CASA Media Release - Thursday, 14 June 2001
Survival after an emergency landing depends on careful planning
A crippled aircraft has led to a forced landing in an outback or remote area. All the pilot, crew and passengers have to do is wait to be rescued, right?
Yes, but they have to survive long enough to be rescued. In a survival setting, the priorities are location, protection, water and food.
In the immediate aftermath of a forced aircraft landing, first aid may be the most pressing requirement.
In the latest edition of Flight Safety Australia magazine, aviation medical consultant Dr David Newman examines the issues involved in staying alive after an aviation accident in an out of the way location.
"There you are, enjoying the scenery on your cross-country flight. Suddenly, you have an emergency and an unscheduled landing is imminent," Dr Newman writes.
"You're a long way from where you want to be and the ground below doesn't look particularly inviting. You're first priority though is to get safely on the ground ... let's assume you've successfully put the aircraft down somewhere. Now what?"
The advice given by Dr Newman applies as much to anyone travelling in remote and rural areas as it does to down on their luck pilots.
In addition, Flight Safety Australia looks at the perennial problem of light aircraft pilots who get caught short landing and taking off on Australian country airstrips.
Determining take-off and landing distance should be child's play, or is it? Flight Safety Australia editor James Ostinga and Brisbane-based flying instructor Peter Goodhew address the issue in detail.
Running out of runway is mostly a matter of pilots not taking the time to do some very basic pre-flight preparation, they say.
Flight Safety Australia is published every two months.
Click this link to see the latest edition on CASA's web site.
Thursday, 14 June 2001
Media contact
Jane Dargaville
ph 02 6217 1233
mobile 0417 466 862
Ref: MR01 30