On October 24, 2015, The Washington Post reported that testing of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has shown that the ejection seat system poses a risk of whiplash to pilots. In particular, pilots who weigh less than 136 pounds face a "high" risk of danger. "Mid-weight" pilots face a "serious" risk.
The Post also reported that the mass of the pilot's helmet increases the risk because it is too heavy.
Until the risk can be mitigated, the F-35 program has restricted "lighter-weight" pilots from flying the plane, which will be used by the the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, the Royal Air Force, and other U.S. allies. The 34th Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base was the first operational Air Force unit to fly combat-coded F-35s.
Of course, in normal operation, a pilot does not eject; using the ejection seat is a contingency plan for worst-case scenarios. But the story highlights the need to consider the potential problems (risks) that can occur during a contingency plan.
It also shows different levels of risk acceptance: in 2011, the Operational Test and Evaluation office had "serious concerns" about conducting training flights with the ejection seat, but the F-35 program office accepted the risk and went ahead with training.
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