A key feature of military aviation is preparing for “what if?s.” There is little time in the air to weigh up decisions, so crews must be as prepared as possible for all eventualities and be confident in their actions. Of course, this also includes behavior after a rescue committee or an emergency landing.
In order to offer the crews the best possible chance of survival, all combat aircraft crews are trained for the "worst case" through the SERE-C (Survival Evasion Resistance Escape Level C) and ÜaS (Survival at Sea) courses and are regularly kept in practice.
The SERE-C course prepares personnel both for fighting against nature - which means surviving a week in the forest with minimal emergency equipment - and for fighting behind enemy lines. A simulated captivity phase is particularly impactful: the course participant experiences very high psychological stress.
The survival at sea course prepares crews for the premature end of their flight over sea. Safe, calm handling of the medium of water, even in extreme cases, confidence in handling emergency equipment and the necessary psychological tools for survival at sea are taught.
Even if you always hope to end the flight with a clean final landing, things can turn out differently at any time, both in peace and in war. Then only one thing counts: survival!
"Survive!"
Gerald Groß