Flying over water

First, the essential equipment: an inflatable life vest worn by each occupant, a raft for extended overwater trips, drinking water, and a waterproof personal locator beacon. Confirm whether you have ADS-B weather coverage for the areas you’ll be flying. Some portions of Canada or the Caribbean may not show graphical weather without a subscription.

Whether it’s a 26-mile trip to Catalina Island off the California coast, a 70-nautical mile crossing of Lake Michigan on the way to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, a 300-mile flight from Florida to the “out islands” of the Bahamas, or a 1,000-nautical-mile trek to Puerto Rico, flying over water really is different. The chances of having to ditch an airplane in the water are low, but it’s still a real chance, so plan in advance because a forced landing may become your only option.

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• Life vest and personal locator beacon (PLB)

Wear your life vest, and make sure a waterproof personal locator beacon (with fresh batteries) is attached to it. You won’t have time to dig out the life vest and PLB from the baggage compartment when you really need them.

• Fly high

Altitude gives you more time and greater gliding distance if the engine fails and better radar and radio coverage at all times. If flying over the Bahamas, for example, you can be on Miami Center’s radar and communicating with U.S. air traffic controllers as long as you’re at 7,500 feet or above.

• Brief your passengers

Make your passengers crew members. Brief them on how to open emergency doors and windows and let them know what you’ll expect from them in case of a forced landing. They may be real assets.

• Avoid night and heavy swells

Avoid flying over water at night, because your chances for a successful ditching (and quick rescue) are diminished in darkness. Avoid periods of strong surface winds and heavy swells for the same reason.

• Review ditching procedures

Review ditching strategies (into the wind, parallel to the swells) before embarking on your journey.

• Auto rough

Expect the engine to go into “auto rough” as soon as you’re beyond gliding distance from the shoreline. Realize that the engine probably isn’t making odd noises. It’s your mind playing tricks on you. But monitor the engine gauges anyway.

• Raft and survival gear

Place the raft near the exit door and secure it. Items are sure to get tossed around in the violence of a water landing. You need to ensure the raft stays in place so you know exactly where to find it when you need it.

• Maximum fuel

Carry as much fuel as practical and plan a route that overflies islands if any exist on the way to your destination. Even if there are no airports on the islands you fly over, getting to one would be far better than bobbing in the open ocean, and being on a stationary island improves your odds of being found.

• Postpone descent

Postpone your descent prior to landing as long as practical. Sometimes controllers will direct you to descend to low altitude many miles from the shoreline. If you make your request to stay high well in advance, however, they may be able to put you on a route that accommodates your wishes.