Development of New Water Landing Infrastructures and Procedures

• Jorge Miguel dos Reis Silva
• Paulo Soares
• Vasco Gabriel

Universidade da Beira Interior, Aerospace Sciences Department (DCA-UBI), Calçada Fonte do Lameiro, 6201- · Covilhã, Portugal · CiTUA, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal

Evento

XXII SITRAER – Brasília, DF, Brasil, 22 a 24 de outubro de 2025

Volume

Anais do XXII Simpósio de Transporte Aéreo – SITRAER 2025 · ISBN 978-65-272-2024-4 · DOI 10.29327/9786527220244

Editora

Even3 Publicações

Editores

Fabiana Serra de Arruda, Camila Lucena, Giovanna Miceli Ronzani Borille, Evandro José da Silva

Abstract

Over the past years Portugal has experienced several accidents involving water landing and ditching emergencies, some fatal, which involved an in-depth study of the process of water landing and its specificities. Thus there is a failure regarding the characteristics of the dedicated water landing infrastructures, as well as an effective risk assessment and flight crew training. This study addresses an analysis of historical occurrences and the lessons retrieved up from them, but also the current applicable regulations to propose new water landing infrastructures equipped with operational support elements that could assist aircrafts in regular operations as well as emergency situations, if the decision is to ditch the aircraft. For this purpose, two locations are proposed for such infrastructures at two distinct dams, Marateca and Aguieira. The proposed location is based on the initial condition that the areas for operation are well defined and marked out, thus avoiding the risk of incursion into them by third parties who are unaware of the delimitation of these restricted areas of operation. It also accounts for the existence of means of rescue, especially in the event of an accident, namely search and rescue means for immediate reaction. It is also proposed to build up the infrastructure on the ‘land side’ with hangars, parking bays and taxiways, which can be used by amphibious or rotary-wing aircraft, while aircraft/crews can move from the maritime to the land environment via docks or access ramps. Means for ensuring safety and separation of “airside” to the “landside” are also proposed. This study is based on the requirements of international and national legislation, which include theoretical and practical training, as well as key points that must be addressed during the training stage. In addition, these points are based on the prerequisites needed to obtain an amphibious aircraft pilot's licence.

Keywords: Amphibian Aircraft; Emergency Response; Risk Assessment; Pilot Training and Regulations; Water Landing