Spotlight and Celebrations
Palm Avenue Exceptional School Center
receives a Special Invitation to visit
Naval Air Station Jacksonville
 Students and faculty from Palm Avenue Exceptional
School Center were invited to visit the
Fleet Readiness Center Southeast (FRCSE) at Naval Air
Station Jacksonville to gain a better understanding of
the facility’s military mission in support of the war
fighter.
Accompanied by their Principal, Mr. Michael
Alexander, their teachers and FRCSE personnel, eight
students had the rare opportunity to tour the P-3 Orion
aircraft productions lines to observe firsthand the
artisans at work.
Senior Officer & Pilot, Stephen Mayer escorted them
through the P-3 Orion production line and explained how
each aircraft goes through various work cells where
workers perform specific repairs. The
students had non-stop questions for the tour guides
asking: “How much fuel do the planes use?” “How
fast do they go?”
As they toured the P-3 Orion production line, the
students marveled at the size and condition of the
aircraft, the propellers and engines. They were
amazed at the sheer size of the hangar and the
aircrafts. They were so small compared to the size
of the planes. What’s also remarkable was
the cleanliness of the planes and the entire
environment. “The planes and floors are so shinny
and clean!” said student, Maurice Lane.
“Everything in this place is so nice and clean.”
Planes are broken down to their individual parts and
then rebuilt. Artisans use shadow boxes to track
aircraft parts during the maintenance process. The
process takes a whole year for each aircraft to be
completed.
As a small group, the students had a unique
opportunity to visit the Ejection Seat Shop where the
Aircraft Ordinance Systems Supervisor explained how the
pilot ejects from a damaged plane while airborne.
“Everything else on the aircraft can fail except the
ejection seat!” said the Supervisor. “It has to
work the first time, every time.”
The seat pan holds a parachute and
emergency supplies, such as an oxygen bottle, a one-man
life raft, a medical kit and a general kit containing
high-energy food, fishing hooks and string. “Once
the pilot pulls the handle, everything is automatic,” he
said. “They pull about 25 Gs (gravitational
force). It is so sudden that the pilot actually
loses consciousness for a few seconds. It happens
so fast.”
The students were invited to sit in the specialized
chair. Every student took advantage of this
opportunity. “Wow this is cool!” said student,
Antonio Noll.
At the end of the two-hour tour, students and adults
posed with Senior Officer & Pilot, Stephen Mayer for a
group picture. “This was a great experience for
our students! We had no idea how much work it
takes to maintain these planes, but it is necessary and
important for the safety of our Navy military
personnel.” stated Mr. Michael Alexander, Principal.
The tour organizers were Andrea Saunders, Personnel
Consultant, FRCSE; Marsha Childs, Public Affairs
Specialist, FRCSE and Rosemarie Parsch, Supervisor,
Parent & Community Involvement Exceptional Education &
Student Services, DCPS as part of the Naval Air Systems
Command (NAVAIR) Disability Mentoring Day.
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