Until a few seconds ago the cockpit was a warm, comfortable place, but now everything is different. Both engines failed due to bird strikes, no electrics, the hydraulics are on their last legs. Only the rescue committee remains! But only the cold, dark sea waits down there. The fight for survival begins.
For me, this horror scenario is fortunately purely theoretical, but numerous comrades in the history of aviation in the Navy, Air Force and Army have had to experience first-hand what it means when the flight over sea ends prematurely. Many were saved, but some paid with their lives for avoidable mistakes. In order to have a real chance of survival on a winter night, after a rescue committee over the high seas, in addition to an efficient rescue chain, you also need robust and reliable emergency equipment, as well as safety in action through continuous training.
Specific rescue equipment is used on all Bundeswehr flight types and is always consistently tested and maintained by specialist personnel from the R+S (rescue systems) department. These soldiers and civilian employees hold the life insurance of the flying crews in their hands every day. On the Eurofighter weapon system, they ensure the continued functionality of the ejection seat, life jacket, emergency device and much more. So that the crews are confident in their actions and can get the most out of their equipment, they are trained at regular intervals by the Bremerhaven Naval Operations School as part of the “Survival at Sea” course. Even though the content of the course is always kept up to date, the basic process has been the same for many years: The Open Sea Training, which is carried out on the North Sea even in winter, is preceded by a practice phase lasting several days in the warm water training hall.
The picture shows me in April 2023 during my last training session. The attentive observer will notice some improvised equipment, the reason for this is simple: leather boots or flight gloves would not be able to cope with the regular water bath.
"The fall"
Gerald Groß