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

[HeyJoe]

100211-N-9585B-064 NORFOLK (Feb. 11, 2010) Larry Wesling, a naval aviation water training instructor, trains a class of Navy officers during a water survival course at the Aircraft Survival Training Center at Naval Station Norfolk. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Sharay Bennett/Released)

100211-N-1238B-206 NORFOLK (Feb. 11, 2010) Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Mark Stauffer assists a naval flight officer during water survival training at the Aircraft Survival Training Center at Naval Station Norfolk. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Toni Burton/Released)

100211-N-1238B-045 NORFOLK (Feb. 11, 2010) Naval Air Crewman 1st Class Paul Howell , left, motivates Ensign Mathew Kasaok, assigned to the Greyhawks of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 120, during water survival training at the Aircraft Survival Training Center at Naval Station Norfolk. [Aircrew] of all branches of the military are required to take the course every four years. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Toni Burton/Released)

 

[usmarinemike]

No dunker pics? I saw SWET chairs. There must be a dunker in there somewhere!

 

[srqwho]

Thanks for the pics heyjoe. A couple days before the end of API my parents drove to Pcola and I showed them the dunker. One of the instructors was telling us to come back later that evening because they were doing some sort of "advanced" dunker training where they cut the lights and have simulated lightning. We didn't go back, but I'm assuming the helo guys and AC know all too well what I'm talking about.

 

[BACONATOR]

Thanks for the pics heyjoe. A couple days before the end of API my parents drove to Pcola and I showed them the dunker. One of the instructors was telling us to come back later that evening because they were doing some sort of "advanced" dunker training where they cut the lights and have simulated lightning. We didn't go back, but I'm assuming the helo guys and AC know all too well what I'm talking about.

No I don't, but I can assume that is sucks even worse than what we have to go through.

 

[HeyJoe]

No dunker pics? I saw SWET chairs. There must be a dunker in there somewhere!

For the dunker fans...

090604-N-0413R-070 JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (June 4, 2009) An operator prepares to drop the 9D6B Modular Egress Training System (METS) into the pool at the Aviation Survival Training Center in Jacksonville, Fla. The upgraded METS dunker allows the technician to operate from a remote station. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shannon Renfroe/Released)

050104-N-4204E-083 Pensacola, Fla. (Jan. 4, 2005) - David Stremme, the driver of the Navy sponsored NASCAR #14, watches as Quartermaster 2nd Class Brett Harchey boards the helicopter dunker on board Naval Air Station Pensacola, Fla., as Engineman 1st Class Pat Johnson explains the proper egress procedures. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Mark A. Ebert (RELEASED)

 

[HeyJoe]

And for the old school folks...the orginal dunker we rode (and soem of us got to do both..what fun!)

031114-N-6436W-003 Oak Harbor, Wash. (Nov. 14, 2003) - Commanding Officer, Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Capt. Stephen Black will be the last person in Naval Aviation history to ride the famous "Dilbert Dunker". He was marked as the 8,333 person to ride dunker at Whidbey Island. The dunker was used to train new Naval Aviators on how to get out of their seat restraints in case they had to ditch their aircraft at sea, and will be replaced by a newer system. U.S. Navy photo by Photographer's Mate 2nd Class Michael B. W. Watkins (RELEASED)

 

[BACONATOR]

Somehow, I imagine the helo dunker is a lot worse.

 

[CommodoreMid]

Do the VAW-120 guys do the water survival stuff as part of the RAG syllabus or something? Matt was in the API class I graduated with (damn helo dunker) and one class behind me in primary. Seems like they're getting the requal early. I know if I get a Hawaii squadron I'll do it here in Jax before I PCS, but I think Jax/Whidbey guys only go through the requal when it's about to expire.

 

[CommodoreMid]

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

 

[Goober]

VAW guys get additional fun that brings them up to E-2 requirements for egress. Think of DJET in P'cola as one upgrade, then the E-2 specific stuff here as one step beyond that.

 

[phrogpilot73]

No I don't, but I can assume that is sucks even worse than what we have to go through.

Actually, wait until your 4 years is up and you go through the R3/RP3. It's exactly what he's talking about - the last ride in the dunker, the lights are out and there's simulated lighnting and they're playing storm sounds. There's also sprinklers all around the pool and you have to egress, get over to the raft flip it over, get in, paddle, then one by one egress out to the hoist. It's actually pretty good training. The new dunker is also much better (and more realistic) than the old one.

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

Good catch, I didn't even see it at first. burningfeathers looks mighty wet...

 

[exhelodrvr]

Worst part of Naval Aviation! Luckily for me, I never had to use it. But speaking to people who had to do actual helo egresses, they were very grateful for having had the training.

 

[HeyJoe]

Worst part of Naval Aviation! Luckily for me, I never had to use it. But speaking to people who had to do actual helo egresses, they were very grateful for having had the training.

As well as the training that came with the introduction of the HEEDS bottle. A Navy VERTREP CH-46 crew got the training and deployed shortly thereafter and ended up in the drink. All three survived and credited the combined training of the Dunker and HEEDS bottle with giving them presence of mind to properly react and successfully exit their rapidly sinking Seaknight.

 

[exhelodrvr]

Do they combine the two at all, or is HEEDS still just in a shallow pool?

 

[phrogdriver]

HEEDS is no more, I think--HABD is the new black.

When I refreshed last year, 2 of the runs were with the bottle.

Somehow I seemed to keep getting the short straw for which exit I had to go through.

I jacked up one of the HABD runs because I couldn't find the exit. They only submerge the dunker 2/3 of the way for the bottle runs. I kept thinking that I was breaking the rules by breaking the surface, so I kept looking for it in the water, even though my designated exit required me to standup and hurl myself out of an exposed cockpit window. I thought that was kind of bogus.

It gets less fun every time. In API I thought the swim quals were like a free trip to Disney. The second time, I thought it was somewhat inconvenient. The third, I thought it was a crappy day at the office. This last time, I thought I was going to freaking die.