Better than nothing, to be sure, but a lot worse than users have reason to expect. Of the GA pilots who are taking the prudent course, few realize that many of the rafts they are relying on for their over-water safety are downright deficient in one way or another. Many pilots and operators consider rafts to be a necessary nuisance, required by regulation, or a spouse’s insistence. Yet, even here, many don’t appreciate the dangers they might face. Pilots who are considering Caribbean overflights or jumping off from Narsarsuaq for Reykjavik or Santa Barbara for Hilo will have more critical requirements as they face more obvious dangers. However, it is important to remember that even a body of water as seemingly benign as Chesapeake Bay or Puget Sound can present significant dangers to a downed pilot and passengers, especially in colder months. So their perceived need for a life raft and their perceived requirements for the capabilities of that raft are minimal. Most pilots don’t fly over areas of water that they perceive to be dangerous. We also examine both the approved and unapproved rafts for the GA market and let you know which ones will more likely save your life if you ever need to use them. We’ll examine the regulatory requirements, the common-sense requirements and what you should look for when selecting a life raft. In this four-part series, AVweb will provide an in-depth look at aviation life rafts.
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