Saftey: Life Jackets
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- Jean
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Saftey: Life Jackets
Hello,
We plan to buy life jackets for our DA 40.
I see prices ranging from 50 to 200 €.
Does any one have an advice on the best type for light aircraft use?
I like yhe slim models that can be worn over a tee shirt or o vest.
We plan to buy life jackets for our DA 40.
I see prices ranging from 50 to 200 €.
Does any one have an advice on the best type for light aircraft use?
I like yhe slim models that can be worn over a tee shirt or o vest.
- Karl
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Re: Life Jackets
Hi Jean,
As with all things you get what you pay for so I would recommend the more expensive versions,
but they will all do much the same thing. It is the quality and reliability that will suffer on lower priced versions.
One thing to remember is to check if they are an auto inflate model. Some of them inflate on contact with water. You do NOT want this type, it is very dangerous in aircraft.
We use the slim type and they are very comfortable to wear.
I hope this helps.
As with all things you get what you pay for so I would recommend the more expensive versions,
but they will all do much the same thing. It is the quality and reliability that will suffer on lower priced versions.
One thing to remember is to check if they are an auto inflate model. Some of them inflate on contact with water. You do NOT want this type, it is very dangerous in aircraft.
We use the slim type and they are very comfortable to wear.
I hope this helps.
- Kai
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Re: Life Jackets
Jean,
Karl has basically said it all and I have to trust his expertise
Now, my only question would be: do you want them as real life savers or do you want to comply with some kind of regulation for flights over water? If it's only for the compliance, check on the cheapest versions you may find on aircraftspruce.
If you want a real life saver for over water legs, you will definitely need a raft and a PLB. In most European waters during most of the time of the year the life vest will only help you for a few minutes, but usually not long enough until somebody will get you out of the water. I have read somewhere that with light aircraft most people survive the crash, but die because they weren't well prepared for the few minutes after the impact.
And what does it help you to have life vest and a raft if it is difficult or impossible for SAR units to locate you? In a rough see, you will need a PLB. Also, for any crash landing on land this will help locating you even when the electronics of your plane are 2000 ft down under sea level. I even have my PLB on me when cycling or riding on motorbikes in offroad terrain.
A reasonable PLB will cost only 200-300$. I buy most of this stuff from aircraftspruce and have it shipped to an address in the US where they do the repackaging (if needed) and print out the customs declaration form, which you could do online. This step will save you $$ making the declarations short..
Karl has basically said it all and I have to trust his expertise
Now, my only question would be: do you want them as real life savers or do you want to comply with some kind of regulation for flights over water? If it's only for the compliance, check on the cheapest versions you may find on aircraftspruce.
If you want a real life saver for over water legs, you will definitely need a raft and a PLB. In most European waters during most of the time of the year the life vest will only help you for a few minutes, but usually not long enough until somebody will get you out of the water. I have read somewhere that with light aircraft most people survive the crash, but die because they weren't well prepared for the few minutes after the impact.
And what does it help you to have life vest and a raft if it is difficult or impossible for SAR units to locate you? In a rough see, you will need a PLB. Also, for any crash landing on land this will help locating you even when the electronics of your plane are 2000 ft down under sea level. I even have my PLB on me when cycling or riding on motorbikes in offroad terrain.
A reasonable PLB will cost only 200-300$. I buy most of this stuff from aircraftspruce and have it shipped to an address in the US where they do the repackaging (if needed) and print out the customs declaration form, which you could do online. This step will save you $$ making the declarations short..
DA40F - N405FP/HS-KAI (sold)
- Jean
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Re: Life Jackets
Thank you for these advices.
We are looking for life saving devices so we will not try to spare much money on this. I guess we will buy good slim fit TSO'ed Life Jackets and probably a raft.
I did not think about PLB as we have an ELT in the plane, but in fact, it might not be very useful if the plane sinks. It seems that a mirror or water activated light would be useful too.
I found an interesting post (in french) on Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association here
http://www.cirruspilots.org/blogs/frenc ... urvie.aspx
And a reference for ditching survival
http://www.equipped.org/ditchtoc.htm
Jean
We are looking for life saving devices so we will not try to spare much money on this. I guess we will buy good slim fit TSO'ed Life Jackets and probably a raft.
I did not think about PLB as we have an ELT in the plane, but in fact, it might not be very useful if the plane sinks. It seems that a mirror or water activated light would be useful too.
I found an interesting post (in french) on Cirrus Owners and Pilots Association here
http://www.cirruspilots.org/blogs/frenc ... urvie.aspx
And a reference for ditching survival
http://www.equipped.org/ditchtoc.htm
Jean
40.446, G1000, KAP 140, Hartzell Metal
- Karl
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Re: Life Jackets
Just as a slight thread drift, some of you may know that a DA 40 ditched off the coast of Malaysia a few months ago.
You may be interesting to know that the aircraft landed level and apart from losing the cowlings stayed afloat, with enough time for the crew to simply climb out and step off the wing. One crew member even had time to collect his headset and take it with him.
The aircraft sank relativly slowly nose first as can be see in one of the pics in the gallery.
You may be interesting to know that the aircraft landed level and apart from losing the cowlings stayed afloat, with enough time for the crew to simply climb out and step off the wing. One crew member even had time to collect his headset and take it with him.
The aircraft sank relativly slowly nose first as can be see in one of the pics in the gallery.
- Kai
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Re: Life Jackets
Really nice to know and thanks for the first hand information. I am quite comfortable with my DA40 over water thanks to reports like these.Karl wrote: One crew member even had time to collect his headset and take it with him.
The aircraft sank relatively slowly nose first as can be see in one of the pics in the gallery.
Did you get to take the DA40 out of the water? Any other damages except for the cowlings? In the picture, was it still sinking or with the prop on the ground?
DA40F - N405FP/HS-KAI (sold)
- Karl
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Re: Life Jackets
Yes the aircraft was recovered after spending approx 8 hrs in the sea. The sea is quite shallow here and in the picture the prop and open canopy are resting on the sea floor.Kai wrote:Karl wrote: Did you get to take the DA40 out of the water? Any other damages except for the cowlings? In the picture, was it still sinking or with the prop on the ground?
- Tim
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Re: Life Jackets
Were they wearing lifejackets?
That's a great picture, given no injuries to the crew.
That's a great picture, given no injuries to the crew.
Private pilot & IR
N395JP
DA40.410
N395JP
DA40.410
- Kai
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Re: Life Jackets
Sorry for the topic drift: but does your flight school also rent out Diamonds?Karl wrote:Yes all crew wear life jackets. Every flight here is over the sea.
DA40F - N405FP/HS-KAI (sold)