Which exits should be used in a ditching on the 777-300ER?

Which exits should be used in a ditching on the 777-300ER?

• A. All doors above the water line except 3L/R on the 777-300ER
• B. All doors above the water line including 3L/R
• C. Only doors 2L/2R
• D. Doors below water line

Answer: (A)

In a ditching, the key idea is to evacuate through exits that stay above the waterline as the airplane floats. Doors that end up submerged or blocked by water won’t be usable, and trying to use them can slow evac or trap passengers. On the 777-300ER, most main deck exits will remain above the water, but the aft doors at 3L/3R sit in a position that tends to be at or near the waterlevel once the fuselage settles. Because of that, those doors should not be used in a ditching. So you would evacuate through all exits that stay above the waterline, while avoiding the doors that would be under water. Using doors that would be submerged or flooded would defeat the purpose of a rapid, safe exit.

In a ditching, the key idea is to evacuate through exits that stay above the waterline as the airplane floats. Doors that end up submerged or blocked by water won’t be usable, and trying to use them can slow evac or trap passengers. On the 777-300ER, most main deck exits will remain above the water, but the aft doors at 3L/3R sit in a position that tends to be at or near the waterlevel once the fuselage settles. Because of that, those doors should not be used in a ditching. So you would evacuate through all exits that stay above the waterline, while avoiding the doors that would be under water. Using doors that would be submerged or flooded would defeat the purpose of a rapid, safe exit.