Transcript Ditching Short - What Safe Cockpit.com is all about

DITCHING AT SEA!
SURVIVING THE ULTIMATE
AVIATION CHALLENGE!
U.S. COAST GUARD
AUXILIARY AIR PROGRAM
Donald Zinner
District 7
Flight Safety
Officer
AVIATION SAFETY
• AVIATION SAFETY IS THE ABSENCE OF A CONTROLLABLE HAZARD
• HAZARDS MAY BE CONTROLLED BY:
• AVOIDANCE (JUST DON’T DO IT)
• ENGINEERING (REDUNDANCY, BETTER CRASHWORTHINESS)
• WARNING PLAQARDS
• TRAINING AND EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
• LIFESAVING EQUIPMENT (PFD, EPIRB, LIFE RAFT)
• THESE ARE ALL PRINCIPLES OF RISK MANAGEMENT
Ditching
2 Versions
Planned and Immediate
PLANNED VS. IMMEDIATE
DITCHING
Planned
• ETOPS: EXTENDED OPERATIONS OVER WATER
• ETOPS = ENGINES TURNING OR PEOPLE SWIMMING!
• PLANNED DITCHING MEANS SOME TIME TRANSPIRES BETWEEN
THE EMERGENCY AND THE DITCHING ALLOWING THE CREW TIME
TO PREPARE
• GENERALLY CAUSED BY A POWER LOSS AT ALTITUDE
• HAS THE HIGHEST PROBABILITY OF SURVIVAL
PLANNED VS. IMMEDIATE
DITCHING
Immediate
• LITTLE TIME BETWEEN THE EVENT AND THE DITCHING
• THE CREW HAS NO TIME TO PREPARE AND WILL EGRESS WITH LIFE
JACKETS ONLY
IF THEY ARE BEING WORN
• GENERALLY CAUSED BY A POWER LOSS AT LOW ALTITUDE WHILE
ON APPROACH, LANDING, OR MANEUVERING
• HAS A LOWER PROBABILITY OF SURVIVAL THAN PLANNED
DITCHING
SOME CAUSES OF
DITCHING MISHAPS
• IMMEDIATE
• INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE AT TIME OF POWER LOSS
• LOSS OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
• VISUAL ILLUSIONS ON NIGHT APPROACH
• LOSS OF CONTROL
• PLANNED OR IMMEDIATE
• FUEL EXHAUSTION AT ALTITUDE
• MECHANICAL FAILURE
• PILOT INCAPACITATION
SURVIVAL STATISTICS
Airplane Configurations Involved in Ditching Accidents
US Civil Aviation: CY 1979-1983
Airplane Configuration
Number
Ditched
Number
Fatal
Percent
Fatal
All Types of Airplanes
High Wing, Fixed Gear
79
8
10
Low Wing, Fixed Gear
38
6
16
High Wing, Retract Gear *
33
7
21
Low Wing, Retract Gear *
64
13
20
Total (All Types)
214
34
16
* Generally bigger faster aircraft
SURVIVAL STATISTICS
SUMMARY
• MORE THAN 80 PERCENT OF DITCHINGS ARE INITIALLY
SURVIVABLE
• OF THE 20 PERCENT OF FATALITIES, 80 PERCENT DO NOT
SUCCESSFULLY EGRESS (USUALLY REAR OCCUPANTS)
• OF THE 20 PERCENT OF FATALITIES, 20 PERCENT ARE LOST AT
NIGHT
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
• SURVIVABILITY DEPENDS ON A NUMBER OF PRIMARY FACTORS
1.
2.
THE G FORCES MUST BE WITHIN HUMAN TOLERANCE
THE AIRFRAME MUST MAINTAIN ITS INTEGRITY
3.
THERE MUST BE NO CATASTROPHIC POST-IMPACT FIRE
4.
OCCUPANTS MUST SUCCESSFULLY EGRESS
5.
THE OCCUPANTS MUST BE RESCUED
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
CRASH FORCES
• G FORCES: THE PROBABLITY OF SURVIVAL IS EQUAL TO THE
ANGLE OF ARRIVAL
• HUMANS TOLERATE CRASH FORCES WELL ONLY IN THE STRAIGHT
AHEAD HORIZONTAL PLANE
• VERTICAL ACCELERATIONS ARE DEADLY
• SIDE ACCELERATIONS ARE DEADLIER!
