Why US Pilots Are Forced to Eject Only at the Very Last Second

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Personal Parachutes

Way back when ejection seats weren’t invented yet, pilots were only supplied with their personal parachutes. Depending on the aircraft, the routine of bailing out can vary.

Specific Altitude and Speed

Planes need to be at a specific altitude and speed where the pilot can successfully eject. If not done correctly, it would make it impossible for them to safely eject without injuries.

Last-Second Ejections

They can opt to wait at the last second but the technical features of the ejection system might not be able to compensate for their late decision.

A Lot of Training

Pilots get ample training to handle ejections. In these exercises, they are put in situations where certain movements are needed to be done to properly eject, land, and survive.

Types of Ejections

Controlled ejections mean pilots are still able to maneuver the plane to somewhere safe and less populated. On the other hand, “Uncontrolled” is when the aircraft is losing a lot of altitude and the pilot is forced to immediately eject.