Ejection a split second decision

By PTE John Wellfare

Stills from a Defence video release show the moment of collision between two Roulettes during training.

A still of FLTLT Morscheck’s parachute descent.

FLIGHT Lieutenant Roland Morscheck had only a split second to assess his situation and make the decision to eject.

He didn’t know whether or not he’d clipped another aircraft until well after the accident. “It was an emergency ejection as opposed to a premeditated ejection so I had little time to prepare for it,” he said.

“It all happened very quickly. I pulled the ejection handle and it was a rush and a strain and a couple of seconds later I felt a definite jolt as the parachute deployed and the seat fell away.

“From that moment it was all very still and quiet. I saw the aircraft explode on the ground quite close to underneath me.

“I didn’t have a lot of time to prepare for the parachute landing and, not being a parachutist, this was new to me. We don’t train to parachute jump, but I know of the correct landing technique.

“As I was coming down close to the ground I was just thinking of keeping my heels together and bending my knees. I hit quite hard. I’ve heard it described as [like] jumping off a two storey building and it felt like that.

“After landing I rolled onto my back, the chute was still inflated and it was dragging me slowly along the ground.

“I reached down and disconnected my harness and the wind took the harness away from me and then I just lay there.”

Because of the speed of descent – about seven metres a second – there is a high chance of injury from a parachute landing.

Adrenaline can mask the pain of an injury, sometimes for hours afterwards.

“After a couple of minutes of lying still I took off my helmet, vest and g-suit, and sat up,” FLTLT Morscheck said.

“I didn’t feel injured, just a slight bit of neck stiffness. I used the emergency radio and talked to the approach controller. By that time I could see the ambulance and the fire truck were on their way.”

Despite the close call, FLTLT Morscheck has not been put off flying. He was back in the air testing Caribou instructors a week after the incident and was preparing to fly with the team at Bairnsdale Air Show.

“Flying’s my passion, it has been for many years, and I intend to continue my career in aviation.”

Back

.