On Monday all of the Red Bull Air Race pilots got the opportunity to train for emergency underwater escape scenarios through a HUET training program here in Perth. The training, for an emergency that has never before happened in a Red Bull Air Race, included underwater escape exercises to prepare pilots for a worst-case scenario – being trapped inside an aircraft following a water ditching.
The exercise started with the pilot’s being briefed in a a classroom on what to do if they were to encounter an emergency situation. During each of the Red Bull Air Races all pilot’s carry a container of “spare air,” just for this type of emergency landing. The pilot’s were taught how to breath off of a regulator and then put inside a simulated helicopter that essentially submerges and then flips it’s passengers. The goal is to brace for impact, begin use of the “spare air,” and then release yourself from the submerged aircraft. Although the exercise seems easy, like going in a giant dunk tank, it’s much more difficult to handle a situation of this nature when it’s actually an emergency.
Of all the air race pilot’s Kirby has first hand experience of crash landing in water after a mechanical failure left him with no choice but to take his Edge into the sea during an exhibition in China years ago. From that he learned the best possible escape training is to keep the plane in the sky and boats in the water!
“I’ve done this training in the past and it’s a valuable tool to understand what a water landing may look like. But nothing can really prepare you for a crash like that because the situation would probably be totally different. I think it’s good for the rookies to go through the training, now they know why it’s better to stay out of the water!” Chambliss said.
