High-Tech Devices Improve Odds of Survival for Pilots Who Eject

When an allied aircraft goes down in the Persian Gulf desert, a high-tech mission begins to try to find and rescue those who were aboard.

“The crews who eject in this current campaign, because of first their ejection seat which their predecessors didn’t have and because of the backup organization that exists, they probably have a better chance of being rescued than any of their predecessors,” said British Air Vice Marshal Tony Mason.

Seven fighter planes--three U.S., two British, one Kuwaiti and one Italian--were lost in the first 36 hours of attacks on Iraq and Kuwait. Five Americans, four Britons and two Italians were listed as missing in action today. One U.S. pilot was confirmed dead.

“We now have pretty good information that the Kuwaiti pilot is probably safe in the hands of Kuwaiti resistance,” Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, commander of the allied forces, said in Riyadh.

According to defense analysts, planes in combat usually work in pairs. If one pilot ejects, he will be watched by his wingman. Rather than flying circles around the downed crewman, which would pinpoint his location for enemy observers, the wingman will circumscribe sweeping figure eights in the area to help the radar-equipped AWACs that track each air battle to fix his location.

Airmen also are equipped with homing devices, and a single pulse will give the exact position where they land and can be rescued.

They are taught how to survive in the desert and elude the enemy.

They fall to earth with supplies, including enough water for three days, concentrated foods and sweets. They also have materials for collecting water from the desert by condensation when the temperature falls at night.

Maps, compasses, flares and first-aid kits also are among their supplies.