Hi all,
The nimrod floating for 20 minutes does ring a bell. Was it not a submarine hunter?? It does seem we are speaking of submarines here.
Joking apart I guess things work out fine on paper yet, even though aircrews undergo training for ditching (to satisfy certain requirements by JAA, CAA or JAR or whoever) it is quite remote that aircraft remain afloat following ditching. First you would need the aircraft structure to remain intact on impact.
I would not really worry about RJ, as it not a long haul aircraft, so chances of flying for long periods of time over water (unlike nimrod... guess it even refuelled in flight) are very unlikely.
Wish you all a happy new year and definately no ditchings
