If a pilot ejects, what is the autopilot programmed to do? (2018)
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If a pilot ejects, what is the autopilot programmed to do? (2018)
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Re: If a pilot ejects, what is the autopilot programmed to do? (2018)
#2I recently learned about the Green Ramp disaster, where the crew ejected from an F-16 under full afterburner, and the jet continued on to collide with several parked airplanes, resulting in 24 fatalities.
"As of 2025, this incident has the largest number of ground fatalities for an accidental crash of an aircraft on U.S. soil. It was also the worst peacetime loss of life suffered by the division since the end of World War II."
Re: If a pilot ejects, what is the autopilot programmed to do? (2018)
#3TLDR: It does nothing and it should never do anything
Re: If a pilot ejects, what is the autopilot programmed to do? (2018)
#4I think the most proper thing for the jet should be to destroy itself. In a war enviornment I would not like my enemy to gain intel about my military jets.
Re: If a pilot ejects, what is the autopilot programmed to do? (2018)
#5If it's a controlled ejection scenario, you try to fly to a specific location, airspeed, heading, and altitude, then pull. It will be in your local-area in-flight guide. The intent is, the plane ends up somewhere away from civilization. This if, of course, only suitable for scenarios where you have this luxury.
Re: If a pilot ejects, what is the autopilot programmed to do? (2018)
#6I think the most proper thing for the jet should be to destroy itself. In a war enviornment I would not like my enemy to gain intel about my military jets.
Not my wheelhouse, but doesn't that involve packing the aircraft with explosives, and wouldn't that involve risk of blowing up if someone else shoots you? Or is there some better way to self-destruct?
Re: If a pilot ejects, what is the autopilot programmed to do? (2018)
#7It seems like the sensible thing to do would be to fry / erase any IFF and encryption related stuff, but otherwise continue as before.
E.g, if it's already been programmed to fly straight and level, continue to do that. If it's deactivated, stay deactivated.
Just seems like a whole 'nother set of characteristics to test otherwise, as well as adding extra unpredictability. The aircraft is probably damaged / on fire, so its flight characteristics are already going to be extremely different to normal. The best thing in the moment may be to let the aircraft lawn-dart in a field, rather than attempt to get straight and level, and in the process potentially fly over inhabited area or towards a friendly set of aircraft / buildings / vehicles.
Re: If a pilot ejects, what is the autopilot programmed to do? (2018)
#8I think the most proper thing for the jet should be to destroy itself. In a war enviornment I would not like my enemy to gain intel about my military jets.
Not my wheelhouse, but doesn't that involve packing the aircraft with explosives, and wouldn't that involve risk of blowing up if someone else shoots you? Or is there some better way to self-destruct?
Impacting the ground usually does it.
Re: If a pilot ejects, what is the autopilot programmed to do? (2018)
#9A pilot would only eject if the aircraft was uncontrollable with no reasonable hope for recovery. Unlikely the autopilot can do anything deliberate at that point.
Re: If a pilot ejects, what is the autopilot programmed to do? (2018)
#10A pilot would only eject if the aircraft was uncontrollable with no reasonable hope for recovery. Unlikely the autopilot can do anything deliberate at that point.
Yes, but the autopilot should have some kind of contingency programming in case the pilot is mistaken about the aircraft being unflyable.