What Survival Systems USA does

Survival Systems USA, founded in 1982 by Albert Bohemier in Groton, Connecticut, is a privately held specialized safety training company that delivers underwater egress and survival instruction to military, aviation, wind energy, public safety, and aerospace clients. The company operates a 100,000-gallon heated training pool with a 30-by-30-foot deep well, an adjustable theater environment, and a 10,000-pound-rated overhead crane, plus configurable Modular Egress Training Simulators (METS) for UH-60, CH-47, UH-72, and Apache helicopters — including the only UH-72 cockpit doors and one of only two Apache METS in the world. Its core training portfolio includes Aviation Survival & Egress Training (ASET), Army Aviation AR 95-1 Dunker Training, Sea Survival, and GWO-certified wind energy modules (BST, WAH, MH, FA, FAW, SS, EFA, ART, SLS, WLA) delivered through an ENSA North America channel partnership.

The company generates revenue through three streams: (1) professional training services delivered at the Groton facility or via mobile teams deploying to all 50 states and OCONUS locations, priced on a quote basis under multi-year government contracts; (2) facility rentals to public safety dive teams (e.g., FDNY), film and television productions (e.g., Netflix's 'The OA'), and R&D clients; and (3) exclusive DoD/DHS equipment procurement as the contracting agent for Survival Systems Limited (OEM) for METS, SWET, and man-lift-rated systems. Customer concentration sits with US federal government buyers — Navy, Marine Corps, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, and National Guard — with secondary diversification into commercial wind energy, commercial aviation, medical transport, and aerospace. GTM motion combines enterprise field sales into military procurement, mobile on-site delivery, and the ENSA channel partnership for wind energy reach.

Name

Survival Systems USA

Legal name

Survival Systems USA

Website

https://survivalsystemsinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Survival Systems USA provides specialized underwater egress and survival training to US military branches, wind energy, commercial aviation, public safety, and aerospace clients via its Groton, CT training facility and mobile teams, using proprietary METS simulators and GWO-certified curricula.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aviation Survival Training

NAICS

Flight Training (611512), Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (488190), Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing (336414)

SIC

Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)

akta.pro primary industry

Safety, Compliance & Risk Training Simulations (EHS, OSHA, Hazard Response) (EDAFAJAD)

Keywords

• Underwater egress training
• Aviation survival training
• Wind energy safety training
• Military dunker training
• Sea survival training

Headquarters

HQ city

Groton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Professional Training Services: FAA WINGS-accredited and GWO-certified training programs delivered at Groton facility or mobile team locations. Revenue generated through course fees for aviation survival, underwater egress, sea survival, wind energy safety, and general emergency duties training. Pricing is quote-based with inquiry forms for custom quotes.
2. Facility Rental: Rental of specialized training facilities including 100,000-gallon heated pool, underwater theater, and full production facilities. Serves R&D clients, public safety dive teams, and film/TV production companies. Revenue generated through hourly/daily facility rental fees.
3. Training Equipment Sales: Exclusive contracting agent for Survival Systems Limited (OEM) to DoD and DHS for METS products, SWET equipment, and man-lift-rated systems. Revenue from equipment procurement contracts with government agencies.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Survival Systems USA provides specialized underwater egress and survival training services for military, aviation, wind energy, public safety, and aerospace clients. Core offerings include Aviation Survival & Egress Training (ASET), Army Aviation AR 95-1 Dunker Training, Sea Survival Training, GWO-certified Wind Energy Safety Training delivered through ENSA North America partnership, FAA WINGS-accredited Mobile Training, and facility rental services. The company operates a 100,000-gallon heated training facility with proprietary Modular Egress Training Simulator (METS) and serves as the exclusive contracting agent for Survival Systems Limited OEM to the US Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security.

