instances have been reported con- cerning cartridges stuck in ejection seat systems. This problem is not new, but it still warrants concern as the problem still exists. Some of the causes of stuck CADs are overtorquing during installation, incorrect tools used for removal and installation, and the use of incorrect seals or lubricants. To avoid stuck CADs, you should ensure that correct procedures and parts are used during installation. If correct procedures are followed, the CADs should not stick and removal with the prescribed tool should be possible. Another message described two ejection seats that required 150 man-hours each to treat for corrosion. This is a tremendous amount of time to spend for corrosion control on ejection seats. If a unit waits until a major inspection cycle to treat a system for corrosion, it will require extensive man-hours to remove corrosive properties that have formed. Most metals will corrode, but the corrosion can be controlled. Remember, the 7-, 14-, and 28-day inspections provide the opportunity to discover corrosive areas and to treat them before they become major problems. Ejection seats and ejection system components that have been used in an ejection or fired are prohibited from being used to locally construct squadron or unit training services. The policy of the Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is that ejection seat maintenance and aircrew training will be provided in a formally structured course of instruction. An aircraft’s ejection system is an aviator’s last resort to save his/her life when disaster is imminent. The system must be maintained with the highest standards of workmanship possible. ORDNANCE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM Learning Objective: Identify the reason for the ordnance certification program. All personnel involved in the handling, preparation, inspection, or adjustment of live ammunition must be qualified and certified for the task involved in accordance with OPNAV- INST 8023.2, as augmented by the fleet commander, type commander, and NAVSEA Instructions. Only reliable, mentally sound, and physically fit personnel will be permitted to work with or use explosives and ammunition. The procedures and circumstances for revocation of 2-32