Helicopter Ditching and Egress: Evaluate, Prepare, Perform

Rotor Safety Challenge (RSC)
Tracks: Operations, Pilot, Safety
Instructor: Maria Hanna, Survival Systems USA

This session will introduce the essential questions to ask and answer when evaluating overwater risk. Participants will learn the steps passengers and crew can take prior to ditching to help ensure the best possible outcome. We’ll also cover the critical steps required for egress as well as water survival skills, hypothermia mitigation, and overcoming the most common barriers to success.

Instructor Bio

Maria Hanna is the owner and president of Survival Systems USA, based in Groton, Connecticut. She has been with the company since 1999, purchasing it in 2008. Maria has instructed more than 5,000 personnel in underwater egress and surface-water survival, served as a subject-matter expert in numerous legal proceedings, and given presentations to diverse audiences in military aviation, airborne law enforcement, and civilian/commercial aviation.