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Comment by barrkel | Hacker News Reader

I wonder how many technicians were killed by accident by the ejection seats versus how many pilots' lives were saved. If there are more accidents than ejection saves, I wonder if it's calculated such that pilots are more willing to take risks if they think they'll be helped out by the seats.

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Pilots lives saved ~7,100 according to Martin-Baker the main U.S. seat manufacturer. Technicians killed ~20 My guess based on four years in the Air Force.

No pilot "wants" to eject. There is a high possibility of being injured, usually to the head, neck & back, even with the modern Martin-Baker & BF Goodrich ejections seats.

During a high-risk flight, the possibility of ejecting outside parameters is quite high, such as the recent F-22 crash where the pilot got killed during a high-speed ejection.

There have been pilots who eject once and ended their career due to injuries.

Right. Even if the physical damage isn't that bad, injuries such as a concussion can end your career. The military has pretty strict rules about this stuff.

Also pilots might be worth more to the military ( cost of training + scarcity of a good pilot + experience )

I doubt that enters into consideration, actually. The military spends vast amounts of money trying to protect all servicemembers' lives, and knowing a couple veterans, veterans who have lost people in combat, I can tell you that the cost of training and such don't even enter into their minds. I doubt the culture is as cold about the subject as you suggest, even if it is otherwise good reasoning.

Also relevant: how many pilots would not have gotten into the cockpit without the illusion of control given by an ejection seat?

The ejection seat creates the illusion that even if everything goes pear-shaped, you'll have a chance to survive. The real-life cost was often gruesome (see John McCain's stay in the Hanoi Hilton), but it gave pilots at least a chance.

If no pilots would get into the cockpit without ejector seats, they were worth it.

Based on the (admittedly small sample) naval and Marine aviators I've known, the ability to eject is not a factor.

These guys simply expect that they're better than everyone else in the air and can never be shot down. I think you pretty much need that attitude to be able to do the job.

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