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Really recommend this training
I have been fortunate to have had this training. While the Navy training is excellent, Survival Systems is better. The Survival Systems training I attended had aircraft simulators with doors, seatbelts and flight controls. Its one thing to get out of a metal tube, its another thing to get unbuckle seat belts, find door handles and get out of an upside down aircraft. In some scenarios my door was blocked by a diver to simulate a stuck door making me wait for the person next to me to open the door and get out first (it took him a life time to get out of the way.) I lost count but I believe I was upside down over 20 times over two days.
I had been flying over water for several years. Everything I had determined I would do would have killed me. It wasn't until I took the training that I learned how to survive an aircraft ditching. It even changed my perspective when I listen to the flight attendants talk about escape exits and their respective locations. I know that sounds a little over the top, but attend the training. You will really learn alot. And no, I do not have any interest in Survival Systems. |
Uncle Sam covered the cost of my underwater egress. I hated every second of it...EVERY second of it...BUT...I knew it might save my life some day and I hope to never have to put it to practical use.
We run a couple of checklist before going feet wet. Not a bad ideal to have a plan in place and brief it before a water crossing. Also not a ideal to put some small chem lights on hand holds and latches. The water can swallow light as quick as an airplane. When things go dark, things get scary fast. Another thing, sit in your airplane, close your eyes and start reaching for things, latches, hand holds..ect. Get that muscle memory started. Now, turn off the lights and do the same thing. Also, making sure have the right survival gear for a water crossing is important...makes a whole lot easier for us rescue types to find you! |
More of my 2 cents.
Wow...good responses by all. I would offer a few comments. As to the tip-up canopy. The suggestion of unlatching before impact is very good. I do get the impression the folks are underestimating the actual force of the impact however. I think if a tip up were unlatched that it would actually fly forward with sufficent force to be wrenched from the aircraft. I figure I was going around 50 MPH when I hit the water and the note the damage...and looking at the photo you are looking at the side of the aircraft with the door...
In my case however the accident occurred so fast there was no time to unlatch doors, or shut down any systems... Again...remember if you are not wearing it, it's not survival gear. My wife had on clogs...so after the crash she had no shoes!!!!!! |
"remember if you are not wearing it, it's not survival gear"
Outstanding point. When I had a Yak-50 and went "cross country", I would wear an old military issued survival vest with some items that would life better if I found myself on the ground after a crash or bailing out. Two things to think about when packing a "bailout kit": 1.) Surviving (food, water, protection from the environment, ect.) 2.) Effecting a quick rescue. (signaling device for both day and night. Mirrors, chem stick on the end of a piece of 550 cord and swung over your head is visible for miles at night under NVG's) whistle for the ground party, handheld radio or SPOT, PLB ect. Cell phone!! Always file a flight plan and if you are doing just a local and do not want to file, let someone know what and when and when you will be on the ground. Call them when down. Have a checklist for them in the event they do not hear from you: Standard flight plan stuff: fuel, souls, color of a/c..ect. Also, if you carry survival gear, make a list of what you have and leave it with them. They can tell rescue forces what to look for and also give us an ideal how long you can stand to be isolated. (we will look for you) Stay near the airplane...a whole lot easier to see an airplane than one or two people. Trust me. Plus the airplane can provide survival gear (canopy glass can make a good "mirror". Seat belts make good tourniquets if things go badly.). Know some basic survival and first aid. It will save your life. Lets keep the "rescue" in rescue instead of "recovery". Lastly and most important: keep a very positive attitude. Giving up will kill you dead in a heartbeat. People WILL come looking for you. |
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