PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - VFR over water?
Thread: VFR over water?
View Single Post
Old 26th Feb 2017, 20:40
  #15 (permalink)  
The Old Fat One
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 1,515
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
op,

Be advised when revising your ditching drills (which if you don't do, Darwin has control) that many articles you will find on t'internet on sea survival are not written by survival instructors, they are frequently written by well meaning, but often misguided amateurs.

A quick crash course (no pun intended)

the principles of survival are (in strict priority order):

protection
location
water
food

Sea survival wise you can forget water and food, you will be dead long before they are a factor. (unless you are planning on crossing the open ocean).

Protection means, protection from drowning - a proper well fitted, serviceable life preserver is a must (if not carried, Darwin has control...)

Following on, protection means protection from the cold. On average you will die in 30 minutes to two hours in UK waters from hypothermia in the winter months, but be aware your body parts, specifically your hands will be useless in after just 10 minutes or so. An immersion suit will extend this time, a modern dinghy will extend it for more than long enough to get rescued...ASSUMING...

Location. Nobody mentioned it above ( I rest my case). IF YOU DON'T GET OUT A MAYDAY, YOU WILL ONE LUCKY BOY TO SURVIVE. A acknowledged mayday with an accurate position will ensure someone will get to you promptly. No mayday...its in the lap of the gods. However, a modern locator beacon may get the job done as well....but **** it, get a mayday out!!!

Location. A modern locator beacon will again, massively enhance your chances of survival.

Bottom line, most pilots can ditch successfully and stats prove that. Regrettably most (private) pilots then perish in the sea and stats prove that too.

No skills, no kit...Darwin has control.

Hope you learnt something.

PS

Don't be tempted to fly low level over the oggin...them sea birds make a right mess of your face.
The Old Fat One is offline