Page 10 - Helicopter Safety

Petroleum Extension-The University of Texas at Austin
The Aborted

Flight

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n a routine helicopter flight everything generally goes smoothly.
IThis chapter explains what happens if helicopter problems cause
a ditching or an emergency landing on water. It will cover in general
terms what may happen, what the pilot may do, or ask passengers to
do, after hitting the water.
When a helicopter is ditched, passengers should always follow
the pilot’s instructions because every situation is different.

The ditching experience is not always a total catastrophe. Panicked Ditching at Sea
passengers will definitely not help the situation. The pilots are trained
to handle emergency situations and will do their utmost to make
sure everyone is safe. To renew their licenses, pilots must periodically
demonstrate that they know what to do if a flight aborts, or ends, in a
ditching. In addition, pilots receive regular safety updates about new
or improved equipment or procedures.
The Federal Aviation Administration requires all commercial
aircraft that fly passengers over water to carry sufficient life vests, life
rafts, and other emergency supplies. Pilots are expected to explain to
passengers in simple, clear language how safety equipment is used,
where it is stored, and how to safely leave a now-floating aircraft.
Because offshore passengers and pilots are required to wear life vests
and/or immersion suits before takeoff, this added precaution saves
precious time in a ditching situation (fig. 27).
The pilot will radio the helicopter’s position and condition to the
radio communication base dispatcher and land the craft as quickly and
as gently as possible using autorotation. The dispatcher can quickly
alert the emergency rescue authorities, such as the U.S.Coast Guard,

about a mayday message (fig. 28).

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