API or aviation preflight indoctrination is the first step in the naval aviation training pipeline for SNAs and NFOs. The training takes place at NAS Pensacola, Florida. SNAs and NFOs start out with some basic FAA flying lessons to ensure that before starting the expensive training they are sure that this is for them and that there are no unforeseen problems.
After these classes they go into a few weeks of academics where students take classes on engineering, aerodynamics, air navigation, aviation physiology and water survival. After those classes they are introduced to basic survival techniques. This includes the "helo dunker", basic water survival with you flight gear on, how to escape from a sinking parachute, parasailing to get use to a parachute as well as using all of the survival equipment in their survival vest.
The "helo dunker" is a mock helicopter that is submerged in water and flipped upside down. The occupants must escape and swim free. They must do this blindfolded as well, in case they have to do it for real in the fleet since helicopters are so widely used. Along with the helo dunker, students practice escaping their parachute in water, getting picked up by a helicopter, using all of the survival equipment in the survival vest which has flairs, reflective mirrors and other pieces of survival gear as well as other survival techniques.
Students are also put in a hyperbaric chamber where they are exposed to low oxygen air. They play patty cake and as the oxygen content of the air decreases they start to become hypoxic which can be deadly if students are not put back on oxygen quickly. Students only do this to the point where they can feel the initial effects of hypoxia like numbing/ tingling of the fingers and impaired special appreciation. They play patty cake to illustrate the impaired spatial appreciation, students will start to laugh because they feel funny; and they will no longer be able to clap their hands together. This training is important because students need to be able to spot the warning signs.
All this training is of course highly supervised and very safe. The survival training and practice is essential because if/when they have to do it for real they will not have to think about it, just remember their training and execute it.
Below are two videos, taken from YouTube, showing what students go through in API.
Below the videos are some pictures to illustrate some of their training.
After these classes they go into a few weeks of academics where students take classes on engineering, aerodynamics, air navigation, aviation physiology and water survival. After those classes they are introduced to basic survival techniques. This includes the "helo dunker", basic water survival with you flight gear on, how to escape from a sinking parachute, parasailing to get use to a parachute as well as using all of the survival equipment in their survival vest.
The "helo dunker" is a mock helicopter that is submerged in water and flipped upside down. The occupants must escape and swim free. They must do this blindfolded as well, in case they have to do it for real in the fleet since helicopters are so widely used. Along with the helo dunker, students practice escaping their parachute in water, getting picked up by a helicopter, using all of the survival equipment in the survival vest which has flairs, reflective mirrors and other pieces of survival gear as well as other survival techniques.
Students are also put in a hyperbaric chamber where they are exposed to low oxygen air. They play patty cake and as the oxygen content of the air decreases they start to become hypoxic which can be deadly if students are not put back on oxygen quickly. Students only do this to the point where they can feel the initial effects of hypoxia like numbing/ tingling of the fingers and impaired special appreciation. They play patty cake to illustrate the impaired spatial appreciation, students will start to laugh because they feel funny; and they will no longer be able to clap their hands together. This training is important because students need to be able to spot the warning signs.
All this training is of course highly supervised and very safe. The survival training and practice is essential because if/when they have to do it for real they will not have to think about it, just remember their training and execute it.
Below are two videos, taken from YouTube, showing what students go through in API.
Below the videos are some pictures to illustrate some of their training.