According to the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), there are about 2,700 flights that cross the world’s oceans every day. When you’re halfway between continents and your airplane suffers an in-flight emergency, sometimes the only option is to ditch in the angry ocean below. Surviving this kind of “blue water ditching” was the subject of a virtual education session at last week’s NBAA Virtual Business Aviation Conference and Exposition (VBACE).
Best Practices for ‘Blue Water’ Ditching Presented at VBACE
Key Takeaways:
- The article emphasizes the critical importance of pilot preparedness for "blue water ditching" emergencies, despite their rarity, highlighting the need for comprehensive training and planning.
- Key survival strategies include immediately activating modern satellite-enabled ELTs and understanding oceanic conditions, particularly swells, for a safer water landing.
- New technologies like the Ergo Blue app (for identifying nearby ships) and the global Aireon ALERT system (for real-time, space-based ADS-B tracking) significantly enhance emergency location and drastically reduce search areas for potential rescues.
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