Egress Training April 8th, 2007

Three "brave" NOASARA members completed Egress Training with Bryan Webster from Aviation Egress Systems. Bryan's training is unique in that it focuses on fixed wing ditching and water emergency landings. The course is based on the principal that people tend to panic when submerged under water and can get easily disoriented. Every year pilots and passengers die due to inverted water landings. The valuable training focuses on 4 basic points of survival when underwater in an aircraft. 1) locate an exit and open it (not easy when you're not familiar with the emergency exits. Remember when an aircraft is inverted, door handles have to move the opposite way!) 2) Put your hand out of the aircraft and brace yourself (Stops you from inverting when you undo your straps) 3) Undo your seat belt (By this point your lungs really wants air; by the way where is my belt buckle?). 4) Grab your life vest/jacket and exit the aircraft. Sounds easy? It's not...

I would encourage all NOASARA members to know the basic safety measures for emergency water landings. A course will be scheduled later this year to review these life savings emergency procedures.

For more information review: www.dunkyou.com

Left to Right: Kieran Van Wagoner, Jason Hughes & Marc Harris

Mission: Get out using the door on the left. This looks easy "above water"

Before getting wet we practiced opening windows with our eyes closed

Practicing getting into a raft. "No so easy when your arms are tired"

NOASARA member Marc Harris, man in the cage, thinking "door, straps, hold, & jacket or is it door, hold, straps, & jacket?"

Ahh too late... upside down, disoriented and running out of air...

We also practiced swimming in this simulated Cessna 206, manipulating the door handles and kicking out the windows.