Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Ed Edens, 113th Maintenance Squadron Egress system mechanic, left, and Philippine Air Force Tech. Sgt. Roderick Domingo, 430th Aircraft Maintenance Group Egress system supervisor, right, perform a visual inspection of a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon during the Bilateral Air Contingent Exchange-Philippines (BACE-P) at Cesar Basa Air Base, Philippines, Jan. 22, 2019.Last chance for life: US, PAF airmen exchange egress ideas
                        
                        
                        U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Ed Edens, 113th Maintenance Squadron Egress system mechanic, left, and Philippine Air Force Tech. Sgt. Roderick Domingay, 430th Aircraft Maintenance Group Egress system supervisor, right, perform a visual inspection of a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon during the Bilateral Air Contingent Exchange-Philippines, or BACE-P, at Cesar Basa Air Base, Philippines, Jan. 22, 2019. The exchange is the seventh iteration of the U.S.-Philippine Air Contingent established by U.S. Pacific Command and executed by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. These exchanges promote interoperability, build upon the foundation of a strong U.S.-Philippine's alliance, and reaffirm U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Small)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res
        


        Philippine Air Force Tech. Sgt. Roderick Domingo, 430th Aircraft Maintenance Group Egress system supervisor, and U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Ed Edens, 113th Maintenance Squadron Egress system mechanic, perform a visual inspection of a Philippine Air Force FA-50 during the Bilateral Air Contingent Exchange-Philippines (BACE-P) at Cesar Basa Air Base, Philippines, Jan. 22, 2019.Last chance for life: US, PAF airmen exchange egress ideas
                        
                        
                        Philippine Air Force Tech. Sgt. Roderick Domingo, 430th Aircraft Maintenance Group Egress system supervisor, left, and U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Ed Edens, 113th Maintenance Squadron Egress system mechanic, right, perform a visual inspection of a Philippine Air Force FA-50 during the Bilateral Air Contingent Exchange-Philippines, orBACE-P, at Cesar Basa Air Base, Philippines, Jan. 22, 2019. The exchange is the seventh iteration of the U.S.-Philippine Air Contingent established by U.S. Pacific Command and executed by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. These exchanges promote interoperability, build upon the foundation of a strong U.S.-Philippine's alliance, and reaffirm U.S. commitment to the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Small)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Last chance for life: US, PAF airmen exchange egress ideasPublished Jan. 29, 2019
                    
                    By Staff Sgt. Anthony Small
                    
                    
                    Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs
            **CESAR BASA AIR BASE, Philippines (AFNS) --**U.S. Air Force members from the 113th Maintenance Squadron participated in a subject matter expert exchange with Philippine Air Force 430th Aircraft Maintenance Group Egress personnel, during the Bilateral Air Contingent Exchange-Philippines, or BACE-P, at Cesar Basa Air Base, Jan. 22.
“Subject matter expert exchanges are an important way for us to learn (from) and teach our counterparts from partner nations,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ed Edens, 113th MXS egress systems mechanic. “It’s especially important for egress when you have to be on top of your job because we can’t (ops) test our system. Everything that we do has to be perfect.”
Egress is otherwise known as the “last chance for life.” The ejection seat itself is the last option for an aircrew member when it comes to surviving an unexpected aircraft or mechanical emergency. 
Egress Airmen perform a full visual inspection of the ejection system which includes the seat and cockpit components. If anything is found broken or out of technical data specifications, it’s the egress technician’s job to ground the jet and pull the seat to repair the defect prior to returning the aircraft to flying status. 
Edens brings with him 17 years of experience as a egress systems craftsman and has experienced emergency situations.
“I’ve experienced ejections in the past, and the first thing that goes through my mind, is did the pilot survive,” explained Edens. “Job satisfaction comes from ensuring the pilots are safe and we did our jobs well.”
Philippine Air Force Tech. Sgt. Roderick Domingo, 430th Aircraft Maintenance Group Egress systems craftsman, has 21 years of experience taking care of exit systems that guide pilots safely to the ground in case of an emergency.
“The exchange is a good opportunity to see the difference between (our two nations’) systems,” said Domingo. “It’s also good to talk with other egress members.”
Although ejections are rare, aircrews members must be able to rely on the egress Airmen’s skill and dedication to help ensure their safe return when met with a worst-case scenario. When all else fails, egress prevails.
The subject matter expert exchange is part of the seventh iteration of BACE-P established by U.S. Pacific Command and executed by Headquarters Pacific Air Forces. These exchanges provide the opportunity for U.S. and Philippine air forces to share best practices and deepen professional understanding and relationships.113th Maintenance Squadron 



113th MXS 



Philippine Air Force 



430th Aircraft Maintenance Group Egress 



Bilateral Air Contingent Exchange-Philippines 



BACE-P 



Cesar Basa AB 



Philippines 



ejection system 



U.S. Pacific Command 



PCAF 



Headquarters Pacific Air Forces 



AF 



Air Force 



air base Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                SecAF, CSAF, CMSAF begin Indo-Pacific trip focused on ACE
                    
                    DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fightInnovation
                F-16s arrive to be modified for autonomous testing
                    
                    AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalistsMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil