sealing door of the chute. The chute may then be used for manually expending miscellaneous items less than 7 inches in diameter. The size B chute has no connecting electrical circuits. All of the size A SLTs in both aircraft have electrical connections that interface with the aircraft computer. There are also connections for the manual mode control circuits for sono inventory and launching. Sonobuoys, Mk 58 and/or Mk 25 marine location markers (MLMs), and signal underwater sounds (SUSs) can be loaded into sonobuoy launch containers (SLCs). The Mk 25 MLMs and SUSs may be dropped from the size B chute of the P-3C. After a store is loaded into the SLC, with the appropriate pads and spacers, an end cap is installed at the open end and marked with information of the enclosed store. The end cap has two protruding pin lugs, which mate with slots on the SLC to Iock the store in place. The lugs shear when the cartridge-activated device (CAD) is fired. When the CAD fires, everything in the SLC is ejected. NOTE: Some sonobuoys may be received prepackaged in disposable SLCs. This deletes the need for loading SLCs at the organizational maintenance level. Before you load the SLCs into the SLTs, you should perform a no-voltage and stray-voltage check on the sono circuits at the sonobuoy safety switch for the S-3A, and on the sono launch circuit tester in the P-3C. The safety switch on both aircraft is located adjacent to the SLTs and is actuated to the safe position when the switch access door is open. The SLC, with CAD installed, is loaded into a designated SLT according to the load plan. The locking lugs at the CAD cap mate with the locking lugs of the SLT. The CAD is pressed against the electrical firing pin in the SLT breech assembly. In the S-3A, tube P2 is always loaded with an SLC containing a search and rescue (S AR) sonobuoy. The P-3C also has a stowage rack inside the aircraft for 36 SLCs for use in the four SLTs inside the cabin. When the SLCs are loaded, the area beneath the loaded SLTs is cleared, and the safety switch door is closed. When the door is closed, the cockpit sono disabled indication will be extinguished. A continuity check is performed by the aircraft circuits on the CADs, and the load status verified by using the sono select switches of the particular aircraft. The switch door is opened again, and the system is disabled until just before takeoff. The load plan is given to the tactical coordinator (TACCO) for computer programming of the specific store in each SLT, and in the case of the P-3C, the stowage rack. Release of the SLT stores in flight is normally activated by the aircraft computer. The computer is programmed by the TACCO and controlled by the pilot’s or TACCO’s keyset in the P-3C. In the S-3A, the TACCO’s keyset programs and controls the computer. The manual release mode is normally used only during maintenance testing and system checks, and as an emergency backup for the auto mode. Emergency jettison of the SLTs is not included in the P-3C system. In the S-3A, it is part of the jettison circuit, and when activated, will jettison 59 of the 60 SLCs in less than 10 seconds. Until the pilot initiates circuit activation, the SAR buoy will remain in the P2 chute. CAUTION HELICOPTER SEARCH STORE SYSTEM When either type of aircraft is on the deck, the switch access door should be open to prevent inadvertent firing of the SLT stores. Inadvertent firing may cause injury or death to personnel, and will cause damage to the equipment. The search store system of helicopters is less complex than that of the fixed-wing aircraft just discussed, but it serves the same purpose. Figure 7-22 shows some of the basic search store equipments 7-14