Will Canopy-Embedded Mild Detonating Cord Affect Aircrew Visual Performance?

Mild Detonating Cord (MDC) in the next generation transparency has provided the opportunity for significant improvements to aircrew ejection separation times. Embedded as quarter-inch thick lines outlining the ejection zone, the MDC explosive can rapidly fracture the boundaries of this zone in half These sections open upward and outward as the ejection seat penetrates the canopy. MDC thus eliminates the need to jettison the canopy prior to ejection, preserving the critical escape time requisite for aircrew survival.Unfortunately, aircrew visual performance may suffer as a consequence of installing MDC. Necessarily, MDC is a canopy visual obstruction that may interfere with target detection and tracking. Consequently, it is prudent to identify and characterize the potential negative visual performance consequences of installing MDC, then minimize them prior to canopy production. This paper presents the most relevant results of an extensive search and analysis of research findings suggesting possible visual performance effects associated with canopy-embedded MDC.Visual processes (e.g., accommodation) may interact with MDC characteristics (e.g, placement, contrast) and environmental conditions (e.g., low illumination, homogenous visual field) to create varied visual performance consequences. Under certain interactions of visual, MDC, and environmental variables, MDC may become visually prominent, ''trapping'' aircrew visual attention, thereby interfering with target detection, perception, and tracking.