A question for ex and serving crewies.
Whenever you winch down to a boat/ship you always have someone with the earth pole to earth you as you come down. In a rescue scenario, what happens to all that as I would imagine the crew members wouldn't have the time or inclination for faffing about with earthing poles?
There are/were three; (Please remember it was 20 years ago I did this for real) Things may have changed but I don't believe so!!!!!
1. you get a belt from the static!!!!
2. There is a mod that can be wired into your immersion suit. That attaches to the winch wire and another section of cable is connected to the leg of the flying suit and protrudes some 18 inches below your foot. That, in theory, makes contact with the deck and discharges any static.
3. A section of cable aprox 7-8 foot long is attached to the winch hook and is held between the feet of the winchman, to ensure the wire makes contact with the deck first!!!!
A Sea King can generate thousands of volts in flight in the right weather conditions so earthing the cable is essential.
One of the techniques used if you are rescuing Mil Aircrew who are uninjured. A winchman may not be used. The winch is lowered with a rescue strop attached, no earthing cable, the rescue strop is dipped into the sea a few yards in from of the casualty/survivor to discharge the static that has built up.