PISTA BLOG#33 (2024) HUET at PISTA-An Overview

 

HELICOPTER UNDERWATER ESCAPE TRAINING (HUET) at PISTA-An Overview.

Underwater escape is crucial for helicopter travel safety. The Offshore Oil and gas industry training organisation (OPITO) has been placing increased focus on this subject and operators need to know the best practices for helicopter underwater escape training (HUET). We at PISTA Blog Team interviewed HUET training Experts in the PISTA training team on factors affecting escapes, training topics, delivery methods, and safety improvements. PISTA has been providing OPITO approved training since 2018 and is a regional pioneer in the field of Offshore Oil and gas safety training.

HELICOPTER UNDERWATER ESCAPE TRAINING (HUET)

“To escape a submerging helicopter, individuals must overcome panic, disorientation, confusion, impaired vision when underwater, loss of balance, a sense of being adrift, misjudgements of surroundings, and, in certain regions of the world, extreme cold as well” says Amirtharaj a HUET trainer at PISTA.

He adds “Several factors can hinder escape to an Aviation life raft, including preparedness, physical characteristics of the helicopter, bodily functions, and mental state. Effective bracing for impact (BRACE! BRACE!! BRACE!!!)can help minimize some of these injuries.”

 

When a helicopter plunges into water, it’s highly probable that it will capsize, causing water, fuel, oil, and debris to rapidly flood the Helicopter cabin. The sudden and forceful entry into the water can generate significant turbulence, further complicating the situation for those inside, observes Mathan Karmel, a HUET trainer at PISTA.

"Submersion can happen at any moment, often to depths that make survival impossible. Disorientation, confusion, fear, blurred vision, loss of equilibrium, a sense of disconnection from surroundings, distorted perceptions, and in certain regions, the effects of extreme cold, are all challenges that passengers may face and must overcome to safely exit the submerged helicopter," he explains.

“….and even after successfully escaping, survivors may still find themselves in a potentially dangerous marine environment. This is why Sea Survival Techniques are incorporated into the comprehensive and mandatory safety training program, BOSIET, for all Offshore Oil and Gas Industry personnel” he adds on.

Mathan also notes that underwater disorientation and disorderly evacuation can occur in water crashes. Disordered evacuation happens when everyone tries to exit through the same opening. Underwater disorientation is caused by body rotation and the loss of gravity, making it difficult to orient oneself before escaping from an inverted, sunken helicopter.

In-rushing water has four serious consequences:

1. PANIC: Fear of drowning.
2. HYPERVENTILATION: Rapid breathing that reduces breath-holding ability.
3. MOVEMENT: Can cause severe disorientation.
4. COLD WATER: Water below 50°F can lead to panic, hyperventilation, reduced breath-holding, and cardiac arrest if not wearing a protective suit.

Limited vision also hinders orientation. Buoyancy can make it difficult to escape, especially for those who aren't agile or experienced underwater.

Survivors often run out of air while attempting to escape. They may struggle to release their harness, untangle from their headset, and navigate through debris. Holding your breath or using a compressed air device is crucial for underwater escape, especially in cold water.

The most common cause of death in survivable accidents is injuries before escape. Contact injuries are more likely than acceleration injuries. Adopting a good crash position can reduce the risk of head, arm, and leg injuries. Staying still in your seat can minimize disorientation during and after a crash, especially in accidents with smoke, fire, or sudden water intrusion.

Mathan believes survival suits and life rafts , communication devices are valuable. Survival suits should be comfortable, easy to use, durable, and affordable. They must slow down hypothermia. Life rafts can be difficult to deploy from an inverted, submerged helicopter.

TRAINING IS THE KEY AND AT PISTA HUET TRAINING FOCUSES ON:

• Effective bracing for impact.
• Locating exits and seat buckles.
• Timely ejection of exit windows.
• Using emergency breathing systems (EBS).

 CHALLENGES TO OVERCOME DURING ESCAPE ARE:

• In-rushing water, fire, smoke, fuel, and darkness.
• Releasing harness/Safety Belt and finding escape hatch/window.
• Disorientation, equipment hindrance, cold, injury, being pinned, being blocked, and reduced breath-holding.
• Post-escape hazards: drowning, hypothermia, rescue injuries.

ESSENTIAL KNOWLEDGE ON BOARD AN AVIATION LIFE RAFT:

• Personal equipment (survival suit, life preserver, breathing devices, knives, flashlights, flares).
• Proper use and care of equipment.

REALISTIC TRAINING MODULES are enacted ,with aircraft doors, windows, hatches, and exit systems.

The Training Manager at PISTA, when asked about the HUET DELIVERY AND THE BEST PRACTICES FOLLOWED AT PISTA says:

• HUET training are comprehensive as per OPITO standards.
• The Module covers all aspects of survival in a marine environment.
• Training Includes underwater egress with and without emergency breathing apparatus.

He goes on to add…."Training arrangements at PISTA include:"

• HUET instructors and two safety divers, Pool safety personnel, remote crane operators and training safety look-outs and medical personnel on standby.
• Training emphasizes use of personal protective equipment, particularly immersion or Aviation transit /survival suits. Instructions also include proper wearing, donning, doffing procedures.
• Trainings include Practical demonstrations of surface and inverted abandonments.
• Surface abandonments before inverted position.
• Successful completion of all necessary unassisted escapes.
• Sessions include crash position demonstrations and EBS training.
• EBS usage and Life jackets deployments, life raft deployment.

PISTA Training simulator is a replica of common helicopters used offshore and enables a realistic learning experience.

The trainers at PISTA feel that HUET should be mandatory for all aircrews and passengers flying overwater. The PISTA training team is also excited that Compressed air emergency breathing apparatus (CA-EBS) will soon be part of the curriculum at PISTA -The 1^st OPITO approved Training centre in Southern India Region.