Welcome “Preflight Briefing” Seat Belt ? Seat Belt ? Emergency Exits ? Emergency Exits ? Loss of Cabin Pressure ? Loss of Cabin Pressure ? Overwater Flight ! Overwater Flight ! Now Seriously… Now Seriously…

OVERWATER FLIGHT Ditching And Water Survival Bob Wolin Adapted largely from a presentation by David C. “Hoss” Robertson

“FLIGHT PLAN” “FLIGHT PLAN”  Threat of Ditching  Before You Go  Survival Equipment  Offshore Operations  Ditching Procedures  Ditching Checklist  Splashdown & Egress  Survival in the Water  Rescue  Helicopter Pick-up

CAP REQUIREMENTS  Overwater = Flight past power off gliding distance from land  Flights are limited to 50 NM from shore, except with NOC approval  All crew and Pax must wear life preservers  Inflatable rafts for all on board  Anti-exposure suits if water is 60 degrees or less, unless waived by Wing Commander  Must have a pyrotechnic signaling device  Airborne repeater must be used of out of radio range  Night over-water – both pilot and observer must be instrument qualified and current  CD – CAPR 60-6 §3-2 a.2. – PIC 500 hours and instrument qualified and current

Threat of Ditching  Topics include… –Weather –Fuel Exhaustion –Air Crew Member Fatigue –Mechanical Failure

Weather  Get Detailed Preflight Briefing  Get In-flight Updates  Watch Changing Weather Patterns

Fuel Exhaustion  Fill Tanks to Weight Limit  Monitor Fuel Usage  Do NOT Fly Into Fuel Reserve –FAR  VFR/Day = intended landing plus 30 minutes  VFR/Night = “ “ “ 45 minutes –FAR For IFR Requirements

Air Crew Member Fatigue ¤Do NOT Fly Unless Healthy –AIM “IM-SAFE” Checklist ¤Abort Flight If Feeling Ill – Be Honest with Yourself & Crew ¤Lookout for Each Other Don’t be a “Hero” ¤Train Observers to “Pinch Hit” ¤ Not scheduled for more than 8 flight hours ¤ May not exceed 10 hours flight time during a 14- hour crew duty day, without wing commander approval! ¤10-hour crew rest period between duty days

AIM “IM-SAFE” Checklist 4Illness 4Medication 4Stress 4Alcohol 4Fatigue 4Emotion/Eating & Exercise

Mechanical Failure  Annual Aircraft / 100 hour Inspection  Conduct a Thorough Pre-flight Inspection & Use the Checklist!  ABORT Flight at The FIRST Sign of Trouble

Before You Go  Topics include… –Dress For The Flight –Inspect Survival Gear –Crew Briefing –Flight Planning –Air Traffic Rules

Dress For The Flight  Based On the Mission & PIC  Keep Critical Items On You!  Nomex Flightsuit -or- Mustang suit / Aircrew Dry Coverall, if water temp is below 60 F & air temp below 85  Polyester? No, due to fire characteristics! (OK, for passengers).  Hearing Protection, but no hats on the flight line!

Mustang “Gumby” ADC Suits  ADC/Survival Suit required when…

Mustang “Gumby” ADC Suits  MAC 10 or MAC 100  Nomex, flightsuit style design & storage pockets  Buoyancy of 18 – 21 lbs, more than the 15.5 lbs required for a PFD  Neoprene hood & inflatable survival mitts optional.

Inspect Survival Gear 4Inventory Items - Location of Equipment (aircraft, raft, PFD?) 4Check Battery Life - Radios/Lights 4Expiration Dates on Flares 4Condition of Flotation Gear 4 - PFDs 4 -Rafts More on Survival Equipment Shortly

Crew/Passenger Briefing  Operation of Aircraft Exits & Seat Belts  Location of Survival Equipment/Rafts  Use of Personal Flotation Devices (PFDs) & Communications Gear  Crew/Passenger Discipline  Emergency Alerting Signals  Required Actions In Case of Ditching  Emergency Egress Procedures & After Egress Plan

Flight Planning +FAA Flight Plan (VFR & IFR) +Check ALL Available Resources +Military Airfield Clearance/DD-175? +DVFR Flight Plan and Discrete Codes? +Radio Guard & Radio Log + VFR/Local Area, To & From Air Station + File With a “Cap Flight” #, not “N”

Aircraft Traffic Rules  MUST Follow FARs  Do not Annoy Persons, Wildlife or Property  Squawk Codes for SAR & VFR  “OPS NORMAL” Reports, Single-Engine = 15 minutes, Multi-Engine = 30 minutes  Consider hazardous 10 minute reporting with the Hazardous Area Reporting Service in designated areas – not in the Gulf Coast, but can request from ATC. AIM §4-1-21

Survival Equipment (* = Minimum CGA Individual Required)  * PFDs, 1 Per Seat  * Sea Dye Marker  * MK-3 Signal Mirror  * Whistle  * Pocket Knife  “Space” Blanket  First Aid Kit  * MK-124 Smoke/Flare  * MS-2000 Strobe Light  * Chem/Light Sticks  EPIRB/ELT  Rafts

Personal Floatation Device (PFD)  PFDs Two Styles  Manual CO2 activation –Orange 485 CG-LPSV  Single oral inflation tube –Black 489 CG Pro Vest  Dual oral inflation tubes

Sea Dye Marker  MIL-S  Fluorescent Green  Visible for 10 miles  From 3,000 ft. altitude  Average usage time = 20 – 30 minutes  Scull water, return dye to pouch  Re deploy as needed

