better pilot
thing to figure out long before it’s needed. Never
release the seat belt until all movement has stopped
(including the onrush of water). Once you find and
open the door or exit, get one hand out that exit, and
only then should you use the other hand to release the
seat belt.
When exiting a submerged airplane, we may not be
able to see, and it can be nearly impossible to tell which
way is up. Experts tell us that once we are clear of the
exit, we should pull the inflator tab on the life jacket
and let it take us to the surface. Pull hard on that tab as
it can take a significant force to activate the device.
Survival
Our ultimate survival might well depend on the
planning put into place before taking to the air and
during the flight. This includes carrying some basic
safety and survival equipment, filing a flight plan, and
taking advantage of ATC radar services.
Resources for Ditching Training
While reading an article on how to ditch an aircraft is useful,
there’s nothing like some hands-on training to practice the
necessary skills. Egress training and survival training is
available from several sources, and a one-day course can
give you a whole new perspective on the subject. For more
information, check out the following resources:
Aviation Egress Systems
200 Hart Road
Victoria, B.C., Canada
V9C 1A1
Phone: 250-704-6401
Toll free: 1-877-463-4824 (GO-DITCH)
Fax: 250-478-2678
www.DunkYou.com
Pro Aviation Safety Training
Surrey, B.C., Canada
604-575-8689
www.ProAviation.ca
Survival Systems USA Inc. (worldwide locations)
144 Tower Avenue
Groton, CT 06340
Phone: 860-405-0002
Toll free: 888-386-5371
Fax: 860-405-0006
www.SurvivalSystemsInc.com
A variety of equipment can play a critical factor in
survival. Nothing is more obvious than the need for
an inflatable life vest for yourself and each passenger.
Especially in cold water, a life raft can make the difference
between life and death, and since it presents a much
larger visual target, it is more likely to draw the attention
of rescuers. If the raft is equipped with an emergency
position-indicating radio beacon, make certain it is
activated. Having some basic signaling equipment, such
as a signal mirror, signal flares, or surface marker dye
can help guide rescuers to our location.
Water Temp.
(Degrees F)
32. 5
32. 5 - 40
40 - 50
50 - 60
60 - 70
70 - 80
Over 80
Exhaustion or
Unconsciousness
Under 15 minutes
15 - 30 minutes
30 - 60 minutes
1 - 2 hours
2 - 7 hours
3 - 12 hours
Indefinite
Survival Time
45 minutes
30 - 90 minutes
1 - 3 hours
1 - 6 hours
2 - 40 hours
3 hours - indefinite
Indefinite
Perhaps one of the most critical factors in survival is
the temperature. Even if we do everything else perfectly,
our ultimate survival can depend on getting out of the
water as quickly as possible. The table above lists the
expected time to exhaustion and expected survival
times as a function of water temperature. The colder
the water, the less time we have. It’s that simple.
A Winning Attitude
Ditching really should be approached with a positive
attitude. The survival rate of pilots and passengers
ditching in private aircraft is somewhere between 70
and 90 percent, depending on whose data we believe,
and that number includes those who never gave the
prospects of ditching a second thought. By taking the
time to consider the prospects, and putting a playbook
in the back of our minds, we give ourselves the extra
edge necessary to stack the odds in our favor.
Robert N. Rossier has been flying for more than 30 years.
A former aerospace engineer and flight school manager
in Colorado, he spent 12 years flying for a small airline/
charter service in the northeast, serving as chief pilot
and check airman. He has been writing for the aviation
industry for nearly 20 years, and was the recipient of a
2001 Aerospace Journalist of the Year Award.
