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:
- Despite the rarity of oceanic ditchings, comprehensive pilot training and preparation for "blue water ditching" are crucial for flight crews operating over large bodies of water.
- Modern technologies significantly enhance safety and search & rescue efforts, including satellite-linked Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs), the Ergo Blue app for locating nearby ships, and the global Aireon ALERT system for real-time aircraft tracking.
- Effective ditching techniques involve understanding ocean conditions like swells to achieve a safer water landing and promptly activating the ELT at the first sign of an emergency.
Key takeaways sponsored by Aviator Pro | Start Your Training ->
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