Talk:Martin-Baker Mk.10

The egress guys, where I work, got some preliminary data on the Red Arrows accident, due to our aircraft using the same seat. By the account given the Arrows taxied for take-off but were forced to weather hold en route to the runway, during the hold the pilot released his straps to relieve discomfort. When re-connecting the straps one was inadvertently threaded through the seat pan firing handle which triggered the seat as the straps were tightened. The seat could not complete its cycle because the pilot was still attached by the seat pan firing handle/straps - a very sad freak accident.(note: I cannot verify this and it is not the finding of the BOI, yet, but it is also the only conceivable way a serviceable Mk.10 seat could be fired inadvertently in the circumstances)Petebutt (talk) 15:47, 25 December 2011 (UTC)


 * The seat design has been in service since the 1970s with little or no trouble and MB are not responsible for the maintenance procedures of the operator.


 * If the Health & Safety Executive take them (MB) to court the H&SE will lose.


 * Very sad for the relatives of the pilot concerned, but if the seat design was in any way responsible one would have expected problems with it to have been reported by operators long before now. The accident aircraft itself (and presumably the seats) first flew in 1977.


 * Article here: Death of Sean Cunningham (pilot)