Product overview

Survival Systems USA provides specialized survival and safety training services through a multi-modal portfolio of programs. The core offering consists of Aviation Survival & Egress Training (ASET), Army Aviation AR 95-1 Dunker Training, and Sea Survival Training, all utilizing the proprietary METS (Modular Egress Training Simulator) and SWET equipment. In partnership with ENSA North America, the company delivers GWO-certified Wind Energy Training including BST-1005, WAH, MH, FA, FAW, SS, EFA, ART, SLS, and WLA modules. Additional services include FAA WINGS-accredited Mobile Training, Facility Rentals for public safety dive training and film production, and spacecraft egress training for IIAS astronautical programs. The company also serves as exclusive contracting agent for Survival Systems Limited, supplying METS and man-lift-rated systems to Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Aviation Survival & Egress Training (ASET) Comprehensive underwater egress training program addressing risks of over-water and near-water air travel. Includes ASET-1 (basic METS training), ASET-2 (full program with emergency breathing device), and ASET-3 (accelerated refresher equivalent to Dunker Training Course Refresher). FAA WINGS accredited.
• General Emergency Duties Training (GED) Training program for pilots, aircrew, and passengers covering pre-flight, in-flight, and post-ditching survival skills. GED-3 (16-hour) includes CPR/AED certification; GED-4 (8-hour) covers online first aid protocols. Compliant with 14 CFR Part 121.417, Part 91 Subpart K, and Part 135.331.
• Army Aviation AR 95-1 Dunker Training AR 95-1 compliant underwater egress training using Modular Egress Training Simulator (METS) and Shallow Water Egress Trainer (SWET). Configurable for UH-60, CH-47, UH-72, and Apache aircraft. Includes unique UH-72 cockpit doors and one of two Apache METS simulators worldwide.
• Sea Survival Training (WST) Post-aircraft ditching knowledge and survival skills for pilots, aircrew, and passengers traveling over or near water. WST1 is 4-hour coastal water course; WST2 is 8-hour comprehensive course. Conducted in Long Island Sound in Groton, CT. FAA WINGS accredited.
• HUET for Offshore Wind (with CA-EBS) Helicopter Underwater Egress Training with Compressed Air Emergency Breathing System for offshore wind industry personnel. Covers full disorientation underwater escape, surface evacuation, and survival patterns. 7-hour initial course conducted at Groton Training Center.
• GWO Basic Safety Training (BST-1005) Foundational GWO-certified safety program for wind energy industry. Comprises four modules: Work at Height (WAH 1002), Manual Handling (MH 102), First Aid (FA 2002), and Fire Awareness (FAW 101). Initial: 32 hours/4 days; Refresher: 16 hours/2 days. GWO WINDA certified through ENSA.
• GWO Wind Limited Access (WLA) Entry-level GWO module for persons making supervised visits to wind turbine environments. Covers PPE use, fall protection, and safe evacuation. Designed for infrequent turbine visitors. GWO certified through ENSA.
• GWO Work at Height (WAH 1002) GWO module enabling safe work at heights and basic rescues in wind turbine environments. Covers PPE inspection, anchor points, ladder conduct, and rescue equipment. Initial: 14 hours/2 days; Refresher: 8 hours/1 day. GWO certified through ENSA.
• GWO Manual Handling (MH 102) GWO module developing positive manual handling and ergonomic behaviors for wind turbine workers. Covers muscular-skeletal injury prevention, biomechanics, and risk reduction. Available as standalone or combo with WAH. Initial: 16 hours/2 days; Refresher: 8 hours/1 day. GWO certified through ENSA.
• GWO First Aid (FA 2002) GWO module enabling administration of safe and effective first aid in remote wind turbine environments. Covers primary assessment (ABCs), AED usage, and secondary assessment principles. 4-hour refresher course. GWO certified through ENSA.
• GWO Fire Awareness (FAW 101) GWO module for fire prevention and initial response in wind turbine environments. Covers fire development, contingency planning, smoke detection, and use of handheld firefighting equipment. Initial and refresher: 4 hours/1 day. GWO certified through ENSA.
