Preparing: Lifejackets.
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Preparing: Lifejackets.
So, the flight you’re about to fly has a risk of a water landing; this may be because it actually is a floatplane operation, or maybe that a portion of the flight will be over water, or with a water landing being the only practical escape (flying the shoreline of a city). You know in your heart, that entering the water is possible during that flight, are you prepared?
Lifejackets: Yup, got ‘em. They’re in plastic bags in the seat pocket behind you. Hmmm, if you’re being inundated with a gurgling mass of dark cold water, and thinking about how to get out, will you even think about searching behind you for a lifejacket? Could you find it, and take it with you? If you got out with it, could you don and inflate it, while struggling to remain afloat in the mean time?
Wait, the person you were flying with is just over there, and looks like they are struggling in the water, can you help them too? Oh, now you realize that though you’re out of the plane, you’re a lot more injured than you realize – your shoulder is broken, and your arm is of little use, your ankles are broken, you cannot swim – it’s getting more complicated…
But, you were prepared, you were already wearing the lifejacket while you were flying, so it went out the door with you – excellent! Do you recall how to inflate it? Your cell phone, to call for help, darn, it’s in your pocket, and soaked….
Recently, to my instant horror, I found myself floating beside the plane I had just been flying in, which was now sinking. I was calling out to my fellow pilot, as I could not see him. I had not exited the plane, I had been ejected through the windshield. I was wearing my life jacket, as I always do when water flying. My cell phone was in a waterproof bag, clipped to the life jacket, so when I was ready, and floating with stability, I could call for help.
Well, exiting through the windshield had not been an element of my planning. The life jacket was torn (as was I), and the cell phone pouch ripped off. While floating (well, sinking), I had trouble finding the inflate tabs, and my injured arm refused to assist. The manual inflation tube was perfectly positioned, and my right arm worked, so I blew breaths in to inflate. I did not realize that the lifejacket was ripped, but happily, it held enough air, that I could see the yellow pillow form at my shoulder. That modest amount of buoyant air saved my life. Then I passed out. Happily, I later learned that my fellow pilot was much less injured than I, had inflated the life jacket he was wearing, and was rescued with me.
I have the most brief recollection of a person I know telling me I’ll be alright, while hearing the sound of an outboard motor. I recall a glimpse of a fellow firefighter (I’m a volunteer firefighter in the place of the accident) telling me it’ll be alright, as he helped lift me out of the boat. One more momentary memory of another of my fellow fire fighters telling me it will be alright, while riding in the ambulance. Three days later, I came to, in critical ICU, with my family all around me, telling me how close I’d come medically to not making it. I know how close I came buoyantly to not making it!
And my phone? My wife called it for nearly two days. The waterproof case held, as it rung, and took a message, until finally the battery went flat.
So, my advice is consider your risks, and skills – if you’re flying over water, are you prepared to suddenly be in it? Injured? Needing to also assist your fellow flier? Have you practiced with a life jacket in the water? Can you exit the plane in the dark, upside down? If you chose to not wear the life jacket, can you find it, and take it with you, while rushing out in a panic? When I took the dunker course, the purpose of one exercise was to grab the lifejacket on the way out. With all the mental planning I had done, and single purpose to performing that simple task, three of four times, I left the inverted, submerged cockpit without out the life jacket – fail!
Prepare for emergencies, they don’t always give you much warning! The difference between my being rescued by boat, or being searched by police divers was my wearing my lifejacket, and managing to make the best of it, even damaged.
My advice for you from my life lesson five weeks ago…..
Lifejackets: Yup, got ‘em. They’re in plastic bags in the seat pocket behind you. Hmmm, if you’re being inundated with a gurgling mass of dark cold water, and thinking about how to get out, will you even think about searching behind you for a lifejacket? Could you find it, and take it with you? If you got out with it, could you don and inflate it, while struggling to remain afloat in the mean time?
Wait, the person you were flying with is just over there, and looks like they are struggling in the water, can you help them too? Oh, now you realize that though you’re out of the plane, you’re a lot more injured than you realize – your shoulder is broken, and your arm is of little use, your ankles are broken, you cannot swim – it’s getting more complicated…
But, you were prepared, you were already wearing the lifejacket while you were flying, so it went out the door with you – excellent! Do you recall how to inflate it? Your cell phone, to call for help, darn, it’s in your pocket, and soaked….