• KINETIC ENERGY TO BE DISSIPATED INCREASES BY THE SQUARE
OF THE VELOCITY (KE=1/2MV2) i.e.,
TWICE THE VELOCITY EQUALS FOUR TIMES THE ENERGY
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
CRASH FORCES
DITCHINGS ARE MORE SURVIVABLE THAN FORCED LANDINGS !
BECAUSE OF THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE G FORCES OVER A LONGER
TIME—MORE TIME TO DECELERATE
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
SURVIVORS MUST EGRESS
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
SURVIVORS MUST BE RESCUED
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
DITCHING PROCEDURES
• CONDUCT A THOROUGH PRE-TAKEOFF SAFETY BRIEFING
• FLY THE AIRPLANE THROUGH THE DITCHING
• POWER ON PLANNED DITCHING IS PREFERRED TO POWER OFF
• IF NO POWER IS AVAILABLE, 20 KNOTS SHOULD BE ADDED TO BEST
GLIDE SPEED IN THE LAST 1,000 FEET TO FLARE WITHOUT STALLING
• ENSURE PFD’s ARE WORN AND SECURE LIFE RAFT AND EPIRB
WHEN EVENT OCCURS (PILOT BRIEFS THE CREW)
• SQUAWK 7700 AND BROADCAST A MAYDAY WITH POSITION
• REMOVE HEADSETS TO AVOID ENTANGLEMENT
• UNLATCH AND PROP OPEN DOORS TO AVOID ENTRAPMENT
• TIGHTEN SAFETY RESTRAINTS
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
DITCHING PROCEEDURES
• TRIM FOR NOSE UP NORMAL LANDING ATTITUDE
BUT DO NOT STALL!
• DO NOT LAND INTO THE FACE OF A STEEP SWELL!
• WHEN AIRCRAFT COMES TO A STOP, EGRESS AS SOON AS
PRACTICAL
• DO NOT INFLATE LIFE VEST OR RAFT INSIDE AIRCRAFT!
• IF AIRCRAFT INVERTS, USE A POINT PREVIOUSLY LOCATED TO
ORIENT YOURSELF—PLACE YOUR HAND ON THE ROOF TO
CUSHION FALL
• IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO OPEN DOOR WAIT FOR COCKPIT TO FILL
WITH WATER TO EQUALIZE PRESSURE
• KICK OUT A WINDOW IF NECESSARY
• RENDEZVOUS AT PREVIOUSLY BRIEFED LOCATION, INFLATE LIFE
RAFT AND ACTIVATE EPIRB (HOLD RAFT BY TETHER DURING
EGRESS)
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
DITCHING PROCEEDURES
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
DITCHING PROCEEDURES
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
ENEMIES OF SURVIVAL
• DON’T GIVE UP! MANY SURVIVORS DIE AS HELP ARRIVES!
• TREAT LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES IMMEDIATELY
• HYPOTHERMIA IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER IN THE WATER
• HEAT IS LOST AT A RATE 25 TIMES GREATER THAN AIR
• DEHYDRATION IS THE SECOND GREATEST KILLER
• DO NOT REMOVE YOUR CLOTHING; YOU WILL NEED IT
• IF WITHOUT POSITIVE FLOTATION, INFLATE TROUSERS OR USE
DEAD-MAN’S FLOAT
• REMAIN STILL IN THE WATER TO CONSERVE HEAT AND TO MINIMIZE
PREDATOR ATTRACTION (HEAT ESCAPE LESSENING POSTURE -HELP)
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
HEAT ESCAPE LESSENING POSTURE
(HELP)
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
ALERT – LOCATE SIGNALS
• THE BEST ALERT SIGNAL IS VOICE TRANSMISSION (MAYDAY)
• THE BEST LOCATE/ALERT SIGNAL IS AN EPIRB W/ GPS
• THE NEXT BEST LOCATE/ALERT IS A MAYDAY WHILE IN RADAR
CONTACT
• A FLOATING AIRCRAFT IS EASIER TO DETECT THAN A LIFE RAFT
• A LIFE RAFT IS EASIER TO DETECT THAN A SURVIVOR IN THE
WATER WITH OR WITHOUT A PFD
• TRAIN ON THE PROPER USE OF ALERT – LOCATORS SUCH AS
SIGNAL MIRRORS, STREAMERS, FLARES, ETC. SIGNIFICANTLY
ENHANCE THE PROBABILITY OF DETECTION
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
ALERT – LOCATE SIGNALS
• VOICE TRANSMISSION OF MAYDAY OVER A/C RADIO
• PROVIDES THE MOST DATA CONCERNING THE TYPE OF
EMERGENCY AND INTENTIONS
• IS LEAST ACCURATE IN DETERMINING POSITION UNLESS A CLEAR
GEOGRAPHIC FEATURE CAN BE REFERENCED OR GPS
COORDINATES ARE TRANSMITTED
• OFTEN REQUIRES DIVERSION OF ATTENTION FROM THE
EMERGENCY (AVIATE, NAVIGATE, COMMUNICATE)
• ONCE YOU HAVE PROVIDED THE INFORMATION, FLY THE AIRCRAFT!
