SIV training explained: practising emergencies over water
SIV stands for “simulation d’incident en vol” in French, or simulation of incidents in flight. In an SIV course you fly over a lake with a boat and instructors on radio, and you deliberately provoke the incidents you hope never to meet: collapses, stalls and spins.
Why do it?
- To learn how your wing reacts and how to recover calmly.
- To build muscle memory and confidence.
- To practise reserve deployment in a safe setting, if offered.
Many instructors recommend SIV training after you have gained some experience and before you step up to a more demanding wing.
What you learn
- Asymmetric collapses and how to stop the wing from turning.
- Frontal collapses.
- Spins and stalls, and how to exit them.
- Pitch control: managing the wing’s surge.
- Descent techniques such as big ears and B-line stall.
Who should take one?
Pilots who have the basic licence, are comfortable in thermal air and want to understand their wing better. A good course is progressive: start with simple exercises and increase intensity as you improve.
Choosing a course
- Qualified instructors and radio coaching.
- Rescue boat and safety divers.
- Suitable equipment: a reserve checked and repacked, a floatation device and a suitable wing.
- Small groups and clear briefings.
Limits
SIV is not a guarantee. It prepares you to respond and highlights your limits. Know that it is also physically intense and carries its own risks, so listen to your instructor and stop if you don’t feel right.