• GWO Sea Survival (SS) GWO module for safe offshore access and rescue during travel from shore to turbine. Covers cold shock, hypothermia, drowning, GMDSS, SAR, and evacuation from turbine to water. Initial and refresher: 7 hours/1 day. GWO certified through ENSA.
• GWO Enhanced First Aid (EFA) Advanced GWO module for administering lifesaving measures in remote wind turbine environments using advanced emergency equipment and medical teleconsultation. Initial: 21 hours/3 days; Refresher: 14 hours/2 days. GWO certified through ENSA.
• GWO Advanced Rescue Training (ART) Advanced GWO rescue modules: ART-N (Nacelle, Tower & Basement Rescue, 14 hours/2 days) and ART-H (Hub, Spinner & Inside Blade Rescue, 7 hours/1 day). Covers confined space rescue operations using industry-standard equipment. Prerequisites: GWO Work at Height, Manual Handling, First Aid, and confined space training. GWO certified through ENSA.
• GWO Slinger Signaller (SLS) GWO module providing Basic Rigger and Signal Person knowledge for wind industry. Covers OSHA BRSP qualifications, lifting procedures, crane safety, and signal operations. Complies with OSHA 29 CFR 1926.1400 Subpart CC, ANSI/ASME B30.5, B30.9, B30.26. Initial: 16 hours/2 days. GWO WINDA certified through ENSA.
• GWO Refresher Training Renewal courses for wind industry workers with valid GWO certificates. Covers all GWO modules including BST, WAH, MH, FA, FAW, SS, EFA, and ART. WINDA registration renewed for 2 years upon successful completion. GWO certified through ENSA.
• Mobile Training FAA WINGS-accredited training delivered at client locations. Personnel travel with equipment to provide cost-effective training for military (Army, National Guard), public safety (Fire, Law Enforcement, HEMS), and commercial aviation clients unable to travel to Groton facility.
• Production Location Rental Film and television production facility rental featuring 100,000-gallon heated pool with 30x30ft deep well and 10x30ft shallow end. Includes full theater with adjustable audio, lighting, wind, and rain effects, plus 10,000-lb personnel-lift-rated crane. Used by Netflix and Thinkmodo. Located minutes from I-95, halfway between NYC and Boston.
• Public Safety Dive Training Facility Rental Indoor dive training facility with overhead lifting system and dive simulator for public safety dive teams. Features 675+ cubic feet usable simulator space replicating vessels, vehicles, buses, and aircraft with 30+ ingress/egress points. Used by FDNY dive team. Qualifies for Homeland Security Grant (HOM17) funding.
• Spacecraft Egress Training Spacecraft landing and post-landing training for astronautical professionals using underwater analog environment. Includes NASA Orion spacecraft mockup, ISS Quest Airlock, and parachute-drop apparatus. Courses: OPS 102 (Spacecraft Egress and Rescue Operations), BIO 104 (Advanced Egress and Post-Landing Space Suit Evaluation), EVA 105 (Neutral Buoyance Laboratory EVA Operations). Hosted for IIAS and PoSSUM programs.
• METS (Modular Egress Training Simulator) Equipment Underwater egress training simulator configurable to match various aircraft including UH-60, CH-47, UH-72, and Apache helicopters. Sold as equipment via exclusive contracting agent arrangement to DoD and DHS. Used worldwide at 8 US Navy, 4 US Marine Corps, 2 US Army, 1 US Air Force, and 1 US Coast Guard locations.
• SWET (Shallow Water Egress Trainer) Equipment Shallow water egress training device for basic underwater escape training. Available as mobile unit for client-site training. Sold as equipment to DoD and DHS via exclusive contracting agent arrangement. Part of Army Aviation AR 95-1 compliant programs.
• Man-Rated Lifting System Equipment Man-lift-rated overhead crane and personnel-rated rescue hoist systems. 10,000-lb rated overhead crane available at production facility. Sold as equipment to DoD and DHS via exclusive contracting agent arrangement. Part of survival training simulation theater and rescue operations equipment catalog.

