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Aviation Life Raft Reviews


Introduction

You Can, Indeed, Put A Price On Human Life

You Can, Indeed, Put A Price On Human Life
A Necessary Nuisance?
Hypocritical Biz-Jet Manufacturers
Don't Leave Home Without One
Hostile Environment

The Rafts

How We Got The Rafts
How We Tested

The Testers and Assumptions

The Testers
Criteria For Evaluations
Assumptions

Choices and Confusion

How Many Will They Hold?
Confusion Reigns

Life Raft Fabrics

New Fabric Introduced

Rafts Tested

Chart: Life Rafts Tested: 2000
Unapproved Rafts
FAA Approved Rafts

Configuration Issues - Freeboard Chart

Chart: Freeboard
Pick A Configuration
One Tube or Two?
Redundancy

Packaging Considerations

Package Size
Tightly Packed Valises
Clear Instructions Critical
Mooring/Inflation Lines
Mooring/Inflation Line Comparison Chart

In The Water

In The Water
Inflation

Summary 1 and Righting

Chart: Life Raft Test 2000: Summary 1 (Righting Boarding and Stability Ratings)
Righting The Raft

Getting In The Raft

Lifelines
Critical Entry

Stability - Staying Sunnyside Up

Sea Anchors / Drogues - What a Drag

Manually Erected Canopies - Do it Yourself Shelter

Chart: Life Raft Test 2000: Summary 2 (Canopy, Floor, Weather and Comfort Ratings)
Manually Erected Canopies - Do it Yourself Shelter

Self-Erecting Canopies - Instant Shelter

Weather Tests

Interior Furnishings - Floors and Grab Lines

Floors
Grab Lines

Raft Equipment - Manual Pumps

Pumping Up
Wrong Pump - Air Cruisers
EAM Failures

Raft Equipment - Drying Out - Bailers and Sponges

Bailers
Sponges

Raft Equipment - Heaving Lines and Raft Knives

Heaving Lines
Raft Knives

Raft Equipment - Lighting and Survival Beacons

Lights
Survival Beacons - ELT/EPIRB

Survival Equipment Packs and Storage

Survival Equipment Packs
Storage

Survival Equipment - Raft Repair, Utility Knives and Flashlights

Raft Repair Equipment
Utility Knives
Flashlights

Signaling Equipment

Pyrotechnics
Signal Mirrors
Waterborne Signals
Whistles

Survival Equipment - Compass, Paddles, Fishing Kits & Miscellaneous Equipment

Compass
Paddles
Fishing Kits
Miscellaneous Equipment

Medical Supplies

Sustenance - Water and Food

Fresh Water
Survival Rations

Immediate Action Lists, Raft and Survival Manuals

Conclusions


Appendix #1 - The Equipped To Survive Aviation Life Raft Rating System

Appendix #2 - Survival Equipment Packs and Included Raft Equipment (Not yet updated for 2000 tests)

FAA TSO-C70a, Liferafts

FAA Advisory Circular 120-47 - Survival Equipment for Use in Overwater Operations

CAA Specification No. 2 Inflatable Liferafts

Helicopter Liferafts - Appendix to Specification No.2

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Publisher and Editor: Doug Ritter
Email: Doug Ritter
URL: http://www.equipped.org/raftstoc.htm
Revision: 06 September 6, 2001
 
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