REVIEW NUMBER 1 ANSWERS
A1.
To find information on aircraft ordnance and
ordnance accessories, you should refer to the
applicable NATOPS flight/tactical manuals.
A2.
A change to or request for a deviation from a
NATOPS flight or tactical manual should be
submitted to the Naval Air Systems Command
(NAVAIR).
A3.
NAVAIRSYSCOM resolves conflicts between
weapons/stores loading manuals and other
publications.
A4.
The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) issues
NATOPS manuals.
A5.
At sea, the responsibility for dearming
forward-firing ordnance belongs to the CVW
arm/dearm crew.
If you are going to load an IMER/ITER, verify that
an adapter connector and an electric fuze adapter
harness (if applicable) are installed. Also, make sure
the pullout bails are attached to the bail bar.
The following information will give you some idea
of the steps you would follow to prepare or inspect an
IMER/ITER for loading. Visually inspect the parent
rack to ensure a safety pin is installed and the rack is
locked. Make sure the parent rack breech caps are
removed, the cartridges are not installed, and the parent
rack sway braces and ejector foot are properly adjusted
and positioned. Also, there should be an adapter
connector installed in the aircraft and connected to the
IMER/ITER with the pullout bail attached to the bail
bar.
If electric fuzing is used, you need to check that an
electric fuze adapter harness is installed and connected
to the IMER/ITER. If applicable, make sure the pullout
bail is attached to the bail bar. Then, disconnect the
breech caps and verify that the cartridges are removed
from all ejector units. Make sure the breech caps are
positioned to prevent damage during weapons loading.
Then, open all suspension hooks. Adjust the inboard
sway braces to the diameter of the weapon. Adjust all
other sway braces to the full up position. Finally, retract
the ejector feet to the full up position.
WEAPON INSPECTION
All weapons must be inspected before you can load
them. If they don't meet the inspection criteria, you
must reject them and notify the proper authority.
WEAPONS LOADING
The method you use to load retard or non-retard
bombs depend on the weight and configuration of the
bombs and the operational commitments. For example,
you can load a 500-pound bomb onto the rack of an
IMER/ITER by using the HLU-196/E bomb-hoisting
unit. But remember you are authorized to manually
load most weapons or stores weighing 1,000 pounds or
less with manual hoisting bars. To meet rearming
requirements of high-tempo cyclic operations, you
would normally use manual hoisting bars to load
individual retard or non-retard bombs that weigh 1,000
pounds or less. Weapons weighing over 1,000 pounds
are normally loaded with the HLU-196/E bomb-
hoisting unit.
When the rack is ready to be loaded, position the
weapon and the handling and loading equipment under
the loading station. If applicable, prepare the weapon
for bomb hoist loading by installing a hoisting sling on
the bomb for single store hoisting. Then, you can install
the bomb hoist on the rack and attach the hoist cable to
the hoisting sling. Remove slack from the cable by
operating the hoist. (Remember that one person is
positioned at the front and one at the tail of the weapon
to steady it while it is being hoisted.) Remove the
tie-down straps that secure the weapon to the handling
equipment.
If applicable, install a manual hoisting bar for
manual loading by installing the HLU-256/E manual
hoisting bar in the fuze well. Then, remove the weapon
tie-down straps that secure the weapon to the handling
equipment.
Now, the bomb hoist can be used to load the
weapon.
If you use an electric fuze, hoist the weapon to
about 10 inches below the rack. Connect the Mk 122
arming safety switch quick-disconnect connector (fig.
14-1) to the racks arming receptacle. Then, continue to
hoist the weapon until both suspension lugs enter the
suspension hooks, and the hooks latch. Visually inspect
the hook lock indicators on parent racks for a hook
locked indication on each set of hooks being used.
Slack the hoist cable and shake the weapon gently to
make sure the suspension hooks on the IMER/ITERs
lock safety stop levers support it.
When you have finished loading the weapon on the
rack,
remove
the
manual
hoisting
bar
or
the
bomb-hoisting unit. Then you can adjust the sway
braces by taking the following actions:
14-9
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