Terrifying underwater helicopter escape - BBC

[Zero7evenX]

To the people who are bemused by Richard Hammond saying they passed with flying colours.

He's the presenter remember, Not the facility experts.

You'd have to watch the whole show, as far as I can remember they are not actual trainees, it was an experience test of some sort. For the program.

[Nickamsweet]

you not got to wait 7 seconds after wet face then escape? she failed, should of died... cold water = shock and you're panicking... if she can't handle it in controlled enviro she should not be going out!!

[LeanneEchelonLeto]

what the balls? she didn't do it at all!

[AvionFalcon]

lol if she thought that was tough she should have tryed the capsize like im a dive on the huets nd there quite fun to ride in :P

[rjardy]

@JohneyAmerica

You are so misinformed it's silly. A helicopter is very capable of safe total aerodynamic flight. We practice no engine landings often. I do at least one every time I go up.

[RCvolunteer1978]

My Father had One real Helo Crash that I can say in Mid 1950s just off of Korea Some of the Training came from his taking a Bath There And There was no Female Medics

[docphilchia]

She should have failed. She's a danger to herself. I did a med stint in North Sea, and it's PURPOSEFULLY more violent AND upside down.

[OTKSenior]

her response time was awful xD that's a FAIL

[DVDluvr123]

So people who fail the test and need to be rescued pass the test!? I don't understand. Someone please explain this.

[wcresponder]

I use to work with Aviation Egress Training in Victoria BC the owner had free fall simulators that entered of a hydrolic rail. Single seat and Twin seat version much more realistic than a gentle dunk. This person would be encouraged to go again and again as long as they were up to it.

[gorelord187]

EPIC FAIL DUMB WOMEN YOU DONT HAVE A CHANCE TO TAKE A LAST BREATH IF YOUR CRASHING

[Kiwiguy1978]

At the best that helo frame would be falling through the water at about 5m (15ft) per sec..........the best real escape so far is at about 35ish metres (100ft)....she would be dead.........(PS I did this course yesterday and the safety diver did not undo my buckle!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

[wickedblue1974]

how did she pass,?? the diver undid her buckle

[Larenose]

sounds like Hammond from top gear

[Dukeyboy]

I imagine there's plenty more happened that we didn't see. They wouldn't have passed her if she wasn't competent.

[MrTealek]

so she freezes up, needs 2 b rescued by the frog,& she passes with frying colours?

[hsiaofhong]

HUET training requires the trainee to escape from the "heli" when it goes under straight down and also when it capsizes

[usernametakenthis]

un impressed.

[otoevst]

Aren't they supposed to tip around once the "helicopter" is submerged? I thought these test simulated a real helicopter crash, where the helicopter would capsize...

[scaffybhoy]

flying colours? i done my bosiet less than a month ago and a woman on my course was deemed not competent yet(fail),for a lot less than that.

[varodrig123456]

I agree with the comments above. How the heck is that 'flying colours'?? In real life, even without wind, cold and debris, she would have died. She should have failed!

[robox97]

@varodrig123456

In norway, she would have failed. We take 8 trips in the simluated helicopter. If someone is not able to do it properly, they will have to do it again and again, untill they do it right. This is serius stuff. She should have failed.

[foxacoustics]

How did she pass with flying colors? She needed assistance. I teach H.U.E.T and they only showed he doing the first of 5 dunks. 1st you stay upright w/o windows. 2nd you stay upright w/ windows. 3rd you roll upside down w/o windows. 4th you roll w/ windows. 5th you roll and do a crosscabin exit.

[stephenjoshea]

This was all done in a luke warm pool without waves wind or debris. The one thing I learned from my course was that if we did go down we were goosed! Having said that, helicopters are the safest mode of transport.

[marcelo1810]

hey man tell me why helicopters are better mode of transportation?

[stephenjoshea]

Statistically they are safer than cars or planes or boats ... less accidents. If you have the money to maintain one ... (i.e. Donald Trump or Bill Gates) and a place to land one then you don't have rush hour or car pile ups to worry about. And they are fast.

[Nickondeweb]

By statistics do you mean the % of helicopter crashes. Because their are more cars than helicopters, so more car accidents. The percentage will tell you which is more (obviously cars are more dangerious though, just saying)

[stephenjoshea]

Yes its by ratio otherwise it would be a rather silly statement but I didn't clarify so fair enough for the ask.

I have to admit though that I don't have the figures so I can't quote what they are.

[JohneyAmerica]

@stephenjoshea your a fool. helicopters incorporate thousands of complex parts all vibrating around. if a planes engines go out, it is still aerodynamic enough to land. if a boat looses its engines, it still floats. a car will still roll after loosing power. a helicopter turns into a giant brick. sure u can try to gyrate down but your low altitude change of survival is low and you may as well forget about high altitude.

[stephenjoshea]

I did the simulation in Aberdeen as part of a BOSIET course for traveling to rigs and there were two guys there that had huge trouble when the simulation when it flipped 180 degrees. One guy ended up being upside down, without air cos he lost his "re-breather" mouth piece and he was totally disorientated. He then proceeded to fight the diver who came to help him.

[chcwtf]

Great simulator - dumb question perhaps... but how did she pass HUET - when the diver had to help her out???

[Saydee2k9]

thats what i was thinking LOL

[StrykEagle]

Yay! HAMSTER!

[bigjoe12345678910]

past with flying colours she had to have help

[djwilko7]

i dont blame her for that fear lol, i dont blame her 1 bit :)