AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2022 - 85

PROFICIENCY /
'Need to escape'
Egress training to prepare for the worst
BY JULIE SUMMERS WALKER
AS A NONPI LOT member of the staff of an
aviation organization, AOPA Director of
Photography Chris Rose puts his faith-
and life-in the hands of many different
pilots, from our highly rated staff pilots
to pilots he meets on story assignments.
Rose has probably flown more hours, and
in more types and models, than even the
most seasoned general aviation pilot in
his nearly 30 years with the association,
and he has hours of instruction under his
belt. While the need to pilot the aircraft
is not necessary for Rose to accomplish
the acclaimed photography and videography
he produces for AOPA Media,
the question of could he escape a bad situation
is a reality. So it was no surprise
that when the opportunity to experience
a ditching and water egress training was
offered, Rose donned his bathing trunks
and splashed down.
" I spend a lot of time in small airplanes,
flying over water, in seaplanes
and it [egress training] is something I've
always thought I could benefit from, and
I finally got to do it, " Rose said.
As his friend and colleague, I found
his training almost impossible to watch.
Seated and belted in a Triton Simulator
with a helmet and personal flotation
device, Rose had a second to take his
breath before the device rolled forward
into the 15-foot-deep pool and water
engulfed the simulator. Then he and
another participant worked to escape
the capsized capsule, modified from
a helicopter configuration to mimic a
seaplane-the seats turned 90 degrees to
demonstrate a forward roll (a helicopter
would typically capsize on its side).
We are in Houma, Louisiana, at the
site of FMTC (Fire and Medical Training
Center), a Netherlands-based training
company that specializes in safety
training for offshore, maritime, and wind
industries. The Houma location is the
only one in the United States; FMTC also
has locations in Saudi Arabia and France.
The part of the four-hour course Rose
took is unique to the Houma location.
The AUET (aircraft underwater escape
training) course was developed along
with Southern Seaplane in New Orleans
as part of its Seaplane Safety Training
course (see " Down on the Bayou, " p.
50). HUET is the helicopter underwater
escape training; it is the more commonly
taken course at FMTC.
As his friend and
colleague, I found
his training
almost impossible
to watch.
Safety Instructor Thane Markcusen
took Rose through an abbreviated AUET
(he pronounced it " A-youit " ) course
that includes three ditching scenarios
and some of the company's sea survival
tips. The simulator first fell straight
down into the water and Rose had
to exit through a window. Next, the
simulator fell into the water and Rose
exited through the door. Finally, the simulator
capsized tail over nose-the most
common airplane ditching-and Rose
exited while upside down.
Taking as deep a breath as possible,
participants prepare for the dunking-a
straight-down ditch into the water. They
then try to escape either through a window
or by releasing the door. It's an intense few
minutes as they try to escape
in 15 feet of water.
AOPA PILOT / October 2022
85
AOPA Pilot Magazine - October 2022

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