Recently, to my instant horror, I found myself floating beside the plane I had just been flying in, which was now sinking. I was calling out to my fellow pilot, as I could not see him. I had not exited the plane, I had been ejected through the windshield. I was wearing my life jacket, as I always do when water flying. My cell phone was in a waterproof bag, clipped to the life jacket, so when I was ready, and floating with stability, I could call for help.
Well, exiting through the windshield had not been an element of my planning. The life jacket was torn (as was I), and the cell phone pouch ripped off. While floating (well, sinking), I had trouble finding the inflate tabs, and my injured arm refused to assist. The manual inflation tube was perfectly positioned, and my right arm worked, so I blew breaths in to inflate. I did not realize that the lifejacket was ripped, but happily, it held enough air, that I could see the yellow pillow form at my shoulder. That modest amount of buoyant air saved my life. Then I passed out. Happily, I later learned that my fellow pilot was much less injured than I, had inflated the life jacket he was wearing, and was rescued with me.
I have the most brief recollection of a person I know telling me I’ll be alright, while hearing the sound of an outboard motor. I recall a glimpse of a fellow firefighter (I’m a volunteer firefighter in the place of the accident) telling me it’ll be alright, as he helped lift me out of the boat. One more momentary memory of another of my fellow fire fighters telling me it will be alright, while riding in the ambulance. Three days later, I came to, in critical ICU, with my family all around me, telling me how close I’d come medically to not making it. I know how close I came buoyantly to not making it!
And my phone? My wife called it for nearly two days. The waterproof case held, as it rung, and took a message, until finally the battery went flat.
So, my advice is consider your risks, and skills – if you’re flying over water, are you prepared to suddenly be in it? Injured? Needing to also assist your fellow flier? Have you practiced with a life jacket in the water? Can you exit the plane in the dark, upside down? If you chose to not wear the life jacket, can you find it, and take it with you, while rushing out in a panic? When I took the dunker course, the purpose of one exercise was to grab the lifejacket on the way out. With all the mental planning I had done, and single purpose to performing that simple task, three of four times, I left the inverted, submerged cockpit without out the life jacket – fail!
Prepare for emergencies, they don’t always give you much warning! The difference between my being rescued by boat, or being searched by police divers was my wearing my lifejacket, and managing to make the best of it, even damaged.
My advice for you from my life lesson five weeks ago…..
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Let me be the first to say, I'm delighted you are still here to tell the tale. And if your humour is intact remember "any landing you walk (swim) away from is a good one".
As you are a mod here, I'm sure you will recall this is a subject I've posted on many times as a ex sea survival instructor.
Anybody who flies light aircraft over water and does not heed your advice (or mine) is just plain dumb.
Your post above should be a sticky imo.
and whilst this may appear immodest, the subject it just too damn important so here is the link to my post/thread
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...-survival.html
and here is an extract from that post, which perhaps PILOT DAR, you could help ram home.
However, like almost every article I ever read on this subject it simply does not convey the shock you going to be subject to when you hit very cold water at very high speed in a very hostile and completely overwhelming environment. Almost every time I read these articles, I find myself thinking, yeah, you’ve never done it mate.
As you are a mod here, I'm sure you will recall this is a subject I've posted on many times as a ex sea survival instructor.
Anybody who flies light aircraft over water and does not heed your advice (or mine) is just plain dumb.
Your post above should be a sticky imo.
and whilst this may appear immodest, the subject it just too damn important so here is the link to my post/thread
http://www.pprune.org/private-flying...-survival.html
and here is an extract from that post, which perhaps PILOT DAR, you could help ram home.
However, like almost every article I ever read on this subject it simply does not convey the shock you going to be subject to when you hit very cold water at very high speed in a very hostile and completely overwhelming environment. Almost every time I read these articles, I find myself thinking, yeah, you’ve never done it mate.
Last edited by The Old Fat One; 18th Aug 2017 at 16:58.
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Hey dude, glad you're recovering and well enough to post. I mostly lurk at periscope depth here but have surfaced to reply.
