BA-21A Replacement (SRD) Systems Requirements Document.pdf

BA-21A Parachute Replacement

Systems Requirements Document (SRD)

Introduction

The Human Systems Division (ROU) of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center (AFLCMC) is seeking a new concept backpack style parachute system to replace the legacy BA-21A parachute system for ejection seats on the B-52H platform.

The B-52H aircraft contains an aircrew of up to 10. During an in-flight emergency egress scenario, there are up to 6 seats (4 upward, 2 downward) that eject from the bomber while the rest of the crew manually bailout through the bottom of the aircraft.

Breakdown of Emergency Egress Type & Equipment

**This effort is ONLY for replacement of the BA-21A ejection parachute to satisfy the boxes that say “TBD” in the chart above. The bailout requirement has been fulfilled.

Currently, the BA-21A parachute is fielded for air crews to use if seated in one of the ejection-specific seats, which is required to be worn by the air crew during flight. With a weight of 31 pounds, and operations lasting as long as 19 to 25 hours, the legacy parachute increases risk of mission fatigue, brings discomfort to aircrew, and decreases mobility of the operators. In addition, the parachute requires strenuous maintenance, inspection, and repacking work, taking up to six hours to repack a single BA-21A parachute.

In a modernization effort, the Air Force seeks a lightweight parachute with reduced inspection and repack time, and low-cost characteristics to replace the BA-21A parachute.

Scope

The scope of this effort includes all B-52 platforms. The Air Force seeks to field 546 parachutes to satisfy all B-52 aircraft flying with BA-21A parachutes. This number includes spares and training parachutes.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS

The symbols used are:

(T) Threshold – minimum requirement level

(O) Objective – desired requirement level

(T=O) Threshold and Objective are the same requirement level. No effort will be expended to exceed the threshold requirement.

Preliminary Requirements

1. Weight. Parachute weight with Automatic Activation Device (AAD) and accessories:

22lb (T) / 17lb (O)

2. Size. Parachute dimensions with AAD and excluding accessories: 24in x 14.5in x 4.5in (T) / 22in x 14in x 4in (O)

3. Automatic Activation Device. Replacement of SCOT AAD is required (T=O)

4. Hazardous Materials. No explosive or pyrotechnical devices may be used in parachute assembly (T=O)

5. Maintenance Cycle. 12 months (T) / 18 months (O)

6. Packing Time. 2 hours (T) / 1 hour (O)

7. Compliance. Meets PIA-TS-136 Rev 1 Requirements for military personnel parachutes

Assumptions

1. Accommodate aircrew and gear exit weight: 120-300lb (T) / 110-350lb (O)

2. Accommodate aircrew JPATS sitting height: 31-40in (T) / accommodate 100% of aircrew (O)

Key Performance Parameters (KPP)

1. Operational Envelope. Shall deploy normally within velocity range of 95-150 KEAS with no inadvertent opening at or below 200 KEAS (T). Shall deploy normally within velocity range of 50 to 250 KEAS with no inadvertent opening at or below 250 KEAS (O).

2. Parachute Opening. Shall open normally from 1,000 ft. AOL to 14,000 ft. MSL (T).

Shall fully deploy from 500 ft. AOL to 20,000 ft. MSL (O).

3. Maneuverability. Shall provide limited glide and directional mobility to enable a crewmember to maneuver toward an optimal ground landing site or multiple-crew life raft at sea (T=O).

4. Rate of Descent. Equilibrium rate of descent shall be no greater than 24 ft./sec at 350 lb. gross weight (T). Equilibrium rate of descent shall be no greater than 21 ft./sec at 350 lb. gross weight (O).

5. Stability. Maximum oscillation shall not exceed plus/minus 15 degrees from vertical for all weights in surface wind conditions up to 15 MPH (T=O).

Key System Attributes (KSA)

1. Ejection Seat Compatibility. Ejection seat parachutes must be able to properly connect to the B-52 ejection seat w/o modification to the seat (T=O).

2. Survival Kit Actuation. Ejection seat parachutes must have the ability to be modified for CNU-129/P survival kit actuation (T). Ejection seat parachutes will come pre-modified for survival kit actuation (O).

3. Survival Kit Compatibility. Ejection seat parachutes must be able to connect to the CNU-129/P survival kit utilizing the Survival Kit Actuator (SKA) and D-rings; must not require a modification to the survival kit (T=O).

4. Aircrew Size. Shall fit aircrew member 5th-95th percentile (T=O). For men, this ranges from 65.88 inches to 73.62 inches in stature. For women, this ranges from

60.04 inches to 68.50 inches in stature.”

5. Aircrew Weight. Shall offer safe performance for gross weight of 122-350 pounds (T).

Should accommodate all authorized aircrew weights (O).

6. Loads Applied to Crewmember. Deceleration force shall be less than 15 G’s (T).

Deceleration force shall be less than 10 G’s (O).

7. Functional Aircrew Interface. Must include functions for manual deployment (T=O).

8. Fitting and Adjustment. Will accommodate bulky flight clothing and all adjustment webbing be long enough for aircrew to make adjustments while wearing cold weather gloves (T=O).

9. Aircrew Comfort. Shall provide aircrew comfort during sorties lasting 10-20 hours (T=O)

10. Personnel Lowering Device/Backpad. Shall accommodate the attachment of the

PCU-10/P (P/N 66F1701) (T=O).

11. Automatic Opening Device (AOD). Will have an Automatic Parachute Opening Device incorporated in the parachute (T=O).

12. AOD Delay. Will have parachute release delay of at least 0.75 seconds (T=O).

13. Parachute Canopy Release. Parachute shall incorporate saltwater activated parachute quick canopy release (T=O).

14. Survival Beacon. Parachute will permit emergency personal locator beacon removal and installation without forcing a repack of the parachute (T=O).

15. Minimum Survival Kit. Shall include a pocket for the AFP 64-15 and SRU-16/P minimum survival kit (T=O).

16. Additional Equipment. Parachute shall include ejector snaps for legs and chest.

Shall include an inspection data pocket (T=O).

17. Zero-Delay Lanyard. Parachute will have a zero-delay lanyard and key that will be compatible with the current B-52 ejection seat/system (T=O).

18. Compatibility. Shall be compatible with Aircrew Eye & Respiratory Protection, survival vests w/approved pistol and holster, LPU-38/P, and anti-exposure suits (T=O).

Additional Performance Attributes (APA)

1. Color. Shall comply with Air Standardization Coordinating Committee (ASCC) Advisory Publication 51/12, Characteristics of Emergency Personnel Parachutes (T=O).

2. Standard Parts/Materials. The manpower required for the parachute's upkeep and maintenance shall not exceed the current levels of the BA-21A parachute. (T=O).

3. Environmental Conditions. Parachute pack container shall be made of material to provide protection from rain, oxygen, oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, salt particles, water vapor, sand and dust, solar radiation, fungus, fuel, and hydraulic fluid (T=O).

4. Service Life and Repack Cycle. 15-year service life with 1 year repack cycle (T). 25-year service life with 18-month repack cycle (O).