Under what conditions should the Manual override handle be used during ejection?

The appropriate use of the manual override handle during ejection specifically pertains to ejections over mountainous terrain exceeding 8,000 feet mean sea level (MSL). In such scenarios, the risk of insufficient altitude for the parachute to deploy effectively is heightened, particularly due to the potential for terrain interference with the parachute’s descent.

Utilizing the manual override handle in these conditions allows the pilot to ensure the release mechanism functions as intended, which can provide a higher chance of survival by allowing for a controlled ejection process despite the complexities posed by the surrounding landscape. The reduced altitude and challenging topography may limit the effectiveness of standard ejection procedures, making this manual override an essential consideration for safety.

The other scenarios, such as ejecting over water or during low altitude approaches, typically have established protocols for ejection that do not necessitate the same immediate risks addressed with the manual override in mountainous terrain, and ejecting below 10,000 feet may also less critically impact the parachute's performance in the broader context of ejection procedures.