WATER SURVIVAL: “Ditch, Twist, Drag!”
October 23rd, 2009 | Photography | Posted by Erik Hildebrandt
Separate from the swim and drown-proofing portion, the pool is set up with multiple device stations designed to simulate various scenarios of forced water landing, ejections and crashes. During this phase of the training, the overhead lights are shut off and a theatrical smoke machine is used to create a fairly dense layer of fog. Each candidate has a small red beacon velcro’ed on their helmet and the class is divided into groups. The images below show the “ejection/bail out” tower and lower dragging station. From the top of the ejection tower, you hook into the parachute risers that are suspended on a zip line that runs to the far end of the pool. When commanded, you must drop from the tower and ride the zip line until your toes touch the water, at which time you must trigger the quick-release Koch fitting that connect you to the parachute. Immediately after releasing from the risers, two instructors jump in the pool on either side of you with a parachute canopy to simulate being covered by your own chute in the water. This is when you have to get yourself untangled from the many lines that wrap around your arms and legs while trying to catch a breath of air underneath the suffocating parachute trying to drag you under.
Over on the shorter “drag platform”, the drill again is to hook into the Koch fitting on the parachute risers that are connected to a pulley system at the other end of the pool. This device is designed to simulate another bailout scenario of having to disconnect from your parachute in high-wind conditions. When the instructor rings a bell, you must jump from the platform into the pool facing the direction of travel. Once in the water, the risers will yank you face-forward through the darkness. If you follow the training procedure of kicking your legs and twisting the risers over your head to try and reverse your position so you can breath, you are then supposed to release the Koch fittings and swim free. Like many of these scenarios, it sounds a lot easier than it really is, and many candidates end up being dragged all the way down and back before they are able to finally get free of the parachute risers.
The flash on my camera makes the environment seem much more bright than it actually is when you are going through the class… plus, there are occasional strobe lights
going off to simulate lightning, a loud storm sound-track of thunder claps and rain with a helicopter hovering over head. There are also multiple fire-hoses set up along the edge of the pool and on the ceiling that cause a curtain of monsoon rain to add to the realism. All in all, it is amazing test of concentration and situational awareness.
EROK
