Originally Posted by
ATC Watcher
As I said before getting shoes off main benefits on a water ditching ,are keeping the door(s) unlocked preventing jamming and letting water in case inverted as water pressure prevents it to open . Extra benefit in case unconscious : it helps other people to get you out without having to figure out how to unlock the door or slide the canopy .
those 3,benefits alone ( besides faster swimming ) far outweighs anything else .such as eventual minor injuries on foots on metal bits …
But seat belts releases is the one to watch for and train as they are the killer ones . As Pilot DAR said some do not open easily or even not at all under pressure .if you fly in one of those aircraft then carrying a seat belt cutter ( 10 eur or $) in any car accessory shop would be my advice .
When worried to keep the door further open than just ajar, maybe use the headset at the front end of the door (thinking in low-end Cessna types), one cup inside, one cup outside and the headband above the upper door hinge. Can be done in 10 seconds, whereas taking off your shoes can easily be 2x 1 minute fiddling with a yoke in front of you, especially for those who aren't 18 years old any longer, when you only have 60 seconds before your crash, and you have more serious things to worry about.