I have missed your thoughtful and erudite contributions (of which this is of course yet another) to the Prune and was horrified to hear of your accident. Hope you're well.
Thank you for reminding us of the pertinent need to wear life jackets. I wear one whenever I can over water and am distinctly uncomfortable when unable. I am always surprised by the blasé attitude of most pilots I encounter who don't regard our local short water crossing as worthy of a life preserver... It may be short but it's bloody cold!
One point you implied that may be worth explicitly mentioning is that the life jacket should be MANUALLY inflatable. There is a recent horror story of a poor chap whose automatic life jacket inflated and trapped him in the cockpit when he ditched and flipped close to the shore - fortunately IIRC he was pulled out by passers by but the alternative doesn't near thinking about.
Anyway Pilot DAR, thank you again, good luck and plenty of revs.
EDIT: Yes, look here - http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-40880291
I have missed your thoughtful and erudite contributions (of which this is of course yet another) to the Prune and was horrified to hear of your accident. Hope you're well.
Thank you for reminding us of the pertinent need to wear life jackets. I wear one whenever I can over water and am distinctly uncomfortable when unable. I am always surprised by the blasé attitude of most pilots I encounter who don't regard our local short water crossing as worthy of a life preserver... It may be short but it's bloody cold!
One point you implied that may be worth explicitly mentioning is that the life jacket should be MANUALLY inflatable. There is a recent horror story of a poor chap whose automatic life jacket inflated and trapped him in the cockpit when he ditched and flipped close to the shore - fortunately IIRC he was pulled out by passers by but the alternative doesn't near thinking about.
Anyway Pilot DAR, thank you again, good luck and plenty of revs.
EDIT: Yes, look here - http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-kent-40880291
However many other rules you do or don't observe, there is one that is non negotiable. Always, always, always wear your lifejacket complete with crotch straps. They are absolutely essential bits of kit. I know of at least half a dozen occasions when deaths have occurred that may not have occurred if these straps had been worn.
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That was quite an "adventure", if I may say so. With the injuries you sustained, it looks like you're going to need some time to get back to 100%, so I wish you the best in your recovery.
When you're able, could you tell us a bit more about what happened? Where, what aircraft, and what altitude? What happened to the engine? Why the ejection through the windshield? What happened to the seatbelts? Did the aircraft flip over on its back or did it stay upright? How long did it take the aircraft to sink?
Yes, I've been on a dunker course too. Over water I'm wearing a lifejacket and for long legs even a survival suit plus some locating geat. So I like to think I'm prepared. But still, I'd like to learn everything I can from others, if that means I don't have to experience it myself...
When you're able, could you tell us a bit more about what happened? Where, what aircraft, and what altitude? What happened to the engine? Why the ejection through the windshield? What happened to the seatbelts? Did the aircraft flip over on its back or did it stay upright? How long did it take the aircraft to sink?
Yes, I've been on a dunker course too. Over water I'm wearing a lifejacket and for long legs even a survival suit plus some locating geat. So I like to think I'm prepared. But still, I'd like to learn everything I can from others, if that means I don't have to experience it myself...
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The accident occurred during an otherwise normal and intentional water landing in a flying boat. Due to crash forces, I was ejected through the windshield as the aircraft stopped in the water. I cannon speak to seatbelts, other than to say I was in the water outside the plane, but did not open my seatbelt to get there (I guess the going through the windshield part was an indicator of that too!). The aircraft remained afloat longer than expected, but sank as my fire department colleagues tried to tow it to shore with the fire boat. Happily, the accident was witnessed, so summoning emergency services was not delayed.
Smasher's comment is correct, never an automatic life jacket in a plane, and even caution with those in boats. You gotta be outside before it inflates. During my dunker course, I was required to "swim" front to back in the simulated deHavilland Beaver cabin while wearing an inflated lifejacket, and it was near impossible.
Smasher's comment is correct, never an automatic life jacket in a plane, and even caution with those in boats. You gotta be outside before it inflates. During my dunker course, I was required to "swim" front to back in the simulated deHavilland Beaver cabin while wearing an inflated lifejacket, and it was near impossible.
In circumstances such as a ditching there is a saying, if it's not strapped to your body you're not going to have it if you successfully exit.
