Helicopter ditching is a harsh reality of the HEMS industry that can affect any crew flying near bodies of water; large or small. In this podcast episode, we are joined by Chris Sharpe who, among other things, is an expert educator in Helicopter Underwater Egress Training (HUET). Tune in as Chris describes his personal experiences as a multiple helicopter ditching survivor, common misconceptions surrounding dunk training/HUET, and his recommendations for preparing for such an incident.
*This is a remote interview since Chris is based in Guatemala. Sound quality reflects that.
HUET example:
Brooks, C. (n.d.). Chapter 5 – The Human Factors of Surviving a Helicopter Ditching. Dartmouth, NS: Survival Systems.
Brooks, C. (1985). The Human Factors Relating to Escape and Survival From Helicopters Ditching in Water. AGARD.
Summary Report on Helicopter Ditching and Crashworthiness Research. (2005). Civil Aviation Authority.