Underwater Egress Simulators, or more commonly known as survival dunk tanks. This is a part of the training for most, if not all, aviators on how to survive a plane crash in the waters. This controlled simulation affords the trainee the opportunity to experience the violent impact of a plane going down in water, the aircraft sinking and then spinning upside down while underwater. It is an unnatural thing. Your breathing has to change. You must keep your wits about you even though you are disoriented in the waters, buckled in, upside down in an enclosed capsule. Most that are trained are also trained in an even more challenging situation: the night. To add to the already tense situation, the person is either trained in the dark or they are required to wear goggles that block out all light.
The interesting thing to note here is that in one way or another all of those that go through this training volunteer for it. They may not go into the training with a strong desire to go through the underwater simulator, but their ultimate goal is to be a pilot or a crew member. To reach their goal, they must get highly educated and go through training that is certain to not be comfortable for them and at times, quite the opposite. But with their goals in mind they dawn all the necessary gear that is even heavier in water. They attend all the required classes. And then they eventually step into the simulator, take a deep breath and plummet to their potential sudden death.
Of course, the simulator is conducted in a controlled environment. The trainer is there to help should there be an emergency situation. However, when the students are doing the simulation as part of their test to be qualified, the instructor cannot say anything. It is solely on the individual to make the right moves, to stay calm even in the dark and the turbulence, to get oriented even when things are upside down and they feel trapped because they are strapped in. The student must brace themselves and rely on the training and education that they have received to egress (escape / get out of) the situation.
How much are our lives like this? Each day we are being educated. Every minute we are being trained in one thing or another. Life is a series of lessons and it is something that we volunteer for, literally. We should recognize that we have been hand picked to be here and to go through this "course", but once here we volunteer to stay until we have finished our final test and get to go home with what we hope to be our ultimate qualification.
At what point in the training are you? Do you have a goal in mind? Do you know what outcome you want to see from your life? And if you have that goal in mind and you are going for it, where are you in your training course? For me, I have a goal in my sights and I volunteer daily to go through the classes and training necessary to be qualified. I know that I will not get a perfect score because I've lost many points already, but my desire is to get the best score that I can so I will ultimately be qualified.
Where am I in the training course? Quite honestly I feel that I am strapped to my seat, trapped in the darkness, submerged in water upside down and frankly, disoriented. I am making all efforts to stay calm, allow some time to get oriented, and I am thankful that I know what I need to do next. I have had many classes on this topic. My instructor is the best there is. But he is now silent and I know why; because I am taking a test. I know that he is near me, watching me, even though I cannot see him through the dark waters, but he is there.
Now is the time for me to unbuckle the straps that hold me in their tight grip. Now is the time to move hand-over-hand feeling my way to the exit, unlock the door that is trapping me in, and push it out of the way. It will only be when I have quietly and calmly completed these things that feel so unnatural to me that I will be able to move through the exits and egress. And only then will I be qualified and pass the test. I recognize that I will likely have to requalify over the years to maintain my goal, but it will be worth it for the "prize" in the end.
Through all of this, one thing is certain...my instructor, even without physically seeing him, is there with me the whole length of the test and is silently cheering me on. I want to make Him proud...
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