Planes Crashed - Pilots Saved

According to the Asiaone News, two F-16’s crashed about a kilometer apart during the 30th annual Cobra Gold exercise in Chiang Mai, Thailand but both pilots ejected safely due in part to ongoing training that they had received on Environmental Tectonics Corporation’s (ETC) Ejection Seat Trainer (EST) built by its business unit, Aircrew Training Services. 

The Royal Thai Air Force invested in an EST from ATS in 1991 to prepare their pilots for in - flight emergencies.  The Thai EST simulates an F-16 ejection system and trains aircrew how to eject quickly and safely.  Utilizing a pneumatic catapult system for maximum reliability and a series of safety interlocks, training on the equipment includes, instruction on how to achieve correct body position and when to safely eject.  The Royal Thai Air Force EST has adjustable G-force control up to 9 G’s and catapults up a sliding rail system when engaged. 

Used in many countries, ETC’s Ejection Seat Simulators and Trainers have trained 1,000's of pilots in the proper ejection seat procedures.

The fighter jets were participating in a joint military exercise involving 10,000 soldiers from six countries, including the U.S.  The jets disappeared from the radar shortly before the crash.   One of the pilots, Squadron Leader Krissana Sukjan, is quoted as saying that “The engine malfunctioned for an unknown reason.”  His plane crashed into Phulanka Mountain in the Wangphon village of Mueang district.

William Mitchell, President and CEO of ETC is very pleased to hear of the successful ejection.  “ETC is extremely pleased to hear of the safe ejection of the Thai pilots.  While in-flight emergencies and accidents do happen, it is testimony to our commitment to high quality aircrew equipment and training that these pilots survived.” 

Without the use of simulators such as ETC’s EST pilots would face emergencies such as this without prior knowledge, experience or confidence of ejection seat systems.  Due to nature of the ejection process, without an EST, pilots would never be able to prepare for such an emergency safely without sacrificing expensive equipment or worse putting their own lives in danger.  Since this device was built in 1991, ETC has introduced two more advanced systems thus further improving ejection seat training.  Follow this link for the most recent technology developments:  zero/zero Ejection Seat Simulator.