Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University has teamed with Antipodean Aviation of Australia to offer survival training in emergency water landings for both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft.

The course covers pre-flight planning and emergency water landing techniques, as well as escape from a submerged aircraft cabin and sea survival techniques, including life preserver and life raft familiarization, and search-and-rescue operations. In addition to extended flights over water, this training is useful for crewmembers ditching an aircraft to avoid landing in a residential area or in rough terrain.

Dr. John Watret, chancellor of the X, says the university through its partnership with Antipodean Aviation is developing more than 50 courses on advanced aviation topics for pilots, flight nurses, flight paramedics and public safety officers.

“This new course on emergency water landings with Antipodean gave us an excellent opportunity to collaborate with our Prescott Campus on creating a venue for practical training,” Watret said. “By providing both the online and the on-ground components, Embry-Riddle presents a package of high-quality integrated training to the aviation industry.”

Offered by the Office of Professional Education of Embry-Riddle’s Worldwide Campus, the course is now available to members of the aviation industry and students. Once started, participants have 30 days to complete a theory-based online course. They then receive one day of practical training in the pool at the university’s Prescott Campus, using a simulator known as a portable shallow-water egress trainer.

Participants choose from two versions of the course:

Aircraft Ditching, Escape and Survival: This option is designed for general aviation (recreational, sport, private and commercial) operations for fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. It is similar to a helicopter underwater escape training course but more comprehensive.

Aircraft Ditching, Escape and Survival with Emergency Breathing Systems: This option is intended for flight crews who use emergency breathing systems such as a helicopter aircrew breathing device, a helicopter emergency egress device or a survival egress air device.

“The aircraft ditching survivability course offers considerable educational value for pilots from industry and for our students,” said Dr. Jackie Luedtke, department chair and associate professor of Safety Science at the Prescott Campus. “This reinforces Embry-Riddle’s niche as a leader in hands-on, real-life education as we constantly assess ways to enhance our quality of training and education.”

Stuart Caton, CEO of Antipodean Aviation, commented, “In developing this course, we wanted to partner with a world-leading academic institution that not only shares our vision but could contribute significantly to the project. We didn’t bother talking to anyone else but Embry-Riddle. From the time we first approached the university with our ideas they were supportive.”

The course is $750 per person. For more information and to register, contact Albert Astbury, interim director of the Office of Professional Education, at (386) 226-7694 or training@erau.edu.

PHOTO CAPTION: An Antipodean Aviation ditching simulator similar to this one will be used for hands-on training in the Prescott Campus pool.

About Antipodean Aviation

Antipodean Aviation is a training and flight operations company based in Australia but with a global reach. It was established by a group of likeminded aviation professionals with the vision to train personnel for a variety of different sectors, providing an industry standard across core and specialized training that can be used as an industry benchmark. To achieve this, Antipodean Aviation has teamed with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University – Worldwide and a number of original equipment manufacturers and professional businesses to provide world-class, relevant and comprehensive training programs to ensure that personnel are trained, qualified and job-ready for the aviation industry rather than just qualified. Training programs offered include core pilot training in fixed-wing and helicopters, non-pilot aircrew training, specialized training programs for pilots and aircrew and a number of safety awareness programs.