First Sgt. Angelo Villavicencio is hoisted from the waters of the Pacific.
The Military District of Washington pilots and aircrew stationed at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, do it twice a year. Overwater survival training simulates the situations they could face if an emergency requires them to ditch.
They do get wet, learning to free themselves and others before running out of air.
Daniels, like other aircraft crew members assigned to the U.S. Army Priority Air Transport Command’s Pacific Flight Detachment, experienced the panic that can occur when you find yourself strapped in underwater – vision blurred, pressure building on eyes and ears, and the cold, wet water invading all, seeking entry through the nose and mouth.
Still, they need to work.
Maj. Win Adkins commands the PFD, which is the Pacific element of MDW Air Operations Group’s U.S. Army Priority Air Transport Command. He praised the training received at Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station Hawaii.
He has taken the Overwater⁄Dunker training offered at Kaneohe through Survival Systems USA along with the assigned aircrew members. And he’ll take it again.
‘‘This form of practical application in the water is a superb opportunity for aircrew members to build confidence quickly.” Adkins said. The secret is in learning to trust the training and equipment. Keeping one’s head and getting free and swimming to the surface under such challenging circumstances is invaluable preparation for each crew member.
This training included classroom instruction as well as the hands-on practical exercises in the water using aviation life support equipment found onboard the Army’s Gulfstream IV executive jet aircraft.
The intense training prepares Soldiers for emergency egress actions and overwater survival in the event of emergency ditching.
Everyone has a role. The flight stewards are trained to handle in-flight emergencies and deal with passengers in an efficient and professional manner. The cockpit crew — pilot, co-pilot and flight engineer (an Army crew chief) – focus on matters of aircraft control and safe flight procedures.
Minimizing damage when making an emergency landing at sea maximizes the time available to get all aboard out before the aircraft sinks.
The Pacific Flight Detachment provides dedicated executive global airlift for the Commanding General, U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC), senior military leaders within Pacific Command (PACOM) and the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), in addition to Congressional delegations.
Missions are conducted worldwide and routinely require flight over long distances of the Pacific Ocean. Unique training opportunities such as this enhance aircrew member readiness and better prepare Soldiers to survive emergencies that could be encountered while conducting critical aviation operations overwater.
The diverse executive airlift mission of the MDW Air Operations Group and USAPAT-Command supports Army’s global command and control (C2) requirements.
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