The Air Force has identified a need for a system that provides improved firefighter and rescue personnel access to cockpits and speeds pilot extraction under ground emergency conditions. Emergency personnel must be able to open the canopy, accomplish engine shutdown, make the ejection system safe, and extract the pilot during ground emergencies. The proximity of engine inlets to the cockpit and the toughness of modern canopies prevent successful application of traditional approaches to pilot extraction. There is a significant risk of damage to high value-aircraft components and low-observable surface finishes during recurring live aircraft training involving simulated pilot extraction. The required system must be easily carried by one person, be fire resistant, and compatible with aircraft and high-value aircraft parts. The system must also be safe for fire or rescue personnel to use for emergency situations Quoin proposes to develop and demonstrate a fully-fieldable lightweight (approximately 6 pounds) powered ascender that will meet all requirements for safe pilot extraction from modern aircraft during a ground emergency without damaging sensitive finishes.
Benefits: This unit has direct commercial applications in search and rescue, emergency response and commercial industrial applications.
Keywords: Powered Ascender, Ascenders, Emergency Response, Fire, Rescue, Crash, Winch, Engine Shutdown
