Immersion Suits for Helicopter Transportation
Protecting survivors of a helicopter ditching from the hazards of immediate and prolonged cold water immersion is accomplished with a helicopter transportation suit (HTS) In addition to the thermal stresses of a cold water environment, when a helicopter ditching occurs, there is a high probability of inversion, followed by an underwater egress. The possibility of inverted underwater egress introduces some unique requirements and constraints to the design and performance of an HTS. The principal determinants of HTS design are minimal buoyancy, thermal protection, and comfort during flight. HTSs and other types of immersion suits share many of the same performance requirements for preventing hypothermia and drowning. This chapter introduces and addresses specific performance requirements and design considerations for immersion suits used by helicopter passengers.