Overview

The Multi-Functional Operator's Seat (MFOS) was specifically designed to meet the demanding mission needs of aft cabin crew members. It was first introduced to the Black Hawk community as the medical technician's seat in MEDEVAC. It is now replacing the crew chief and gunner seats in SAR configured UH-60L aircraft, in the USAF HH-60G Pave Hawk and in other select UH-60 aircraft. Integration to the aircraft floor is accomplished by installing a simple pallet containing seat tracks. In most installations, existing fasteners are used to attach the pallet, to avoid aircraft modifications. Experienced crew members praise the many advantages offered by the MFOS.

Specifications

HEIGHT Highest position 56.5” (144cm)
Lowest position 51.5” (131cm)
WIDTH  17.5” (44cm)
DEPTH  Highest position 22.4” (57cm)
Lowest position 23.2” (59cm)
DISTANCE BETWEEN TRACK CENTRES 12” (31cm)
WEIGHT 45lb (20kg)
Certified with Air Worthiness Release (AWR) by the US Army
Integrates directly into cabin floor or with a pallet
Installed or removed in 60 seconds
Traverses fore/aft and laterally
5 inches vertical adjustment
Rotates 360º in 15º increments
Seat folds to increase cabin volume
Stand up or 5 point harness

How it works

A relatively high percentage of helicopter crashes are survivable. This is especially true in modern helicopters with robust structures designed to survive the crash. However, the human body cannot tolerate the crash forces and accelerations. The back and neck are particularly vulnerable to major and often fatal injuries. Our patented crashworthy seat technologies offer reliable and proven solutions to this problem by attenuating crash energy so that forces and accelerations imposed on the seat occupant are below injury thresholds. In the process of attenuating energy, the seat strokes (moves downward) in a controlled fashion. The energy is attenuated by the seat structure over a longer time period and keeps it well below injury thresholds. Martin-Baker has developed the technology and design approach that not only attenuates these loads over a broad weight range, but remains lightweight and affordable.