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Flight Safety The biggest single excuse for not crossing the channel is the perceived risk of "flight over water in single engine aircraft". In context flight over anything in a single engine aircraft is more dangerous than not flying at all. If one crashes over land a collision with an obstacle such as a tree, wall or fence is likely, in which case the aeroplane will be smashed and may well catch fire and its occupants burnt to death, Over the sea there are no obstacles, but the aircraft and its occupants may sink, in which case they may drown in freezing water. The risk analysis is not a choice between safety and danger but between different forms of danger: Choice 1. Be Smashed to bits and burnt to death, Choice 2. Be Frozen to death or drowned. Like all sensible pilots we understand the risks and take sensible precautions to minimize the risk of a problem. There are an infinite number of precautions we can take from the extremes taken by RAF Maritime Patrol Crews to the devil may care it wont happen to me approach of "Jack the Lad". A ditching and survival course is an excellent way of understanding the issues and developing a personal strategy. Information is also available from
This leaflet provides details and should be regarded as the definitive guide. Survival Training The precautions I take are based on a survival course I attended at the Empire Test Pilots School at Boscombe Down. A list of establishments which offer survival training is given in Safety Sense leaflet 21A.
Above Survival training, a dip in the Dunker at Boscombe Down, Right You even get a certificate. When to Fly The sea is at its coldest in the winter (obviously) and Cold Shock is a significant risk in the event of a ditching during winter, (Note hypothermia is equally likely at all times of year). Precaution 1. Don't fly over water in winter (October to April)
Above: Sea temperatures in March (from the Safety sense leaflet 21A) The Engine The engine should be looked after with the same degree of diligence whether flying over land or sea. The engine does not know whether it is flying over the land or the sea. The principle reason for engines stopping unexpectedly is fuel starvation, in short running out of fuel. Precaution 2. Always fly with as much fuel on board as possible. The Route The route will be over the sea, where there are no houses or towns, one cannot swim to safety, but will need to be rescued. This means letting someone know where we are: Precaution 3. Follow the planned route accurately (use the GPS) Precaution 4. Talk to someone (preferably with Radar) such as Plymouth Military Radar. Precaution 5. Fly as high as possible to give maximum time to make that MAYDAY call and enable a "fix" to be taken. Safety Equipment A whole range of safety equipment is available, just which should be taken? This is a difficult subject, and is a matter of opinion. My decision was based on the following: A dinghy is heavy and it is common for the pilot to let go of the dinghy when vacating the aircraft, so it floats off into the distance. It is very difficult to climb into an inflated dinghy while wearing a lifejacket. For this reason my strategy is not to survive for a long time but to get rescued quickly!
Above: It is surprisingly difficult to climb into a dinghy while wearing an inflated lifejacket. Precaution 6. Take fuel rather than excess safety equipment Precaution 7. Wear a lifejacket (Preferably one which has a minim 16Kg buoyancy and a harness which can be used to be winched from the sea). Precaution 8. Take a locator beacon. I do not take flares since I do not like the idea of being strapped to explosives! Briefing the Passengers There is a tendency to play down the risks of flying, many people are scared stiff of flying and putting them in a lifejacket and explaining how to be rescued may well be the last straw. If this is the case better to abandon the trip than be faced with a frightened passenger. It sometimes helps though to put the briefing in context and refer to the dangers of driving home on a cold snowy night in the dark, something most of us would not even question! Precaution 9. Do not shrink from properly briefing the passengers. |
