The fact that losing engine power would be a death sentence in the first place disturbs me. Is there not enough room on board for survival equipment like an inflatable raft?
The water in the north Atlantic is usually fairly rough so it would be challenging just to accomplish a controlled ditching, never mind deploying an inflatable raft. The water is so cold that you'll be disabled within a few minutes unless you're already in a survival suit.
The pilot in the article did bring a raft + survival suit, and apparently knows of pilots that survived a ditching:
"If you do end up in the water, the important thing is to get into your life raft but also I have a thick neoprene survival suit, which completely encloses the body and you've probably got a few hours survival in that."
He knows of other ferry pilots who have landed in the sea and survived, but admits it's not something he cares to dwell on.
