Do(ing) it again; Water Survival Training (API is just the beginning)

[Jim123]

Stupid question: Is the water in the dunker tank/pool chlorinated?

Yes- very.

 

[phrogdriver]

Yes- very.

Oh, yeah, it is.

Even if the class got out by noon, I'd usually take an extra hour or two at lunch or the PX before driving home. I was tearing up so much it must've looked like I'd just been to a funeral!

 

[burningfeathers]

Oh, and there's an AW poster in the top picture

Tis I. Thankfully the helo dunker was broken that day.

Additionally the SEA bottle (what everyone else calls the HABD bottle) is one of my favorite inventions ever.

 

[bunk22]

My last requal was at Miramar in 05 and it was easy. I only did 3 helo dunker rides, one of which was upright. The last was supposed to be all out the main door. In the end, we went out any window and all was good. I'm thinking my requal at P-cola in July won't be so easy. It will be my first ride in the new helo dunker.

 

[phrogpilot73]

If I had the time, I'd get em out earlier. But NATOPS specifically mentions the flare.

Our NATOPS doesn't say when to jettison them, just to jettison them. I don't think I'd want to be fucking with doors in the flare. I'd want both pilots focusing on flying. Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. Nope. No mention of jettison in there

 

[feddoc]

No, going flying in the front. The opportunity has presented itself but just trying to make sure all the i's are dotted and t's crossed.

Been awhile since I did that, but then the gouge was take a separate class. Call your nearest ASTC. If you can't find the number, let me know.

 

[feddoc]

Be careful - at least once an H-3 window was jettisoned by mistake, hit the landing gear sponson, bounced up, and damaged a couple of rotor blades. When HS-1 was flying mids (don't know if they were ROTC or USNA) one summer, one of them pulled up on the release handle, then put it back down without saying anything. The next guy in bumped the window, and it flew out.

I watched a flight doc, (in the back of a -60 at Fallon) when told it was ok to open the door, grab the yellow/black handle. He never got the chance to move it.

 

[Ken_gone_flying]

My last requal was at Miramar in 05 and it was easy. I only did 3 helo dunker rides, one of which was upright. The last was supposed to be all out the main door. In the end, we went out any window and all was good. I'm thinking my requal at P-cola in July won't be so easy. It will be my first ride in the new helo dunker.

For API, I was in the new helo dunker. I didn't think it was any harder than the old one. However, there was one seatbelt in that thing that got stuck on just about every ride and the divers had to get that person out. (I was the lucky one once)

 

[CommodoreMid]

That was me as well. You know it's going to be a fun day when the divers can't open the seat belt normally and they have to fumble for the emergency release, all the while you're still strapped in upside down under water.

 

[Pags]

Our NATOPS doesn't say when to jettison them, just to jettison them. I don't think I'd want to be fucking with doors in the flare. I'd want both pilots focusing on flying. Aviate, Navigate, Communicate. Nope. No mention of jettison in there

If you're already crashing I figure the priorities become: Aviate, Get Out Alive, and then everything else.

 

[squorch2]

For API, I was in the new helo dunker. I didn't think it was any harder than the old one. However, there was one seatbelt in that thing that got stuck on just about every ride and the divers had to get that person out. (I was the lucky one once)

If this happens, critique it. That's most likely a hardware issue that needs to be fixed and isn't conducive to good training anyway.

 

[Pags]

If this happens, critique it. That's most likely a hardware issue that needs to be fixed and isn't conducive to good training anyway.

Seatbelts that would stick in the bird were always one of those things that made me go, "hmmmmm."

 

[PropAddict]

Seatbelts that would stick in the bird were always one of those things that made me go, "hmmmmm."

I gripe them every time. "Checked on deck. Resistance within Limits. Pilot needs to spend more time at gym."

 

[BACONATOR]

Stupid question: Is the water in the dunker tank/pool chlorinated?

Not necessarily. IIRC, most pools are switching over to the salinated water system (read: salt water), which I believe I experienced on my last requal.

 

[m26]

Not necessarily. IIRC, most pools are switching over to the salinated water system (read: salt water), which I believe I experienced on my last requal.

Oh, joy. I can open my eyes and see a little in chlorinated water, but salt water really hurts my eyes. I hope that's normal.