# Emergency Landing & Ditching

> Procedures for forced landings on land and water.

- **Subject:** 070 — Operational Procedures
- **Section:** 071-02 — Special Operational Procedures and Hazards (General Aspects)
- **Topic code:** 071-02-10
- **Last reviewed:** 2026-04-01
- **Author:** Pablo Asensio Martínez
- **HTML version:** https://pilotsyllabus.com/en/operational-procedures/special-operational-procedures-and-hazards-general-aspects/emergency-and-precautionary-landing-and-ditching/

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## Types
*   **Forced Landing**: Immediate landing due to inability to continue flight (e.g., dual engine failure, fire).
*   **Precautionary Landing**: Planned landing due to abnormal situation (e.g., fuel shortage, sick passenger, minor mechanical issue) where continuation is inadvisable but not impossible.
*   **Ditching**: Emergency landing on water.

## Ditching Procedures

![US Airways Flight 1549 ditching](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c0/US_Airways_Flight_1549_in_Hudson.JPG)

*   **Preparation**: Notify ATC (Position, Souls, fuel). Prepare cabin (Life vests ON, loose items secured).
*   **Direction**:
    *   **High Wind**: Land into wind (reduce ground/water speed).
    *   **High Swell**: Land parallel to swell (along the crest) to avoid crashing into wave face.
*   **Touchdown**: Minimum speed, nose high (so tail touches first). Do not stall high.
*   **Evacuation**: Use slide-rafts. Do not use exits that are submerged.

## Brace Position
Reduces secondary impact injuries (flailing).
*   Feet flat on floor.
*   Head down against seat in front (or on knees).
*   Hands protecting head.

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Free study notes from pilotsyllabus.com. Not a substitute for training at an approved ATO.