A competitive tender to meet the requirement to provide representative Aircraft Helicopter Underwater Escape Training Modules (HUETM’s) for Merlin Mk2/Mk4/4a and Wildcat HMA which will deliver a safe system of training when combined with the Royal Navy Centre of Maritime Survival Evade Resist Extract (SERE) and Underwater Escape Training (RNCMSUET) Facility, at RNAS Yeovilton to allow the realistic representation of emergency situations and enable the training of escape drills whilst submerged. Two new Modules are required to replace the existing UET modules.

The User [UK Armed Forces Personnel, RNCMSUET Staff, Civilians who operate in RW Aircraft over water and Navy Command] requires a supported solution [Modules] that will deliver UET at RNCMSUET; the Modules must reduce the Risk to Life (RtL) associated with ditching, be safe, represent value for money (VfM) and be sufficiently available to meet the training demands of the User. MAA Regulatory Article 2130 (Safety equipment, survival drills and training) mandates all helicopter aircrew receive underwater escape training in suitable facilities. Training conducted with representative equipment reduces the Risk to Life (RtL) of crew and passengers and strengthens the platform operating safety case. A Training Needs Analysis (TNA) was carried out in 20141 recommending the infrastructure required to deliver pan-Defence rotary wing maritime survival training against future training requirements. The TNA also recommended the provision of new HUETM’s to replace the aged small (Lynx) and large (Sea King) modules due to their lack of fidelity and increasing unserviceability and maintenance burden. This competitive tender seeks solutions to meet the requirements set in the statement of requirement for the project, namely developing Aircraft Helicopter Underwater Escape Training Modules (HUETM’s) representative of Merlin Mk2/Mk4/4a and Wildcat HMA, which will complete a safe system of training when combined with the Royal Navy Centre of Maritime SERE and Underwater Escape Training (RNCMSUET) Facility, at RNAS Yeovilton to allow the realistic recreation of emergency situations and enable the training of escape drills whilst submerged.