National Maritime College of Ireland.

Sea survival training and testing session with Ray Johnston, Operations Manager and his team, at the NMCI Pool training facility.

An afternoon at the National Maritime College training facility, proved hugely valuable to the planning for the open water crossings.  In the event of an engine failure over the sea, the paramotor would glide in a fully controlled manner for up to 15minutes, depending on the height, and would have a glide ratio of up to 5km in the direction of the rescue/ support boat, arranged for the crossings. In the NMCI facility, we tested on land and in the water, evacuation/ exit strategy from the equipment, and various configurations of equipment floatation, and personal floatation devices.

On land the NMCI did a classroom session to look at the shock effect of landing in cold water and the potential risk of gasping for air, with inevitable potentially serious implications. Equipment for the flight and water crossings was reviewed in detail. 

As one option for exiting the equipment just before making contact was reviewed, a series of jumps off the higher platforms in the NMCI were tried, to perfect the protection of the airways and dropping from a height.

The NMCI provide training for Seamen of all levels and also for commercial pilots, in both Helicopter and fixed wing test rigs. They have almost every type of life raft available, including aircraft types, for sea survival training. There are RIB and inflatable boats in the facility to practice recovery and rescue training.

The NMAI and the IAA are now exploring the possibility of bringing specifically tailored GA pilot training to the facility for those wishing to avail of this crucial training.   Recent incidents this summer have highlighted the need for some preventative survival training.

The results of the session will be reviewed in the coming weeks and outcomes shared. Sacha Dench, UK paramotor pilot has also conducted tests in the RNLI similar training facility and we are planning to share notes and try to make the findings available to all.

Huge thanks to Ray and the NMAI team for this opportunity. RTE footage to follow shortly!

Trying the different weights and tank fill options in the water.

Looking at the options for clothing and concluding that the best option was one presented very kindly to me by BOND Helicopters in Cork, which was a full Sea survival pilots immersion dry suit (on left in photo). After a few hours in the pool trying all tests and extreme maneuvers, I was still bone dry other than a damp sleeve below the elbow on one side!

Perfect, and very comfortable, albeit not one for running too far around a field in!!  Thank you BOND Helicopters!

I had been considering a wetsuit for the water crossings, but now convinced to go with the immersion suit.

Part of the risk with paramotors and paragliders at sea, is the risk of the wing and all lines landing on the pilot, and the resultant entanglement and confusion with being underneath. The need to create an air pocket and calmly extract oneself from lines and remain calm was the big lesson and outcome for this test.  This was tested in calm and rough conditions with water breaking over the wing.

The 'Puffer' (AGAMA style) floatation device performed perfectly. It was able to rotate automatically the pilot with 10l empty tank and with 10l full tank.

This system was very effective and with floatation mounted on straps rather than frame, was able to keep head well elevated, even with full equipment weight and full tank.

The potential risks associated with dropping from a height were examined and numerous test jumps from different heights were explored.
​

I plan to fly with PFD - 190n Lifejacket on myself as well as the unit on the equipment, which has significantly more floatation in it.

We tried both together, and concluded that automatic on equipment was essential, but that secondary PFD should be manual or Automatic system disabled to avoid both activating while in equipment in the event of not evacuating in time.

Both were tested together and while it made evacuating gear a bit harder, they would work together.

All jackets performed as expected and all will now have brand new bottles and capsules, for the trip.

​

The NMCI facility was able to recreate storm conditions with wind waves and rain, to allow trainees to see how different it all is in open choppy weather conditions at sea,

National Maritime College of Ireland:
http://www.nmci.ie/

NMCI Services,
National Maritime College of Ireland,
Ringaskiddy,
Co. Cork,
Ireland

Telephone: 021-4335609
Fax: 021-4335696
E-mail: [email protected]