Originally Posted by
rickair7777
Yes. Abrupt impact could have knocked them out. Military actually has practical training for egressing upside down aircraft in water (helos specifically), and it involves getting dropped into a pool, and then flipped over in a simulator... once the motion stops, you try to escape. Of course there are divers in the water for safety. It's a real thing. Also helo crew carry pony bottles, personally I would insist on that for an over-water ferry in anything not ETOPS certified. Even in an airliner, good chance that the O2 mask will work in that event.
Yep. Dunker training.
Getting out seems so simple until you're upside down with water rushing in.
We did lots of different "dunks." Some of them with air, some with no air, some blindfolded, different seats, etc.
In all cases you wait for the motion to stop, put a hand on your egress point before you unbuckle, and never let go until you're free of the aircraft.
It got interesting when you or your buddy went the wrong way.