“One last thing. Delay taking your breath until the water reaches your waist, then follow the procedure the way we briefed,” said Survival Systems training coordinator Bobbi Lytle as we hung by a cable above the water in a big, blue “pretend” aircraft. I was strapped in the front seat with a four-point harness. At the command, “Ditching! Ditching! Ditching!” from training manager Tom Lazzaro, the cable unwound, the dunker splashed to the surface and turned upside down, and water rushed in from all directions. I took my breath as instructed, felt myself swept under and waited for the motion to stop and the initial panic to subside. Then I was on my own.
As we learned in elementary school geography, four fifths of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. So as “unlikely” as it may be, there’s a chance that any forced landing could involve ditching in a river, lake or open ocean. Even crews who scrupulously avoid overwater legs could get their feet wet in the event of a forced landing if there is a body of water directly off the departure end of a runway. And as one veteran corporate pilot pointed out, a river or lake could be the safest landing site following a power failure at night. At least you know it’s flat.
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