There are circumstances in which a lifejacket is merely going to prolong your death. Availability of rescue services, did you get a MAYDAY out - if you didn't no one is going to come looking, until perhaps Mum realises you're late for tea. In rough seas you need a jacket with a spray hood, else you'll drown from wind driven spray. Temperature of the water - if it's cold, cold, best have a dry suit.
Cold water saps the life out of you darn quick.
You would think that water temp in the 70–80° F (21–27° C) range would be fairly benign. Yet one reference gives 3–12 hours to exhaustion or unconsciousness, and 3 hours – indefinitely expected survival time. You the 3 hour or indefinite?
More to consider than just having a jacket.
https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Doc...e2-Hiscock.pdf
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a305730.pdf
There are circumstances in which a lifejacket is merely going to prolong your death. Availability of rescue services, did you get a MAYDAY out - if you didn't no one is going to come looking, until perhaps Mum realises you're late for tea. In rough seas you need a jacket with a spray hood, else you'll drown from wind driven spray. Temperature of the water - if it's cold, cold, best have a dry suit.
Cold water saps the life out of you darn quick.
You would think that water temp in the 70–80° F (21–27° C) range would be fairly benign. Yet one reference gives 3–12 hours to exhaustion or unconsciousness, and 3 hours – indefinitely expected survival time. You the 3 hour or indefinite?
More to consider than just having a jacket.
https://www.ntsb.gov/news/events/Doc...e2-Hiscock.pdf
http://www.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a305730.pdf
Torn Life Jacket
What a nasty blow after going through the windshield. Congratulations are in order for the presence of mind to use the manual inflator to get what buoyancy could be obtained
Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and the subjects and bystanders are generally taken completely by surprise. There was a nasty farm equipment accident some 200 yards away and the first clue to the half dozen able bodied folk, including a paramedic and a doctor, by the runway was a parade of emergency vehicles. We would have only too happy to assist in getting the machinery off the subject soonest.
There are a number of aviation life jacket types and your story raises the question of which kind you were wearing (most wisely).
Accidents can happen in the blink of an eye and the subjects and bystanders are generally taken completely by surprise. There was a nasty farm equipment accident some 200 yards away and the first clue to the half dozen able bodied folk, including a paramedic and a doctor, by the runway was a parade of emergency vehicles. We would have only too happy to assist in getting the machinery off the subject soonest.
There are a number of aviation life jacket types and your story raises the question of which kind you were wearing (most wisely).
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A lucky day for you, good sir. We all benefit from your good fortune.
On a tech note interest, I presume that your seats were to the old static standards .. ie 9g with 12g attachments. That's a pretty decent whack to bust structure .. do you have any recollection of what caused so high an acceleration level ?
On a tech note interest, I presume that your seats were to the old static standards .. ie 9g with 12g attachments. That's a pretty decent whack to bust structure .. do you have any recollection of what caused so high an acceleration level ?
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I was wearing an Eastern Aero Marine, dual chamber, manual inflatable aviation lifejacket. Unfortunately, upon my inquiry, it was discarded after being cut from me in the ambulance. I was told by my fellow firefighters that it had been ripped open. But, even damaged, it saved my life.
There's more to say about the accident, but that will have to wait. All I can say is that it occurred during an intended water landing.
There's more to say about the accident, but that will have to wait. All I can say is that it occurred during an intended water landing.
Wearing a life jacket anytime one flies over or on water is a great idea but to really get the full benefit you need to take an egress course. As a very experienced scuba diver and under water hockey player ( you play on the bottom of a pool, holding your breath) I thought I did not need the egress course until my company sent me on it.
The first run all I had to do was un strap, go to the nearest door which was beside me and open it. How hard could that be ? Well it turns out it is really hard after you have been rolled over underwater a few times and left up side down. After numerous unsuccessful tries I was finally rescued, mad and embarrassed.
However by the end of the course no matter what they did to me I stayed orientated and easily escaped. On the last try I salvaged some dignity by tidying up the cabin before my escape and bringing an extra life jacket with me on my way out.
Bottom line: Simples, If I had crashed in the water the day before the course I probably would not be around to type this.......
