Presented at SAFE Europe 2026, this talk by Tim Clark explores the crisis threatening British Cold War heritage aviation. Severe supply chain shortages for ejection seat components, regulatory barriers, and OEM liability concerns risk permanently grounding historic jets. Discover the proposed solutions—including a collaborative framework, permissive data licensing, and regulatory education—to safely secure the future of heritage flight.

The Indian DRDO’s successful high-speed ejection test signals a pivotal shift in the global escape system market. For decades, high technical barriers have preserved a Western duopoly, preventing even emerging aerospace powers like China from gaining significant export traction. This achievement marks a "genie out of the bottle" moment. By leveraging this capability to develop indigenous systems and offer independent testing services, India is now positioned to challenge esta

Are we at "peak" ejection seat? With the rise of AI, will manned jets exist in 2055? Yes, but the role will evolve from "pilot" to "ITACC" (In Theatre Aerial Combat Conductor). The human in the loop remains essential for accountability. Surprisingly, the future of escape systems might not be "auto-eject" tech (too complex to certify), but a revolution in comfort: better plumbing, lighter helmets, and dynamic cushions to support long-endurance missions.

For decades, VTOL transport meant helicopters, and occupant safety meant the crashworthy seat. But as we embrace Future Vertical Lift (FVL) and advanced tiltrotors, this assumption is being challenged. These new aircraft have unique, higher-energy failure modes that a passive seat cannot solve. This article asks: Are we anchored to a past solution, and is it time to discuss active safety systems for this new era?

Discussing the common myths and misconceptions that surround ejection seats.

A proposed methodology for the assessment of risks and hazards associated with crew escape systems in production and prototype aircraft.