Paul Gallizzi ATP, CFI, CFII, MEI Tampa, FL Over Water Flying Seminar November 2005

5 Aspects of Over Water Flying  Pre-Flight Planning  Ditching  Short Term Survival  Getting Rescued  Long Term Survival

Pre-Flight Planning AircraftPilotNavigationWeather

Survival Starts with Preparation  Flight plans – be sure to file Used by Coast Guard for valuable Used by Coast Guard for valuable information information Use remarks section to include info such Use remarks section to include info such as survival equipment that you carry – as survival equipment that you carry – life vests, rafts, light activation, radar life vests, rafts, light activation, radar reflectors reflectors

Ditching Ditch near a surface vessel Ditch near a surface vessel

Pre-Ditching Checklist Ditch near surface vessel, if able Ditch near surface vessel, if able Determine appropriate ditch Determine appropriate ditch heading heading Review ditching technique Review ditching technique Depressurize aircraft, if applicable Depressurize aircraft, if applicable Configure aircraft – gear up, Configure aircraft – gear up, flaps as required flaps as required

Pre-Ditching Checklist con’t … Place survival equipment in Place survival equipment in accessible location accessible location Fasten/lock seat belt harness Fasten/lock seat belt harness Unlatch main cabin door Unlatch main cabin door Ensure alternate exits are Ensure alternate exits are accessible, if able accessible, if able

Ditching at Night, in IMC, or on Glassy Water 10 degree nose-up attitude 10 degree nose-up attitude 100 fpm descent rate 100 fpm descent rate Ditch with wings level Ditch with wings level

Short Term Survival

Getting Rescued

Long Term Survival

False Alarms! Majority of alerts are false alarms MHz: 1 distress per 1000 alerts 406 MHz: 1 distress per 8 alerts 4 of 5 alerts from 406 MHz beacons are resolved with a phone call

Summary  Ditchings are highly survivable  Register your ELT’s  Thorough pre-flight planning is essential  Ditching: Aviate, Navigate, Communicate  Survival: Life vests & signaling devices

Questions Thank You

Ditch Heading  Ditch parallel to swell – maximize headwind component  With strong secondary swell, compromise between primary & secondary swells and land on the back side of the wave  Wind kts, choose a compromise between primary swell & headwind  Wind > 50 kts, land into wind

Approach to Water Power-on ditching, preferable Set power to maintain 10 kts above stall Multi-engine with power to one side – fly slightly higher approach speed Nose-high attitude (flaps may not be advisable) (flaps may not be advisable) Power-off ditching Fly higher than normal approach speed

Touchdown Reduce power, land slightly above stall speed Land parallel or on the backside of the swell Touchdown with wings trimmed to surface of the sea – not to the horizon Remove crab angle, if able

Survival Equipment  Brief passengers prior to departure Location of survival equipment Location of survival equipment Usage Usage  Life vests are a must  Always wear your life vest or purchase a quick donning style that straps to your quick donning style that straps to your waist waist  Life rafts

Survival - Egress  Store loose gear prior to ditching  Get out fast!  Safety knives – may save your life  Time permitting – grab items that may aid in your survival/rescue, i.e. ELT & RAFT in your survival/rescue, i.e. ELT & RAFT  Never inflate life vest until completely clear of aircraft clear of aircraft

Survival - Signaling  Flares & smoke flares  Signal mirrors  Hand-held strobe lights  Cell phones, hand-held radios  Life vests, especially rafts, are easier to spot spot