The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has forced the US Air Force (USAF) to suspend its parachute water survival training in Florida for an indefinite period.

On 4 June 2010, the USAF suspended training of air crews at the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida, which is part of a programme to train 55 students for 48 weeks each year, according to CNN.

During the training, air force personnel are taught survival skills in case their aircraft malfunctions or is attacked over water.

The USAF will send air force personnel to Fairchild Air Force Base in Washington for alternative water survival training, which will not include parachute survival.