Hello Gunship and Islander Jock !
I have been around in Africa for quite a while me too...now in Gabon but very likely in Angola again very soon.
To come back to emergency exits on these russian "Mi", I remember having seen an army Mi 8 MTV just after it crashed on landing; it stopped on its right side (as on most of cases), the tank was cruhed and fuel was everywhere....the 2 emergency exits on the right side were of course unusable and the left sliding door was out of reach because of the fuselage width.
Everybody on board (5) went off from the cockpit roof hatch.
Lucky it wasn't winter with the big "KA50" heater/burner switched on (just in front of right fuel tank !!!)
No chance left, let alone with 24 passengers aboard (but again, this helicopter never has been designed for "public transport")
If correctly maintained, (and this is the problem now,in a "no investment / maximum profit context") the jettisoning system looks reliable.
I have an accidental out of control ditching some years ago, in S365C model, and althought the emergency exits jettisoning is very simple here, I couldn't jettison my right door only because the bottom of it was already under a few centimeters of water and pressure was already too high on this big surface.
But my 4 passengers where outside in seconds!!! I managed to follow from the co-pilot door once inverted!
In general I think the problem is a lack of standardization in jettisoning systems and doors lockings, no wonder passengers are confused.
But apparently an effort has been made on new generation of off-shore helicopters.
Not too hot where you are now Gunship ?
