Shoup Airlines

Dunker, Day 3

My sinuses are full of water and my eyes are bloodshot but we all passed dunker training.  Today wasn’t much different from yesterday, just no air bottles.  Then again, when you’re under for less than 30 seconds that isn’t much of a factor.  For those interested, more “splash” shots are up in the gallery.

The rest of the week I should be filling in more stories from WOCS as time permits.  One in particular I’m sure you will love.

Dunker, Day 2

Apparently, I don’t know how to smile any other way than with a smirk now. It may be the helmet. These stylish goggles that I’m wearing are part of the Dunker School’s simulated night vision. They’re not shaded. They are completely blacked out. We spent the better part of the day underwater. Upside down. And completely in the dark via the goggles.

We started the morning off getting everyone used to breathing underwater with SEA MK 2s (the 2 minute scuba tanks) and then moved to submersible chair trainers that introduced you to being upside down while opening doors and windows. Then we threw the goggles on and did everything again in the blind. It’s surprising how quickly you can become disoriented when suddenly finding yourself upside down, even when you’re strapped to a chair. If you’re not careful all hell can break loose when you hit that buckle release. And this is without the goggles!

After completing the chair evolutions we moved on to the full size trainer that has multiple chairs, actual doors and windows from the Blackhawk and Chinook, and can roll 360° to flip turn you upside down. That got real interesting with the goggles. Especially when we had to exit a particular window across the cabin. Inevitably, you run into someone else trying to get out another window. Makes for some interesting scratches and bruises.

Contrary to what some may think, the fish in me wanted to play in the pool all day. This training is a lot of fun! Sadly, my pruny hands and water filled ears thought otherwise. The rest of today’s photos are over here.

Tomorrow promises to be even more interesting. No air tanks!

Dunker

We started dunker training today. What’s dunker, you ask? So when something like this happens:

we know what to do in order to keep from visiting Davy Jones’ locker. Permanently.

It’s a three day course where we take a look at what happens if the helicopter were to go down in the water. Different variables include day vs. night egress (you might not be able to see a thing), disorientation from a helicopter that isn’t right side up underwater and dealing with full flight gear in the water. Today we focused on the SEA MK 2 which is a 2 minute tank of air with breathing regulator that you wear at all times on your ALSE (Aircraft Life Support Equipment) vest. Then we jumped in the pool for a swim test in full gear including a 2 minute tread. I half expected someone to get pissed at me for not telling them I knew how to swim. That might explain the smirk on my face. The rest of the photos from today are right here.