MK-3 Signal Mirror  NSN  Two sizes = 3” x 5” or 2” x 3”  Flash can be seen for over 100 miles  Usable even if overcast  Instructions on back

Signal Mirror Effectivness

Whistle  MIL-W-1053  Plastic construction  Attached lanyard  Can be heard over ¼ mile away  Signal other crewmembers  Signal SAR personnel

G/P Pocket Knife  MIL-K-818  General purpose pocket knife  Stainless steel  2 3/8” Spear blade  Can opener  Punch  Screwdriver  Cap lifter & shackle

Survival “Space” Blanket  Opens to 56” x 84”  Orange/Silver Mylar  Reflects sun  Retains 80-90% of body heat

MK -124 MOD 0 Smoke Flare  NSN  Day/Smoke, Night/Flare  Remove black rubber cap(s)  Day end has red sliding activator  Night end has two metal ridge bands & clear/white sliding activator  Once activator is slid into position, depress with thumb

Strobe Light  MS-2000  NSN  High intensity Xenon Strobe  25,000 peak lumens, per flash  Visible up to 2 miles  50 flashes per minute  Waterproof down to 33 feet  Sliding switch usable w/flight gloves  Uses 2, AA batteries

Chemical Light Sticks  Cyalume Snap Light  6” long  Non-toxic  Bend tube & shake to activate  Typical duration = 8 – 12 hours  If you buy at the store, be sure they haven’t been cracked open in the package

Inflatable Single Place Life Raft  One person ISPLR  Weighs only 5.4 lbs  Twin chamber buoyancy tube provides 180 lbs of buoyancy  Two 75 gram CO2 inflation cylinders  Attached canopy  Sea anchor  Board from the front, toe

Optional Equipment  Insect repellant  Waterproof matches  Sunscreen cream  Pocket compass  Survival knife(s)  Water packets  2-way radio/PLB  Aerial Flares  Waterproof bag(s)  High energy snack(s)

Offshore Operations  Overwater = Flight past power off gliding distance from land  Flights are limited to 50 NM from shore, except with NOC approval  All crew and Pax must wear life preservers  Inflatable rafts for all on board  Anti-exposure suits if water is 60 degrees or less, unless waived by Wing Commander  Must have a pyrotechnic signaling device  Airborne repeater must be used if out of radio range  Night over-water – both pilot and observer must be instrument qualified and current  CD – CAPR 60-6 §3-2 a.2. – PIC 500 hours and instrument qualified and current

Ditching Procedures  Have a Ditching Plan  Recognize The Emergency EARLY  Use a Ditching Checklist  PRACTICE Ditching Procedures – On the ground/classroom (1 minute drill) – At altitude (1,000 foot drill)

Ditching Checklist 4Best Angle Of Glide 4Turn INTO Wind 4Attempt Restart 4Transponder Transmit MAYDAY 4ELT On 4Ignition & Master OFF 4Seat Belts TIGHT 4Doors UNLOCKED & AJAR 4Secure or Jettison Loose Items -or- 4Touchdown NOSE HIGH & Minimum Airspeed

Touchdown on Crest/Backside Of Swells (Wind < 15 KTS –Touchdown Parallel With Swells (Wind > 15, 15, < 30 KTS –Touchdown 1/2 Way Between Swells & Wind (Wind > 30 KTS –Touchdown Into The Wind

Splashdown And Egress  Shock –Physiological –Psychological  Injuries –Types –Prevention  Egress –Seven Step Method

7 Steps to Underwater Egress  1. Establish good reference point  2. Remove everything, except seat belt  3. Open Exits, doors, windows  4. Reestablish reference point  5. Take deep breaths often as possible  6. Stop everything, count 5-8 seconds  7. Hand-over-hand egress method!

Survival In The Water Flotation Flotation  First Aid  Hypothermia  Predator Fish  Signaling

Raft Survival  S – Separate  L – Lubricate  I – Inspect for sharp objects  P – Penetrate the Raft

AAAA Raft Survival  A – Air  A – Assist  A – Anchor  A – Accessories  A – Assess your situation

Hypothermia  Body Core Temperature  Body Heat Loss Heat Loss Prevention Heat Loss Prevention –“HELP” Method  Heat Escape Lessening Posture –Huddle Method

Hypothermia Survival Times

Survival Swimming  Topics include…  Familiarity With Water Environment  Drown Proofing  Treading Water

Familiarity With Water  Biannual Swim, (with PFD)  Learn to Relax In The Water  PFD Use/Operation  Raft Drills  PRACTICE!

Drown Proofing  Conserves Energy & Helps Stay Afloat  Place Most of The Body Underwater  Bend Slightly At Waist, Chin on Chest, Arms on Surface  Lift Head to Exhale, Inhale, And Return To Rest Position  AVOID in Hypothermia Conditions

Treading Water  Lean Slightly Forward, Keep Most of The Body Immersed  Use a Modified “Frog” Kick  Scull With Hands Planed  OK in Hypothermia Conditions  Uses More Energy However

Rescue 4Stay Calm, DON’T Panic 4Get In Raft, Stay TOGETHER 4Average Military Rescue Time = 4 Hours 4Once In Raft Fire ONE Flare, Save Others 4Most Victims Die RIGHT AS Rescuers Arrive - DON’T GIVE UP!!

Helicopter Pick-Up  Once Visually Sighted, Use Flare, Smoke Or Mirror ØPrepare For Strong Rotor Down Drafts (secure loose gear and abandon & deflate your raft) 4Do EXACTLY What The Rescue- Swimmer Says!  Do NOT Try To “Assist” The Rescue-Swimmer

Thank You Very Much “A safe flight, is no accident!”

Final Comments & Questions