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Germany/Austria/Spain have grounded their fleets of Bae Typhoon aircraft, apparently possible problems with ejector seats.

http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-51546020100916

Edit: Further to this, UK training sorties have also been grounded. As far as I can learn there may be a problem with the MB. Mk16A ejection seat, which if improperly handled can result in the chute separating from the pilot, which appears to have occured during last months Saudi crash.

Ouch!

wasnt it the same problem with bae hawks

Don't think the two are connected.

The previous problem was with Martin Baker MK10B seats which are fitted to the Hawk Mk 1 and as I understand involved a crack or cracks developing.

This latter problem appears to be with (somehow) some incorrect handling, which resulted in the pilot ejecting and then being separated not only from the seat but also his chute. Poor bloke

It actually brings to mind a story which went round some years ago and was told at RAF Leconfield (Lightning Maintenance Unit).

Saudi AF had been flying Fouga Magisters for some years. They were non-ejection seat aircraft and standard escape procedure was to invert and drop clear.

They replaced the Fouga with the EE Lightning, Some short time into operations a pilot was forced to abandon his aircraft and (yep you guessed it) he inverted then pulled the ejection handle!!

Just a quick clarification.

The aircraft which was lost, was a Spanish Typhoon "twin stick" with Spanish and Saudi pilots. It was the Saudi Officer who suffered the malfunction which cost him his life.

Are ItAF and RAF using different seats?

All typhoons have the same Mk 16 (Core) Seat, having been involved in the selection and installation of this seat in typhoon, I am at a loss on as to how this seat could have failed. I would suspect pilot or maintenance error.

The accident occured on 24th August near to Moron AB and involved EFA2000(T) s/n CE.16-08 from Ala11.

Just been announced in the last couple of hours that RAF has cleared it's Typhoon fleet to resume operations.

Apparently investigations revealed a fault in the seat harness, which has been addressed.

Full story;

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/20 ... -seat.html