DITCHING - SURVIVING A DITCHING
The natural buoyancy of the uninflated raft may
make it hard to manoeuvre out of the aircraft. Keep
hold of it by the cord, but do not inflate the raft
immediately – doing so before being prepared will
result in it blowing away.
Once inflated, currents and wind will immediately
try to move the raft away from you and may invert
it. If practical, the person with the raft should hold
onto the aircraft when inflating it, so as not to be
dragged away.
Check the manufacturer’s recommendations
for securing the raft while boarding – tying it to
someone’s belt or lifejacket harness is one option
but if the aircraft is still afloat, it may be more
effective to initially tie it to a wing strut or exterior
handle. Most rafts have a tear patch at the cord
attachment point that should break off to prevent
the sinking aircraft dragging it down.
If the sea state allows, getting into the raft by
standing on the wing or other part of the aircraft will
normally be easier than from the water. Position
the raft near to the aircraft and take account of the
wind direction – you do not want the raft blowing
towards you or the aircraft structure (which may
damage it), but if you position it downwind it may
blow away and be harder to enter.
Vacating the aircraft
Inflating the life raft
With a high-wing aircraft, it may be necessary
to wait until the cabin has filled with water
before it is possible to open the doors – only
wait for water to enter as a last resort though.
If you cannot open the doors, open or kick out
windows before you are underwater. Be aware
of any panels designed to be pushed out in an
emergency. Keeping you seatbelt fastened after
the initial impact may allow you to apply more
force to open the doors and windows.
The shock of cold water may adversely affect
everyone’s actions. Therefore, a pre-flight
passenger briefing which emphasises interior
reference points and the agreed order in which
to vacate the aircraft is vital. Do not inflate
lifejackets inside the aircraft, inflate them as
soon as you are outside.
Consider leaving the master switch and the
anti-collision beacon or strobes on. If the aircraft
floats for a while or sinks in shallow water, the
lights may continue operating and provide some
light and indication of your position. Exit the
aircraft as swiftly as possible, remembering to
take the raft and ditching bag if carried.
CAA / July 2022
13Safety Sense / 21 / Ditching