I wouldn't blame the pilot for ejecting after loosing navigation capabilities, the HUD and the PFD during a missed approach. That means you're in very bad weather and lost the two primary means to control the aircraft and ensure you're not hitting terrain. At low altitude, in instrument conditions, considering this a loss of control seems logical. Best decision is to eject.
Sure, sitting on the ground knowing the backup instruments were correct you could decide to keep on flying. Same for any civilian aircraft, we would trust the backup instruments and keep flying, because we don't have ejection as an option.
But for a fighter jet I think the training in an emergency is "when in doubt, eject" they don't want to loose pilots over staying with the aircraft for too long.
Also, this is amusing:
> The loss of positive radar contact with the mishap aircraft resulted from a failed transponder caused by the electrical malfunction and the aircraft’s eventual descent below the air-traffic control radar horizon. The loss of positive contact could also be partially attributed to the F-35B’s low-observable technology.”
If you turn the transponder off on an F35 it's supposed to be nearly invisible. So things worked as designed.
Either would the Marine Corps, I guess. Well, blame the pilot, but recommend no punitive action, so kinda-sorta pilot error the F-35 is a great airplane guys! :)
I wouldn't blame the pilot for ejecting after loosing navigation capabilities, the HUD and the PFD during a missed approach. That means you're in very bad weather and lost the two primary means to control the aircraft and ensure you're not hitting terrain. At low altitude, in instrument conditions, considering this a loss of control seems logical. Best decision is to eject.
Sure, sitting on the ground knowing the backup instruments were correct you could decide to keep on flying. Same for any civilian aircraft, we would trust the backup instruments and keep flying, because we don't have ejection as an option.
But for a fighter jet I think the training in an emergency is "when in doubt, eject" they don't want to loose pilots over staying with the aircraft for too long.
Also, this is amusing:
> The loss of positive radar contact with the mishap aircraft resulted from a failed transponder caused by the electrical malfunction and the aircraft’s eventual descent below the air-traffic control radar horizon. The loss of positive contact could also be partially attributed to the F-35B’s low-observable technology.”
If you turn the transponder off on an F35 it's supposed to be nearly invisible. So things worked as designed.
People often lament the cost of the aircraft in situations like this.
The pilot is also super expensive. Maybe moreso than the plane.
> I wouldn't blame the pilot for ejecting….
Either would the Marine Corps, I guess. Well, blame the pilot, but recommend no punitive action, so kinda-sorta pilot error the F-35 is a great airplane guys! :)