Experiences of rocket seat ejections in the Swedish Air Force: 1967-1987

From 1967 to 1987 there were 83 successful and 9 fatal ejections with Saab rocket seats in the Swedish Air Force. Medical consequences and injury factors are reviewed. Thirty-nine survivors had nontrivial injuries; four were seriously injured. The risk for injury has been approximately 50% throughout the period. Two-thirds of the survivors resumed flying within a week, the remainder after up to 1 year, except for three pilots who terminated their flying status.