when should you arm the ejection seat controls?

[aledmb]

Hey everyone,

 

In the manual, on the Aircraft Startup Procedures, the first section is called Flight preparation, which includes mostly checks and resets you do before starting up the aircraft.

 

In that section, one of the very first steps is "5. Arm the ejection seat".

 

This got me confused. Don't real world pilots arm their ejection seats just before the takeoff?

[Jetguy06]

To my knowledge, yes, most aircraft arm their seats just before takeoff. That's the flow I follow in all aircraft except the Tomcat and when I'm on the boat in the Hornet or Harrier.

[G.J.S]

Used to be (when i was in) as soon as the canopy comes down (and you are not inside a HAS!), then bang seat goes live and you stow the last couple pins.

 

Lets say you are on the pan, canopy closed, everything pretty much up and running, and then you have a catastrophic failure of the fuel system (for instance) causing a serious fire.

Much quicker to 'earn a tie' (eject), and safer too, as its the quickest way out of danger. If the seat isn't live, then you have to open canopy (if it works) - possibly shut down one engine so you don't get sucked in, and maybe try to jump over a pooling fire.

 

Much safer to - as long as you are not under cover - then when canopy closes, seat goes live.

[Snoopy]

Current ops for real world A-10c is armed at EOR prior to takeoff and safe it at EOR after landing.

Edited December 24, 2020 by Snoopy