Helicopter crew holds survival training in Oostduinkerke outdoor swimming pool

The exercise consists of a theoretical and a practical part. During the theoretical part, which takes place at the airbase, the crew learns about the different methods and materials with which they can get to safety.

Free yourself underwater

The practical part continues in Oostduinkerke’s outdoor swimming pool. The crew members are taken underwater in a cabin similar to that of a helicopter, and must try to free themselves. The water has a temperature of six degrees Celsius, which can be deadly at sea.

Things have already gone wrong off the coast of Nieuwpoort. During a mission over the North Sea in 1981, the RS-01 suddenly had enormous vibrations throughout the aircraft. A ditching was immediately performed at sea. The crew was able to get out of the aircraft alive.

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The helicopter crew must rehearse these procedures annually. On Monday, one of the helicopters from Koksijde airbase was involved in the rescue operation after the ship collision off the Dutch coast.