Defence Watch readers will recall the posts about the ongoing safety issues with the F-35 ejection seat. This new statement on the situation comes via Lockheed Martin and the F-35 program office:
The F-35 program is still in its System Development and Demonstration phase and the aircraft’s safe escape design continues to develop and improve. All ejections from any fighter aircraft are risky and place extreme amounts of stress upon the body. The F-35 escape system was designed to reduce ejection stresses and be able to accommodate the widest range of both aircrew weight and anthropometry (sizes), providing for the safe escape for pilots weighing from 103 to 245 lbs. The designed safe escape range is greater than legacy fighter ejection seats.
During tests to qualify safe escape with a Generation III helmet for lightweight pilots at low speed ejections, data indicated the potential for increased risk of injury under those conditions. On Aug. 27, 2015, the U.S. Services restricted F-35 pilots weighing less than 136 pounds from operating the aircraft. Currently, no F-35 pilots are impacted by this restriction.
All safe escape risks will be reduced and restrictions will be removed after three proposed fixes are complete: installing a switch on the seat for lightweight pilots that will slightly delay parachute deployment and lessen parachute opening forces; designing a lighter helmet; and mounting a head support panel, which is a fabric panel sewn between the parachute risers which will protect the pilot’s head from moving backwards during the parachute opening.
The head support panel and the ejection seat sequencer switch for lighter weight aircrew members are currently being tested as part of the seat qualification which is planned to be completed in October 2016. It is expected that modification kits to retrofit seats currently in operation will be available by November 2016 for F-35 fleet implementation.
Testing will also support the design and certification of a lighter version of the Gen III helmet and allow the program office to begin production of these helmets with initial deliveries scheduled to begin in October 2017. At that time, the services will be able to implement all three parts of the complete solution to lift the weight restriction for pilots less than 136 pounds and mitigate neck injury risks for all F-35 pilots.
The safety of our pilots is paramount and the F-35 Joint Program Office, Lockheed Martin, and Martin Baker continue to work this issue with the U.S. Services and International Partners to reach a solution as quickly as possible.
