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NDP 2022 Red Lion incident: Safety review finds 'no procedural lapses', larger landing zones to be put further from spectators

SINGAPORE — A safety review of risk factors related to the hard landing of a Red Lions parachutist at last year’s National Day Parade (NDP) has found no procedural lapses and recommended improvements to the training programme. An expanded landing zone will also be moved further from spectators.

A screenshot (L) of 3WO Jeffrey Heng’s hard landing and being taken off the stage in a stretcher at the National Day Parade on Aug 9, 2022.

A screenshot (L) of 3WO Jeffrey Heng’s hard landing and being taken off the stage in a stretcher at the National Day Parade on Aug 9, 2022.

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  • A safety review into the hard landing of a Red Lions parachutist at the 2022 National Day Parade found no procedural lapses
  • The review recommended improvements to the Red Lions’ training programmes, which are being implemented
  • Landing zones for the parachutists at future parades will be expanded and placed further from spectator stands
  • This will mean that parachutists will be less susceptible to turbulence
  • Third Warrant Officer Jeffrey Heng has since recovered from the hard landing incident and is medically fit to resume training

SINGAPORE — A safety review of risk factors related to the hard landing of a Red Lions parachutist at last year’s National Day Parade (NDP) has found no procedural lapses and recommended improvements to the training programme. An expanded landing zone will also be moved further from spectators.

The recommendations came in the wake of an incident at NDP 2022 when a sudden, unexpected change in wind direction caused the last of 10 parachutists, Third Warrant Officer (3WO) Jeffrey Heng, to skid on the pavement and fall to the ground. He was stretchered off but did not suffer severe injuries.

The recommendations, which are being implemented, were made known at a media conference held by the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on Friday (May 5).

Moving an expanded landing zone at the NDP site further from spectator stands would leave parachutists less susceptible to turbulence caused by eddy currents and thermal effects, Mindef added.

REVIEW LOOKED INTO TRAINING, SAFETY MANAGEMENT

After the hard landing incident, a review panel was formed to evaluate the safety management and training of the Red Lions display team.

It was headed by the Singapore Armed Forces Inspector-General’s Office, together with external experts in skydiving.  

WHAT CAUSED THE RED LION’S HARD LANDING AT NDP 2022?

The review panel found that there were sudden and unexpected changes in wind conditions on Aug 9 last year during the display jump that included 3WO Heng. There was more wind turbulence experienced by the Red Lions than in rehearsal jumps.

3WO Heng experienced a sudden strong gust of wind from behind as he was nearing his final turn.

In order to maintain control over his flight path, he did a sharp left turn, which caused his parachute to depressurise briefly, leading to a loss of altitude. 

As there was insufficient altitude for a "flare landing", which stops the forward motion of the parachute to slow the descent, 3WO Heng instinctively followed protocol by executing a "parachute landing fall".

This is a safety technique that displaces the energy of the body contacting the earth at great speeds.

It helped to alleviate the impact of the landing and prevented him from sustaining serious injuries, the review found. 

ENHANCEMENTS TO TRAINING PROGRAMMES

On top of the expanded landing zones, other enhancements have also been made to training programmes, which include the Skills Enhancement Programme. 

The Skills Enhancement Programme ensures that jumpers are equipped with the necessary canopy piloting skills to overcome difficult wind and landing zone conditions during display jumps. 

This programme was suspended in 2020 because of the Covid-19 restrictions but resumed this year. 

Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Neo Choon Chea, who oversees parachuting training, said that through the Skills Enhancement Programme, jumpers have “access to international coaches who have vast experience” and who can add "more insights” to their existing canopy piloting syllabus. 

A recent photo of Third Warrant Officer Jeffrey Heng at Pasir Ris Camp where he was conducting parachute training.

Another enhancement that has been implemented is the new Enhanced Display Jump Preparatory Training, which provides jumpers with high-volume and focused team jumping training. 

Through this, the Red Lions can train overseas in drop zones that have more wind turbulence and other difficult conditions to strengthen their parachuting skills. 

“We put the safety of our red lions at the forefront,” LTC Neo said, referring to the enhancements made to the Red Lions Display Jump training. 

Mindef said that 3WO Heng has since recovered from the incident. He has been certified as medically fit to resume training and is now the overall jump master in coordinating training for this year’s NDP Red Lions team.

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Red Lions NDP 2022 Mindef parachute

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