Aircrew Water Survival and Jungle Survival Training Programme
11:45am on Tuesday 8th November 2011
The aircrew water survival and jungle survival training programme no 10-11, which was conducted over a period of one week, was successfully completed fulfilling all the aims of the trainees and the instructors. The closing address and certificates awarding ceremony was held on the 2nd November 2011. Air Cdre DLS Dias, representing the Director Air Operations AVM GP Bulathsinghala graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.
Aircrew Survival Training for SLAF Aircrew commenced in year 2000 with in-house training conducted by the survival instructors of USAF 6th Special Ops Squadron. They conducted three aircrew water and jungle survival training programs in year 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Since year 2002, the SLAF commenced aircrew survival training with SLAF instructors and conducted 7 water survival training programs at SLAF Base Kat and SLAF Guwanpura and 7 jungle survival training programs at SLAF Ampara.
However, with highest operational constraints the SLAF could not continue Aircrew Survival Training since year 2006.
Aircrew survival training recommenced in year 2011 and it was decided to conduct water survival and jungle survival in one location with a redesigned programme. This was the first redesigned aircrew water survival and jungle survival training programme which was conducted from 25th October to 1st November 2011 at SLAF Station Ampara. A total of 15 trainees participated for this training programme, 8 of them were pilots and 7 of them were airmen aircrew from different squadrons in the SLAF. This training programme was conducted by pilots who were trained as aircrew survival instructors by the USAF 6th Special Ops Squadron as well as at thre Indian Air Force Jungle and Snow Survival training school. The team of Instructors were lead by the Director Health Services of the air force, Air Commodore DMS Karunaratne.
The aim of this training programme was to educate the trainees on how to survive in an actual air crash/force landing situation above a water surface or over jungle area and to give a practical experience in this kind of scenario.
The course programme initially consisted of a series of water survival activities including swimming, floating techniques, underwater breathing, life saving techniques, underwater swimming, single and multi-crew dinghy drills and dry winch drills as well.
Later during the jungle survival training phase, the trainees were allowed to witness various survival techniques in the survival lane at the training area of SLAF unit Ampara. In addition, during the day map march and the night map march the trainees were able to practice their ground navigational abilities and newly learnt survival techniques.
During the final three days of the programme, the group was given two predetermined night stop points and one heli-pickup point to which they had to march through the jungle to reach on time in order to be evacuated. The group of trainees, all the instructors, four regiment instructors, an RSF 8 man team, and two male nurses participated for this final jungle exercise. Within the desired timings, and extremely harsh rainy weather and terrain conditions, the whole group was evacuated by a Bell 212 helicopter on the 1st of November 2011 at the predetermined heli-pickup point to SLAF Station Ampara.
Day 01
Day 02
Day 03
Day 04
Day 05
Day 06
Day 07
Conclusion
Aircrew Survival Training for SLAF Aircrew commenced in year 2000 with in-house training conducted by the survival instructors of USAF 6th Special Ops Squadron. They conducted three aircrew water and jungle survival training programs in year 2000, 2001 and 2002.
Since year 2002, the SLAF commenced aircrew survival training with SLAF instructors and conducted 7 water survival training programs at SLAF Base Kat and SLAF Guwanpura and 7 jungle survival training programs at SLAF Ampara.
However, with highest operational constraints the SLAF could not continue Aircrew Survival Training since year 2006.
Aircrew survival training recommenced in year 2011 and it was decided to conduct water survival and jungle survival in one location with a redesigned programme. This was the first redesigned aircrew water survival and jungle survival training programme which was conducted from 25th October to 1st November 2011 at SLAF Station Ampara. A total of 15 trainees participated for this training programme, 8 of them were pilots and 7 of them were airmen aircrew from different squadrons in the SLAF. This training programme was conducted by pilots who were trained as aircrew survival instructors by the USAF 6th Special Ops Squadron as well as at thre Indian Air Force Jungle and Snow Survival training school. The team of Instructors were lead by the Director Health Services of the air force, Air Commodore DMS Karunaratne.
The aim of this training programme was to educate the trainees on how to survive in an actual air crash/force landing situation above a water surface or over jungle area and to give a practical experience in this kind of scenario.
The course programme initially consisted of a series of water survival activities including swimming, floating techniques, underwater breathing, life saving techniques, underwater swimming, single and multi-crew dinghy drills and dry winch drills as well.
Later during the jungle survival training phase, the trainees were allowed to witness various survival techniques in the survival lane at the training area of SLAF unit Ampara. In addition, during the day map march and the night map march the trainees were able to practice their ground navigational abilities and newly learnt survival techniques.
During the final three days of the programme, the group was given two predetermined night stop points and one heli-pickup point to which they had to march through the jungle to reach on time in order to be evacuated. The group of trainees, all the instructors, four regiment instructors, an RSF 8 man team, and two male nurses participated for this final jungle exercise. Within the desired timings, and extremely harsh rainy weather and terrain conditions, the whole group was evacuated by a Bell 212 helicopter on the 1st of November 2011 at the predetermined heli-pickup point to SLAF Station Ampara.
Day 01
Day 02
Day 03
Day 04
Day 05
Day 06
Day 07
Conclusion
