| So you've earned you're commission and are headed | | | | basic survival strokes. |
| to NAS Pensacola to begin flight training to eventually | | | | It also ensures that you're comfortable in the water. |
| become a Navy pilot. | | | | This is accomplished by a lot of time spent drown |
| Before you strap in to your first naval aircraft (which | | | | proofing and treading water. |
| by the way will be a T-34C Turbo Mentor) you'll have | | | | You also get comfortable swimming with your boots |
| to complete API--better known as Aviation Preflight | | | | on- in fact to pass water survival you need to do a 50 |
| Indoctrination. | | | | meter underwater swim while wearing flight boots and |
| If you're not familiar with aviation, before you begin | | | | lastly you build your confidence by swimming one mile |
| flight training in an aircraft you'll go through a period of | | | | with a flight suit on. |
| ground instruction introducing you to concepts and | | | | Oh, and before I forget you also ride the dunkers. |
| subjects(such as aeronautics, meteorology, aircraft | | | | Aircraft mock ups that simulate a ditching (forced |
| performance etc.) that you'll need to become familiar | | | | landing into the water). You'll be required to safely exit |
| with to operate an aircraft safely and effectively. | | | | both during day time conditions and night (simulated by |
| Well API is a ground school on steroids. Not only do | | | | wearing blacked out goggles). |
| you have academic subjects to master, you also have | | | | Next it's on to land survival where you'll learn the |
| water survival and land survival. | | | | basics of making shelter and finding food. You'll learn |
| Let me tell you a bit about water survival. As a Navy | | | | what plants are edible and which aren't. You'll learn |
| pilot you'll be operating aircraft over the world's oceans | | | | how to catch fish, how to make animal snares, and the |
| and seas. There is a slim chance that you'll go down, | | | | proper way to skin and gut an animal before cooking |
| but when you think about the number of hops (flights) | | | | and eating it. |
| that the Navy performs on a daily basis I'm sure you'll | | | | As you can see, becoming a Navy pilot is more |
| agree that its better to be prepared on the off chance | | | | involved than it seems. |
| that it happens. | | | | Only after you complete API will you be ready to start |
| To that end, water survival makes sure you know | | | | flight training. |
| how to perform what the Navy considers the four | | | | |