Course Overview
The Helicopter Underwater Escape Training (HUET) course gives learners the practical skills to safely escape from a ditched, inverted or submerged helicopter, survive at sea, and apply recovery and rescue procedures. It covers how to prepare for flight, board the helicopter safely, prepare for ditching, undertake evacuation from an inverted or submerged helicopter, facilitate recovery procedures, and control hazards in a water environment in accordance with workplace procedures.
Helicopter underwater escape and survival is a critical safety skill for personnel travelling as passengers by helicopter to offshore installations or over water, where the ability to evacuate a submerged aircraft, survive at sea, and support recovery is essential following a ditching event. The 1-day Helicopter Underwater Escape Training course delivered at ERGT Australia provides learners with the practical knowledge and hands-on experience required to respond to a helicopter ditching event.
Designed for personnel who regularly travel by helicopter as passengers to offshore installations, vessels, and floating facilities, this course covers pre-flight preparation, ditching response, evacuation from an inverted or submerged helicopter, and post-evacuation survival and signalling,and hazard control in accordance with workplace procedures and legislative requirements.
Through facilitator-led learning and practical, in-water exercises, learners build the confidence and capability to apply ditching preparation procedures, conduct aircraft evacuation including underwater egress, manage post-escape survival, and communicate effectively with rescuers in line with industry best practice. learners will be ready to respond to a helicopter ditching event and apply survival strategies in a water environment.
Key details
Learning Objectives
- By the end of this course, learners will be able to:
- Prepare for flight
- Board the helicopter
- Prepare for helicopter ditching
- Undertake evacuation from the helicopter
- Facilitate recovery process
- Control hazards
Prerequisites
Medical Requirements:
This training is physically demanding and includes extensive in-water activities. A current industry-approved or HUET medical is required for participation. Please refer to this link for more information: HUET Medical
Medicals must be provided to ERGT Australia as soon as possible after enrolling, but no later than 48 hours prior to your course commencing. Your medical can be submitted through your Learner Onboarding in aXcelerate or emailed to info@ergt.com.au
What to expect
Learner Support:
- Learner wellbeing for this course is supported through measures that recognise the physical, cognitive, and psychological demands of helicopter underwater escape training in a simulated environment. As the course involves water immersion, submersion, controlled inversion, and time-critical decision-making during simulated helicopter ditching scenarios, ERGT implements support strategies that prioritise learner safety, confidence and readiness. This ensures learners can safely participate in all practical components without compromising their wellbeing or safety.
Physical Wellbeing Support:
- Trainers continuously monitor learners during water-based activities for signs of fatigue, cold stress, disorientation or physical discomfort.
- Practical activities are introduced progressively, with scheduled rest and recovery periods incorporated between water-based exercises to support fatigue management.
- Learners are encouraged to disclose any physical concerns (e.g. fatigue, discomfort in water, difficulty with breath control) so adjustments can be made to participation.
Psychological & Emotional Wellbeing Support:
- Trainers provide clear pre-activity briefings to prepare learners for water immersion, submersion and inversion, including what to expect during underwater escape activities.
- Learners experiencing discomfort or anxiety when participating in water-based or simulated underwater escape activities are supported through gradual exposure, additional guidance or alternative sequencing of activities where appropriate.
- Post-activity debriefs are conducted to reinforce learning, address concerns and build confidence in safe escape and survival practices.
Cognitive Support for Safety-Critical Tasks:
- Structured delivery of helicopter safety procedures, ditching principles and survival strategies prior to practical application.
- Step-by-step demonstrations of escape sequences, including brace position, reference points, escape pathways and use of life jackets and life raft equipment.
- Use of consistent language, demonstrations and reinforcement of key steps to support memory retention and recall during practical activities.
Frequently asked questions
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