Womb Syndrome ?
 

No, not the process whereby babies result from aircrew returning from detachments.

I have heard the phrase "womb syndrome" used in connection with pilots who waited too long to eject in an emergency - something to do with the natural urge not to leave a nice comfy cockpit.

Anyone heard it (or any similar phrase) before ?

No.

.......................

I've never heard of it but I do understand the concept. As a young airman and keen parachutist, I thought the prospect of banging out would be exciting.... until my first backseat trip in a fast jet when I felt I was quite happy and warm strapped in the rear and wanted to remain there.

Not quite the same, but interesting phenomena just before you jump out of a perfectly good aircraft.
They open the door, and suddenly you become incredibly aware that the ground is a helluva long way away and that it is actually a huge open void that you are going to leap out into...

When it's the back of a Herc, you don't have the luxury of er, thinking about it.

CG

True, but in my experiance the huge open void doesn't hurt you, but when you finally reach that desired, far-away ground it often does...

PDR

It is the last inch that hurts...

The secret to a person flying is to throw yourself at the ground..and miss. (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy I believe)

Actually, I'd suggest it's the first inch.

Good link ORAC, as always.

I have always been mentally prepared to 'throw a jet away' but that was always the stumbling block for me as it is often the final admission of "Oops, I'ved c0cked this up. Time to leave".

So the 'womb thing' never really goes through my head, but the 'what will my mates/boss say' is more likely to feature. Especially as the 'Just Culture' is more formalised in writing than it ever has been, it has removed the chance of 'self denial'!

LJ

As the OP is currently in the US were they have a penchant for catchy descriptive phrases it would possibly be of US origin.

Sounds like head-shrinker horse$hit to me!

You have a serious problem and you are equipped - you go!!

Pontius - I refuse to have my grammar corrected by someone who originated from the Wirral :E

Never heard that term before, but there may be an element of truth in it where premeditated ejection is concerned. I have in my former life spoken to several "ejectees" all of whom were eternally grateful to MB and the life saving seat.

A far distant one in time (late 80s) was a premeditated ejection from a SHAR over Portland bay. This took time for the pilot to gather his thoughts and it took him (if memory serves me right) 3 goes of "right I am ejecting now" before he finally went. The aircraft was flyable, warm and cosy, but no way could it be recovered safely so had to be vacated via the bang-seat option. On the other hand, a more recent one in a Tucano was "****, can't recover" and the handle was pulled. Training and instinct saved the pilot. One had time to ponder, the other did not.

"Head shrinker horse.sh....". +1 to that. Just the sort of unprovable nonsense they seem to love these days. That said, denial is a powerful force affecting the way airborne emergencies of all levels get dealt with

Interesting theory-I've sat in a few FJ cockpits but never had a trip. For me its like being a kid in a sweet shop but of course flying in FJ's is a very noisy and hazardous occupation for you professionals out there.


Always thought if I ever got a fast jet trip and did get the command to go then I'd be pulling the handle pretty sharpish (self preservation) given that someone in the front seat would be in a much better position to decide on what I should be doing than I would be!

I seem to recall someone having a ride in the rear of one of the Sparrows Hawks and wondering what it might be like to eject.
So he did!