Volga-Dnepr Airlines conducts its flight crews accident survival and rescue exercises

Moscow (Russia), August 13, 2001. - Volga-Dnepr Airlines, the world's unique and oversize air cargo leader, has concluded the scheduled accident survival and rescue exercises of its flight crews. The drills were conducted in Ulyanovsk, the town of the airline's main offices. The purpose of the training was to give a workout to the flight crew's actions in case of a crash landing (splash-down) and consequent survival in difficult terrain. According to the normative documents, the flight crew practical training to drill rescue actions after splashdown are to be conducted twice a year. All arrangements are to be carried out under supervision of the airline's instructors. During the exercise drills, the instructor simulates various elements of an emergency situation, demanding from the flight crews to display such performances as psychological strength to withstand sudden situations, ability to take critical and sound decisions in current environment, perfect discharge of their duties while stress effected, competent guidance of passengers. Splash-down survival assisted by application of signal and radio aids, food and water supply in various contingency environments, erection of temporary habitation, disease prevention and treatment measures as well as rendering first medical aid and care, constitute, by no means, a complete list of tasks worked through within the scope of the training program. Flight and technical crews, participating in the exercises, have displayed high practical and theoretical efficiency in carrying out of accident survival and rescue operations. Flight and technical crews training, provided for by similar exercises, are not to be conducted as a show but to be as close to actual operating conditions as possible in conformance with the stringent requirements of ICAO regulating documents. Operating cargo flights, we are made responsible for human lives, and, therefore, we have no right to disregard such an important training method", - says Vladimir Davydov, the Unit Manager.

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