Military Training Aircraft Grounded Over Ejection Seat Concerns

A potential defect in cartridge actuated devices (CAD) used in ejection seats has prompted the grounding of hundreds of military aircraft including Air Force T-38 Talons and T-6 Texan IIs.

Kimberly Johnson

Friday, July 29, 2022 at 04:43 PM ET

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An Air Force pilot climbs aboard a T-38 before a training flight. [Photo: USAF Tech. Sgt. Erik Cardenas]

Key Takeaways:

A potential defect in cartridge actuated devices (CAD) within ejection seats manufactured by Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd. has led to the grounding of hundreds of U.S. military aircraft.
The U.S. Air Force grounded a significant portion of its T-38 Talon and T-6 Texan II trainer fleets "out of an abundance of caution" to allow for safety inspections of the devices.
The Navy and Marine Corps also grounded some training and tactical aircraft affected by the issue, beginning to ship cleared replacement parts after verifying their functionality through radiography procedures.
Aircraft will remain grounded and will not return to service until inspections confirm their ejection seats are fully functional, prioritizing aircrew safety.

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A potential defect in cartridge actuated devices (CAD) used to initiate ejection seats has prompted the grounding of hundreds of military aircraft, including U.S. Air Force T-38 Talons and T-6 Texan IIs out of an” abundance of caution,” according to service officials.

The devices are used in ejection seats manufactured by Martin-Baker Aircraft Co. Ltd., which notified Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division (NSWC IHD) of the potential defect. NSWC IHD provides the devices for Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps aircraft.