Quantifiable outcome

• AR 95-1 compliance for Army aviation over-water operations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• ENSA North AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with ENSA North America, a division of Mallory Safety Management Services, to deliver GWO-certified wind energy training. ENSA provides the certification framework and platform access while Survival Systems USA provides the training facility and instruction in Groton, CT. This extends Survival Systems USA's reach in the North American wind energy market.
• IIAS (International Institute for Astronautical Sciences)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIIAS uses Survival Systems USA's facility for hands-on educational programs in spacecraft landing and post-landing phases. Students from over 50 countries come through the institute for astronautical sciences training. The facility provides underwater analog environment with NASA Orion spacecraft mockup, ISS Quest Airlock, and parachute-drop apparatus for EVA training.
• Global Wind Organisation (GWO)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGWO is a non-profit organization founded by leading turbine manufacturers and owners/operators to create safer workplace standards in wind energy. Survival Systems USA is a GWO certified training provider delivering BST and related safety courses. GWO certification provides globally recognized credentials for wind industry workers.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Survival Systems Limited: Canada-based original equipment manufacturer of METS and SWET systems and operator of its own survival training centers. Survival Systems USA's exclusive contracting agent relationship to DoD/DHS for Survival Systems Limited products makes it the US counterpart with directly comparable underwater egress training capability.
• Survivex: UK-based GWO-certified training center delivering the full GWO Basic Safety Training and Advanced Rescue Training portfolio to the wind industry. Operates a similar multi-course training center business model with comparable target customers and curriculum.
• Helicopter Aircrew Training Services (HATS): Provides helicopter-specific aircrew training including underwater egress and sea survival, serving military and commercial helicopter operators. Closely comparable target customers and training scope to Survival Systems USA's METS and ASET programs.

Broad incumbents

• Petrofac Training Services: Provides HUET, sea survival, firefighting, and offshore safety training for the oil and gas and offshore wind industries. Comparable in HUET and sea survival delivery, particularly for offshore personnel.
• RelyOn Nutec: European-headquartered safety training provider offering GWO, HUET, firefighting, and offshore safety courses at multiple global sites. Closely comparable in GWO wind energy and HUET portfolio, with similar multi-modal training center business model.
• Falck Safety Services (now Bristow Helicopters Safety & Training): Major international provider of HUET, sea survival, GWO, and aviation safety training, particularly in the North Sea offshore market. Comparable to Survival Systems USA in wind energy GWO and HUET delivery, but at much larger scale and broader geographic footprint.
• CAE: Global aviation training leader providing pilot simulation, crew training, and aviation safety services to commercial, business, and defense aviation. Adjacent to Survival Systems USA in commercial aviation survival and crew training, though CAE's focus is broader flight simulation rather than underwater egress.
• Lufthansa Aviation Training: Provides pilot and cabin crew training including survival and emergency procedures for commercial aviation. Comparable in FAA-compliant aviation training and emergency duties instruction, though at significantly larger scale and broader scope.
• Maersk Training: Global provider of offshore safety, GWO, HUET, and maritime survival training serving wind, oil and gas, and maritime sectors. Directly comparable GWO-certified curriculum and HUET delivery, with much larger international footprint.

Emerging players

• Florida Institute of Technology (Aviation Programs): Provides FAA-compliant flight and aviation training including survival and emergency procedures, serving as a partial alternative channel for AR 95-1 and FAA WINGS survival training. Less specialized in underwater egress but adjacent in the broader aviation training market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/survivalsystemsinc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/survival-systems-usa
• Facebookfacebook.com/SurvivalSystemsUSA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/survivalsystemsinc
• Xx.com/ssusadunker

Compliance18 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Survival Systems USA