• USE FLIGHT FOLLOWING—IF YOU DISAPPEAR FROM RADAR OR
CALL MAYDAY YOU HAVE GENERATED A POSSIBLE ALERT AND
POSITION
• BELOW 500 MSL, TRANSMIT “N123AB MAYDAY DITCHING” -- FLY THE
AIRCRAFT!
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
EPIRB – LOCATE SIGNALS
• EMERGENCY POSITION INDICATING RADIO BEACON (EPIRB) (A/L)
• TYPE OF PORTABLE ELT GENERALLY USED BY SURFACE VESSELS
• MANUALLY ACTIVATED (CLASS B)
• OLDER TYPE TRANSMITS TO SARSAT ON 121.5 MHz AND WOBBLE
TONE CAN BE HEARD BY OTHER A/C (ACR MINI-B 300)
• LESS ACCURATE – 12-16 NM MILES ON FIRST PASS
• INITIAL POSITION UNCERTAINTY RESULTS IN A 450 SQ. NM AREA
• ANONYMOUS TRANSMISSION RESULTS IN HIGH-FALSE ALARM
RATE
• RESCUE A/C MUST HOME TO SIGNAL
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
EPIRB 406 – LOCATE SIGNALS
• EMERGENCY POSITION INDICATING RADIO BEACON (EPIRB) (A/L)
• NEWER TYPE TRANSMITS TO SARSAT ON 406 MHz AND CAN
INCLUDE GPS FOR PRECISE POSITION ON FIRST PASS
• MORE ACCURATE – 1 TO 3 NM MILES ON FIRST PASS
• INITIAL POSITION UNCERTAINTY RESULTS IN A 12 SQ. NM AREA
• INTEGRAL GPS GIVES ±100 METER RESOLUTION that’s about 300ft
• SOME UNITS ALSO BROADCAST ON 121.5 FOR A/C HOMING
• BROADCAST CONTAINS ID SIGNAL THAT IDENTIFIES THE AIRCRAFT
OR USER AND RESULTS IN LOW RATE OF FALSE ALARMS
• ACTIVATE AND LEAVE ON UNTIL BATTERY EXHAUSTED; DO NOT
TURN ON AND OFF! BATTERY WILL LAST ABOUT 48 HOURS IN
TROPICS
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
ALERT – LOCATE SIGNALS
Not
Recommended
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
LOCATE SIGNALS
• PYROTECHNICS (A/L)
• DO NOT USE UNLESS YOU ARE REASONABLY SURE THAT THE
SIGNAL CAN BE SEEN (PROBABILITY OF DETECTION)
• IF CLOSE TO SHORE OR A VESSEL, FIRE ONE AERIAL FLARE AS AN
ALERT SIGNAL
• SAVE OTHER PYROTECHNICS AS LOCATE SIGNALS
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
ALERT – LOCATE SIGNALS
• DYE MARKER (L)
• PRIMARILY A DAY LOCATE SIGNAL
• DISPERSES A FLUORESCENT GREEN DYE
• DISSIPATES AFTER ABOUT 10 MIN DEPENDING ON SEA CONDITION
• DIFFICULT TO KEEP DRY AND FROM DYEING EVERYTHING
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
ALERT – LOCATE SIGNALS
• SIGNAL MIRROR (A/L)
• DAY ALERT – LOCATE SIGNAL
• EFFECTIVE UP TO TEN MILES
• NO BATTERIES REQUIRED
• DOESN’T WORK ON CLOUDY DAYS
• TAKES PRACTICE TO AIM
• GLASS IS MOST REFLECTIVE
• CD’s WORK WELL
• POLYCARBONATE OR LEXAN IS ABOUT 60 – 80% OF GLASS
• PLASTIC FLOATS
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
ALERT – LOCATE SIGNALS
• SIGNAL MIRROR (A/L)
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
LOCATE SIGNALS
• STROBE LIGHTS (A/L)
• PRIMARILY A NIGHT LOCATE SIGNAL
• EFFECTIVE UP TO TEN MILES
• BATTERY LASTS ABOUT 8-10 HOURS
• TURN ON AND LEAVE ON!
