ALL Eurofighter Typhoons Temporarily Grounded

Steyr

Eurofighter: Training Flights Temporarily Suspended

(Source: Austrian Ministry of Defence; issued Sept. 15, 2010)
(Issued in German; unofficial translation by defense-aerospace.com)

VIENNA --- The Eurofighter user countries were recommended to discontinue exercise and training flights of the Eurofighter because of a perceived safety problem in the ejection seat.

This is a normal procedure to ensure safety.

The interruption was necessary because, if mishandled, the parachute could become separated from the ejection seat in case of ejection.

Pilots are being trained in the new procedures. Thereafter, the training and exercise operations are resumed.

This measure has no effect on the supervision and monitoring of air space.

Eurofighter will continue to carry out operational missions - so-called A-priority flights - and remains fully operational.

-ends-

mowhawk

Now is our chance. Get the PC 9's up quick.

Europe is ours for the taking.

Steyr

Seems the reason is from the Spanish Tiffie crash i mentioned in news a few weeks ago..

http://www.gazette-news.co.uk/news/national/8400488.Typhoons_grounded_in_safety_probe/

Typhoons grounded in safety probe
9:46am Saturday 18th September 2010


© Press Association 2010 »


Fighter jets from the RAF's Typhoon fleet have been grounded following safety concerns, the MoD has confirmed.

Non operational flights from the fleet were ordered not to fly after a crewman, believed to be from the Spanish airforce, died during a training flight.

Safety concerns are believed to surround the harness system on the jet's ejector seat.

There are more than 60 planes in the RAF's Typhoon fleet.

An MoD spokesman said: "The safety of our personnel is paramount.

"Investigations following an accident involving a Spanish Typhoon have highlighted a potential issue with the aircrew harness system.

"As a precaution, non-operational Typhoon flights have temporarily been suspended pending modification.

"Typhoon Quick Reaction Alert in the UK and Falkland Islands is not affected as those aircraft have already been modified."

Steyr

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/09/24/347784/martin-baker-responds-to-eurofighter-seat-reports.html

Defence
DATE:24/09/10
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com

Martin-Baker responds to Eurofighter seat reports
By Craig Hoyle

As the first two Eurofighter operators have returned their aircraft to normal operational use following a safety scare, ejection seat manufacturer Martin-Baker has commented on the issue for the first time.

While the UK company declines to talk specifically about the 24 August accident during which a Royal Saudi Air Force pilot was killed after ejecting from a Eurofighter in Spain, it says the mishap was not the result of any design fault.

The Mk16A seat producer says it was not contacted by Spanish authorities to assist in their investigation into the incident. But it “has not received any communication from the Spanish authorities to indicate that a deficiency in either the ejection seat, or pilot parachute harness was the cause of the death of the pilot.”

All six Eurofighter users halted or restricted operations with their aircraft as a result of the Spanish accident, and so far only the Austrian air force and UK Royal Air Force are known to have resumed normal activities, including training sorties.

The RAF attributed its decision to resume operations on 20 September to assessments of the Mk16A’s seat harness, with the work supported by BAE Systems, Martin-Baker and Qinetiq.

“As a result of these assessments they concluded that under certain conditions, the quick release fitting could be unlocked using the palm of the hands, rather than the thumb and fingers and that this posed a risk of inadvertent release,” Martin-Baker says.

A modification was rapidly developed and approved “to eliminate this risk”, and is now being fitted to Typhoon seats, it adds.

An industry source says Germany, Italy and Spain are expected to resume Eurofighter flights in late September, although the latter two will perform quick reaction alert sorties with their aircraft if required before this time. The current operational status of Saudi Arabia’s Typhoon fleet is unclear.