Aircraft equipped with an ejection seat system used by some Canadian Forces aircraft have been placed on operational pause and have temporarily ceased all flying operations, following a technical problem with the system.
The operational pause affects all 25 CT-114 Tutors in the Air Force fleet (including the Golden Centennaire), as well as the Hawk One F-86 Sabre and a CT-133 flown by the National Research Council, as these aircraft all share the same ejection seat system.
The problem was discovered yesterday afternoon as the Snowbirds, the Golden Centennaire and Hawk One were preparing for a practice flight before the start of the Bagotville International Air Show in Bagotville, Que. The problem was detected on the ground during regular pre-flight testing procedures, and no one was injured.
The occurrence involved the Ballistic Disconnect Link Assembly and is unrelated to false-lock issues previously experienced on the CT-114 Tutor lap belt. The Ballistic Disconnect Link Assembly is designed to come apart automatically during an ejection sequence.
The exact cause of the problem is unknown at this time. The equipment involved in the occurrence is being examined and the Air Force Directorate of Flight Safety has begun an investigation as per standard procedure. The operational pause has been implemented as a safety precaution.
