Emergency Landing & Ditching

071-02-10Pablo Asensio Martínez2026-04-011 min

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

  • 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.
Written and reviewed by

Pablo Asensio · 2026-04-01

Aeronautical engineer. Passed the thirteen EASA ATPL(A) theoretical knowledge exams studying from these very notes. Writes and reviews each topic against the Part-FCL Learning Objectives.

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