#63 Controlled Ditching: Brett’s Story of Survival From a Naval Wessex 31B
Description
Brett and I first met while flying the ambulance helicopter in Adelaide, but our connection goes much deeper. Today, we’re both instructors with RHO Aviation, teaching aircrew and passengers how to escape from an aircraft that has ditched at sea. It’s vital training—something Brett understands better than most.
Years earlier, he was the flight air-crewman aboard a naval Wessex 31B helicopter when it suffered an engine failure off the coast of Malaysia. What followed was a controlled ditching, the kind of event most people train for but never experience.
In this episode, Brett talks through what happened that day, what he learned from it, and how that experience now shapes the lifesaving training we deliver. A gripping story of calm under pressure, survival, and the importance of preparation.
United States