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
ALERT – LOCATE SIGNALS
• RESCUE STREAMER (L)
• PRIMARILY A LOCATE SIGNAL
• EFFECTIVE UP TO TEN MILES
• DOES NOT DISSIPATE LIKE A DYE MARKER
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
ALERT – LOCATE SIGNALS
• RESCUE WHISTLE (L)
• PRIMARILY A LOCATE SIGNAL
• EFFECTIVE UP TO ONE MILE
• CAN BE USED EVEN WHEN YOU CANNOT SHOUT OR SPEAK
• MUST NOT HAVE A PEA OR OTHER BALL INSIDE
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT
• LIFE VESTS
• TSO MODEL REQUIRED BY FAA
• NOT DESIGNED FOR CONSTANT WEAR
• PROVIDES 25 LBS BUOYANCY
• NO SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT OTHER THAN A LIGHT
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT
• RESCUE KNIFE
• SERRATED BLADE WITH SHEEPSFOOT POINT
• WORN ON OUTSIDE OF LIFE VEST
• CAN BE OPENED WITH ONE HAND
• USED FOR EMERGENCY DISENTANGLEMENT
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT
• WATER PACKETS
• 75 ML PURE DRINKING WATER
• SOME IN POCKET OF LIFE VEST
• SOME IN POCKET OF CLOTHING
• PREVENTS DEHYDRATION IF IN WATER OVERNIGHT
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT
• INFLATABLE LIFE RAFTS
• MUST BE TSO FOR PAX FOR HIRE
• STORE IN A/C WHERE IT IS ACCESSIBLE
• PLACE ON RIGHT SEAT AND BELT IN WHEN SOLO
• BALLAST AND CANOPY ARE IMPORTANT FEATURES
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT
• INFLATABLE LIFE RAFTS
• TYPICAL FOUR MAN RAFT (ACTUALLY TWO MAN)
• NO BALLAST STABILITY OR CANOPY
• DOES PROVIDE SOME PROTECTION FROM HYPOTHERMIA
• EASIER TO LOCATE THAN SURVIVOR IN WATER
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT
• INFLATABLE LIFE RAFTS
• TYPICAL FOUR MAN TSO RAFT
• NO BALLAST – EASILY OVERTURNED
• DOES PROVIDE SOME PROTECTION FROM HYPOTHERMIA
• EASIER TO LOCATE THAN SURVIVOR IN WATER
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT
• INFLATABLE LIFE RAFTS
• SIX MAN USCG SAR RAFT
• AIR DROPPED FROM C-130 OR HU-25
• HEAVY BALLAST & CANOPY – ABOUT 52 POUNDS
• EXCELLENT HYPOTHERMIA PROTECTION – INFLATABLE FLOOR
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
RESCUE PROCEDURES
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
RESCUE PROCEDURES
• DO NOT PANIC! PANIC REDUCES YOUR PROBABILITY OF SURVIVAL
• DO NOT GIVE UP, HELP WILL ARRIVE!
• INFLATE LIFE VEST AND GET IN THE LIFE RAFT
• IF NOT IN A LIFE RAFT, ATTACH SURVIVORS TOGETHER; DON’T GET
SEPARATED
• STAY WITH THE AIRCRAFT IF AT ALL POSSIBLE; IT IS RELATIVELY
EASY TO SPOT
• WHEN THE HELO ARRIVES, DO EXACTLY WHAT THE RESCUE
SWIMMER TELLS YOU-- DO NOT TRY TO ‘HELP’ HIM!
• DO NOT TOUCH THE RESCUE BASKET UNTIL IT HAS TOUCHED THE
WATER (STATIC ELECTRICITY)
• ABANDON LIFE RAFT AND PUNCTURE-- HELO WILL NOT COME IN TO
PICK YOU UP UNTIL LIFE RAFT HAS SUNK
SURVIVABILITY FACTORS
EQUIPMENT INSPECTIONS
• INSPECT YOUR GEAR QUARTERLY-- TEST STROBES, EPIRBS, AND
RADIOS
• ORALLY INFLATE (OR USE COMPRESSOR) YOUR PDF’S ANNUALLY
• INFLATION TEST AND INSPECT LIFE RAFT ANNUALLY
•CO2 BOTTLE MUST BE HYDRO’D EACH 5 YEARS (DOT).
QUESTIONS?