No life jackets on over-water flight - is this acceptable?
Discussion
On a recent flight from Miami to Nassau with American Airlines I noticed something different in the usual safety demo; there was no mention of life jackets.
This is an over-water flight.
Then I saw this:
And in the safety card they show this:
American Airlines expects its victims, sorry, passengers - as the fuselage fills with water - to dismantle their seats, take their seat cushions to the emergency exits, leave the aircraft holding their seat cushion, and then use their upper body strength to hold onto the cushion as they float in the ocean.
What could possibly go wrong?
How is this legal?
This is an over-water flight.
Then I saw this:
And in the safety card they show this:
American Airlines expects its victims, sorry, passengers - as the fuselage fills with water - to dismantle their seats, take their seat cushions to the emergency exits, leave the aircraft holding their seat cushion, and then use their upper body strength to hold onto the cushion as they float in the ocean.
What could possibly go wrong?
How is this legal?
Mandat said:
I've flown Miami to Nassau with American Eagle a few years ago but I don't remember whether they had life jackets or just the flotation device.
In any case, the process of taking the floating seat out of the plane with you is pretty similar to taking a life jacket, so is there any practical difference? Once in the water, having a life jacket is better over the flotation device although the what are the odds of surviving a water crash landing anyway?
The process would be very different. In any case, the process of taking the floating seat out of the plane with you is pretty similar to taking a life jacket, so is there any practical difference? Once in the water, having a life jacket is better over the flotation device although the what are the odds of surviving a water crash landing anyway?
Life jacket - whilst seated, remove from under seat, fit it, forget about it until after you leave the aircraft. Both hands are available to help yourself and others.
Cushion - stand up, wrestle cushion up, exactly where you stand to do this is not clear, drag bulky cushion to exit. Your hands are not free because they are holding the cusion. Without using your hands, exit the aircraft.
They tell you never to inflate your life jacket inside the aircraft for a reason - an inflated jacket will impede your exit. A cushion will too, but at least with the jacket your hands are free.
silentbrown said:
Here's chapter and verse.
It is a one hour flight, so shirley B applies? Federal Aviation Regulations said:
§ 91.509 Survival equipment for overwater operations.
(a) No person may take off an airplane for a flight over water more than 50 nautical miles from the nearest shore unless that airplane is equipped with a life preserver or an approved flotation means for each occupant of the airplane.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, no person may take off an airplane for flight over water more than 30 minutes flying time or 100 nautical miles from the nearest shore, whichever is less, unless it has on board the following survival equipment:
(1) A life preserver, equipped with an approved survivor locator light, for each occupant of the airplane.
(2) Enough liferafts (each equipped with an approved survival locator light) of a rated capacity and buoyancy to accommodate the occupants of the airplane.
(3) At least one pyrotechnic signaling device for each liferaft.
(4) One self-buoyant, water-resistant, portable emergency radio signaling device that is capable of transmission on the appropriate emergency frequency or frequencies and not dependent upon the airplane power supply.
(5) A lifeline stored in accordance with§ 25.1411(g) of this chapter.
As Miami-Nassau is a short flight, only 'a' applies. http://www.flightsimaviation.com/data/FARS/part_91...(a) No person may take off an airplane for a flight over water more than 50 nautical miles from the nearest shore unless that airplane is equipped with a life preserver or an approved flotation means for each occupant of the airplane.
(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, no person may take off an airplane for flight over water more than 30 minutes flying time or 100 nautical miles from the nearest shore, whichever is less, unless it has on board the following survival equipment:
(1) A life preserver, equipped with an approved survivor locator light, for each occupant of the airplane.
(2) Enough liferafts (each equipped with an approved survival locator light) of a rated capacity and buoyancy to accommodate the occupants of the airplane.
(3) At least one pyrotechnic signaling device for each liferaft.
(4) One self-buoyant, water-resistant, portable emergency radio signaling device that is capable of transmission on the appropriate emergency frequency or frequencies and not dependent upon the airplane power supply.
(5) A lifeline stored in accordance with§ 25.1411(g) of this chapter.
silentbrown said:
Ayahuasca said:
It is a one hour flight, so shirley B applies?
Yes, It's an hour flight, but you're never more than 30 minutes flying time from the nearest shore. http://www.distancefromto.net/between/Miami/NassauIt is a despicable airline.
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