DEARMING OR REARMING AREA
(IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENGINE SHUT
DOWN)
Dearming procedures are performed after aircraft
landing or ground abort. Aircraft bombs are normally
dearmed in the rearming area. However, if the aircraft
has missiles or rockets aboard, they are safed in the
designated dearming area.
WARNING
Do not attempt to disarm a partially or fully
armed fuze. Notify the proper authority
(EOD). If any component is missing, loose,
or damaged, notify the proper authority. If
an arming wire is not installed in the fuze or
arming device, the fuze or arming device
may be armed. You should notify the proper
authority.
The first step you take when dearming an aircraft is
to make sure the fuzes or arming devices or firing
mechanisms are safe and arming wires are installed
through fuze vanes and pop-out pins, as applicable.
Then, inspect the weapons for missing, loose, or
damaged components. If an IMER/ITER is involved,
position the safety stop levers to lock on loaded racks.
Install the safety pins in loaded stations.
NOTE: If an aircraft returns with unexpended
ordnance, a WEAPON LOADED sign must be
placed in the cockpit.
Check that all cockpit armament switches are OFF,
SAFE, or NORM. As applicable, remove arming wires,
lanyards, or lanyard tabs from empty stations. Finally,
report the status of the aircraft to the proper authority.
UNLOADING PROCEDURES
Before you unload a weapon from the rack, the
aircraft should be in the rearming area. Make sure that
electrical power to the aircraft is removed, and the
aircraft is properly grounded. Verify the following: all
cockpit armament switches are OFF or SAFE; that
safety pins are installed in all loaded racks. Finally, if an
IMER/ITER is being unloaded, verify that the safety
stop lever is locked on each loaded ejector unit.
Now you can open the pylon access doors. If
unloading an IMER/ITER (with a weapon) from the
rack, remove the breech caps from the breech
chambers, the cartridges from the breech chambers,
position the breech caps to prevent damage during
unloading, and disconnect the adapter connector, and,
if applicable, the electric fuze adapter harness from the
IMER/ITER.
WARNING
Do not remove a fuze or arming wire that
was not installed during loading procedures.
Do not remove an arming wire unless the
fuze safety pin or device is installed.
Ensure that the M904E3/E4 fuze is safe by
verifying the installation of the arming wire in the
arming wire guide and the arming vane. Make sure you
can't see a black letter A against a red background in the
upper (external) window. If the arming delay isn't set on
6 or 18 seconds, the upper (external) window should be
vacant. If the arming delay is set on 6 or 18, you should
see matching numbers on a green background in the
window. Then, you can install a safety wire through the
arming wire guide and the arming vane.
WARNING
If the arming wire is not in place or if the
upper (external) window indication is a
black letter A against a red background, the
fuze is armed. Do not attempt to change the
arming delay settings to disarm the fuze, or
to remove the fuze from the bomb. Notify
the proper authority (EOD) when an armed
or partially armed condition is indicated.
WARNING
If a green background without the number 6
or 18 appears in the upper (external)
window when the arming delay is set on 6 or
18, or if the number in the upper (external)
window does not match the arming delay
setting number, the fuze is partially armed.
Notify the proper authority.
Other actions you should take when unloading
weapons include checking to see that the arming wire is
installed in the pop-out pin for electric fuzes. If an
electric fuze was used, you need to disconnect the Mk
122 arming safety switch lanyard tab from the spring
latch. Then, if applicable, install the fin release band
safety (cotter) pin. Disconnect the fin release wires,
lanyards, and arming wires from the aircraft.
If applicable, you can remove the M904E3/E4
fuzes by installing a safety wire, and then removing the
14-11
