Aircraft Ditching Course – Patrick Potter

On May 29, Dustin Whalen, Angus Robertson, Robbie Bennett and I took part in Survival Systems one-day Aircraft Ditching Course for rotary wing aircraft. We spent the morning in a classroom going over the various types of aircraft, suits, gear, the procedure to follow in case of ditching and accounts of previous incidents.

Though the classroom material was relevant, the afternoon is when things got “interesting”. Following a light lunch at the local Tim’s we all donned our swimming trunks and suited up for some time in the pool where we would apply the lessons from the morning. In the pool, our classroom instructor, John Stone, was joined by Nick, a young diver; their job was to keep an eye on us while we went through different scenarios, and to step in if we needed some help. A young woman named Tracy operated the hoist
that raised and lowered the helicopter mock-up and also controlled the orientation of the cockpit (many of our simulations had us inverted underwater). Meanwhile, divers Eric and Rob were lurking at the bottom of the pool to retrieve the doors and windows that we ejected from the simulator during the trials. We all took turns at each exit, becoming familiar with the designs of the different types of helicopter. The instructors performed several half rolls to simulate ditching in shallow water where one side of the chopper would be blocked to exit, very applicable to coastal work We practiced other skills such as launching a life-raft in dark
and windy conditions and moving through the aircraft to reach an exit while underwater in various orientations.

I lost count of how many times we ditched; I think it was between eight and ten. Though I could never get used to someone yelling “Ditching! Ditching! Ditching!” (nor would I want to), I know the repetition helps to achieve the muscle memory necessary to launch into action as soon as possible and egress the aircraft in the event of such an incident.

Having successfully completed the course, I understand how important this training is; as one pilot who had survived ditching his aircraft stated: “if it wasn’t for the training, I’d be done in the first 5 seconds”. It is through repeated training, subsequent visualization and presence of mind while in flight that chances of surviving ditching are maximized. Many thanks go to John, Nick, and the other Survival Systems support staff for a day full of learning and excitement and also to management who supported the training.

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Page 1 Below the Waterline – GSC-A Staff Newsletter – December 2013 Page 15 Below the Waterline – GSC-A Staff Newsletter – June 2014
Photo source: Survival Systems https://www.sstl.com/

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This program was a great opportunity to partner with a Canadian training provider that has a similar level of experience and track record in developing and delivering safety and survival training for offshore personnel (SSTL established 1982) as ourselves. The partnership demonstrates the flexibility and adaptability of our staff and facilities in accommodating the Canadian course syllabus and equipment to achieve learning outcomes.

The training took place from our Marine and Altens training facilities in Aberdeen, Scotland. To ensure the courses met the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers (CAPP) regulatory standards and the approval of the Offshore Petroleum Boards of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland, specialised equipment was shipped from Canada to the UK and installed at the Aberdeen facilities.

The 45 day training program commenced early June 2012 in preparation for Chevron Canada’s 2012 Orphan Basin Drilling program, which will utilise the Stena Carron Drillship.

The training focussed on a number of specific courses, including training covering basic offshore survival, basic HSE & regulatory awareness and offshore fire team training, Delegates finishing the courses will be fully aware of legislative frameworks, safety systems in place, and the equipment and procedures that will be used in an emergency when working offshore in Canada.

John Swain, from Survival Systems Training Limited (SSTL), added:

“Survival Systems Training Limited (SSTL), are pleased to have worked with Petrofac in a significant teaming venture in Aberdeen. With the able assistance of Petrofac Training Services, and by utilising its equipment and staff, SSTL delivered comprehensive oil & gas regulatory training to meet Canadian regulatory standards.”

SSTL and PTS will continue this successful partnership in a second follow on training project to deliver these CAPP specific courses to other operators and drilling contractors with work planned in the Canadian East Coast offshore.

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– By North Shore Outlook

http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Canada/BC/ID/2258086351/

Helicopters typically flip over after crashing in water, leaving panicked passengers frantically struggling to escape.

A bleak picture, but Chevron employees soon heading to work in the Arctic’s oil and gas industry learned how to survive such a scenario at BCIT’s Marine Campus in North Vancouver on July 18.

Wearing full orange buoyancy suits, participants were strapped into a machine that simulates a helicopter floating in water, and had to quickly escape from a small window after they were turned upside down.

The training exercises will increase the chances of survival for the men, who will be doing geo-seismic surveys in the Canadian Arctic.

“When you learn how to do something, say skiing, you have a memory of what to do, so it becomes your first reaction,” Jonathan Chapple, manager of Aqua-Lung Canada, told The Outlook as the Chevron employees put on their required gear.

They have to wear small scuba-like equipment made by Aqua-Lung — known as helicopter underwater emergency breathing apparatuses — attached to their clothing at all times. The light-weight equipment provides them with just 30 seconds of air to make the quick escape.

“You can’t hold your breath if you crash because you’re panicked and have to focus on opening the door,” explains Chapple, who also teaches survival techniques to the military.

The training is required by many companies working in the Arctic, but the emergency breathing equipment isn’t required by law, he added.

A ship is leaving soon from Vancouver en route to the Arctic to bring people and supplies to the off-shore oil and gas platforms. The men will have to take a helicopter from the ship over large bodies of water to get to their work sites.

If their helicopter crashes, it will take approximately five seconds to completely fill with water. But the men would have to anxiously wait for it to flip upside down before they attempt to escape.

“We don’t want them to panic and overreact, because it can be scary. It’s good for them to experience this before, so they can practise in case it ever does happen,” said John Stone, director of military and aviation training programs for Survival Systems Training, the company that puts on the courses.

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