The first run all I had to do was un strap, go to the nearest door which was beside me and open it. How hard could that be ? Well it turns out it is really hard after you have been rolled over underwater a few times and left up side down. After numerous unsuccessful tries I was finally rescued, mad and embarrassed.
However by the end of the course no matter what they did to me I stayed orientated and easily escaped. On the last try I salvaged some dignity by tidying up the cabin before my escape and bringing an extra life jacket with me on my way out.
Bottom line: Simples, If I had crashed in the water the day before the course I probably would not be around to type this.......
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Is there a way to easily identify if a life jacket is an auto inflate type upon being submerged versus the one that needs the string pulled. Or is it a matter of reading the label
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You look at the mechanism and possibly the instructions. If there's a salt tablet somewhere inside the mechanism, then it's auto inflatable. If there's not, it's manual.
I haven't tried this but supposedly on some auto inflate types, you can remove the salt tablet to make it manually inflatable.
I haven't tried this but supposedly on some auto inflate types, you can remove the salt tablet to make it manually inflatable.
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You look at the mechanism and possibly the instructions. If there's a salt tablet somewhere inside the mechanism, then it's auto inflatable. If there's not, it's manual.
I haven't tried this but supposedly on some auto inflate types, you can remove the salt tablet to make it manually inflatable.
I haven't tried this but supposedly on some auto inflate types, you can remove the salt tablet to make it manually inflatable.
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Pilot DAR .... Interesting and though provoking post, it is always interesting here from people who have done a ditching including the Hunson River A320 incident, additional unexpexted problems always crop up.
I have to say, I have a redurbished RAF lifejacket, much better than most of the civilian likejacts, as it is waiscoat style with pockets, for personal ELB and flares. It has a larger compressed gas chamber, to give extra boyantcy, I suppose because it designed for use with an imersion suit and g-suit.
I am never sure, if part of your flight is going to be over water, why someone would chose to wear a likejacket at departure, there no really uncomfortable. It is really not easy to put a life jacket on in flight.
Next we have the problem in the UK is surrounded the North Sea, Irish Sea and the English Channel which at certain times the survival time is very limited, the RAF and RN only allow flight over water without immersion suits at certains times of year, It's tipicaly between May and October. Yet in the over the years, I can think of a number of fatalities where light aircraft have ended up in the English Channel and the occupants have perished in the cold water. I never understand why you would plan a flight over unserviable water without an imerssion suit.
I have to say, I have a redurbished RAF lifejacket, much better than most of the civilian likejacts, as it is waiscoat style with pockets, for personal ELB and flares. It has a larger compressed gas chamber, to give extra boyantcy, I suppose because it designed for use with an imersion suit and g-suit.
I am never sure, if part of your flight is going to be over water, why someone would chose to wear a likejacket at departure, there no really uncomfortable. It is really not easy to put a life jacket on in flight.
Next we have the problem in the UK is surrounded the North Sea, Irish Sea and the English Channel which at certain times the survival time is very limited, the RAF and RN only allow flight over water without immersion suits at certains times of year, It's tipicaly between May and October. Yet in the over the years, I can think of a number of fatalities where light aircraft have ended up in the English Channel and the occupants have perished in the cold water. I never understand why you would plan a flight over unserviable water without an imerssion suit.
If wearing warm clothing, some people have a reasonable survival time in cold water. Experience from winter dinghy racing in a small Scottish loch, with ice at the edges, and several capsizes, without a wetsuit. I was in my 20s then, so probably more vulnerable now.
A survival suit would be a lot of bother for every flight, with the likelyhood of ditching close to shore being greatest.
I once forgot to put on a lifejacket before a flight across the Minch. I contemplated landing on a farm strip, but as it was calm, I loosened my seatbelt and put it on in the cockpit,well before reaching the west coast.
On landing, I found the diagonal trapped in it, so I would have had to undo the lifejacket to get out.
A survival suit would be a lot of bother for every flight, with the likelyhood of ditching close to shore being greatest.
I once forgot to put on a lifejacket before a flight across the Minch. I contemplated landing on a farm strip, but as it was calm, I loosened my seatbelt and put it on in the cockpit,well before reaching the west coast.
On landing, I found the diagonal trapped in it, so I would have had to undo the lifejacket to get out.
