Floatation Devices

I am planning a trip over water where I will not be within gliding
distance of land. Anyone have any experience with Life vests and
flare kits? Recommendations? I am looking for something inexpensive
as I will probably only be required to have it on board a couple of
times in my lifetime.
Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

Hi Mike

I have self inflating life vest under my seats. I bought recertified
ones from Aircraft Spruce - they are very cheap - like $30,00 each.
But I do recommend you take a ditching course.
I did the one from victoria - dunkyou .com or something like that - it
is a lot of fun and a valuable day of training - highly recommended

HTH

Tony

In article ,
Mike 'Flyin'8' wrote:

I am planning a trip over water where I will not be within gliding
distance of land. Anyone have any experience with Life vests and
flare kits? Recommendations? I am looking for something inexpensive
as I will probably only be required to have it on board a couple of
times in my lifetime.
Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com




--

Tony Roberts
PP-ASEL
VFR OTT
Night
Cessna 172H C-GICE

On Sat, 26 Feb 2005 19:03:09 -0800, Mike 'Flyin'8'
wrote:

I am planning a trip over water where I will not be within gliding
distance of land. Anyone have any experience with Life vests and
flare kits? Recommendations? I am looking for something inexpensive
as I will probably only be required to have it on board a couple of
times in my lifetime.
Mike Alexander
PP-ASEL
Temecula, CA
See my online aerial photo album at
http://flying.4alexanders.com

your biggest enemy over water is carby ice due to the higher humidity.
my experience

in the event of ditching you will only have available to you those
things that are in your pockets. nothing else.
the words of an old deceased friend of mine who did over 200 trans
pacific ferry flights.
Stealth Pilot

Anyone have any experience with Life vests and
flare kits? Recommendations? I am looking for something inexpensive
as I will probably only be required to have it on board a couple of
times in my lifetime.

It's probably not a very good idea to fly beyond power-off gliding distance
of land without emergency equipment - but note that you are no longer
required to carry life vests and flares unless operating for hire.

- Ray

FAR 91.205 (b)(12)

If the aircraft is operated for hire over water and beyond power-off gliding
distance from shore, approved flotation gear readily available to each
occupant and at least one pyrotechnic signalling device.

Not inexpensive, but far and away the best you can get for this
purpose is called something like the SOSpender. As its name suggests,
it's no bigger than a very wide suspender strap.

You don't want a vest that automatically inflates. Safest would be a
combination of pull-this-string to use a CO2 bottle, combined with a
little hose to blow into for a backup.


-- all the best, Dan Ford

email (put Cubdriver in subject line)

Warbird's Forum: www.warbirdforum.com
Piper Cub Forum: www.pipercubforum.com
the blog: www.danford.net

If you are only going to use it a couple times then rent. Check out the boat
shops. Personally, I use inflatable jackets from Stormy Seas. They work well
as regular jackets, have big pockets for survival gear and other
necessaries, and will keep you afloat in a pinch. It would be perfectly
reasonable to make one of these things your regular flying jacket. Pretty
cool. They make versions of everything from vests to heavy parkas.
http://www.stormyseas.com/home.html

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...


As someone who flies the English Channel a bit I can recommend a lifevest
like this one.

http://www.cheaplifejackets.co.uk/in...tml&lang=en-gb

I always wear mine when flying and its not uncomfortable when flying. Having
a life vest under the seat is frankly a dumb place to have it. When are you
going to put it on, when you are trying to control the ditching or when the
plane is sinking? When the plane has come to rest on the water, the first
thing you want to do is get out quickly, not get dressed.

Its also worth having a water proof bag with your handheld transceiver and a
flashlight on a longish string and a clip to go on your belt.

As with anything to do with flying preparation is everything.

"Chris" wrote in message
...

"Cub Driver" wrote in message
...


I always wear mine when flying and its not uncomfortable when flying.
Having
a life vest under the seat is frankly a dumb place to have it. When are
you
going to put it on, when you are trying to control the ditching or when
the
plane is sinking?

I'm in New (not original) England so I don't cross the channel much but do
push the glide envelope heading out to places like Martha's Vineyard or ACK.
My procedure is to climb up to 8-10k feet before hitting the shore and then
start my descent as I come back within glide distance. I don't put the life
jackets on. Why not? From that high you've got at least 8-10 minutes before
it's bathtime, and not much to do but pick which boat to ditch next to.
Seems to me there'll be plenty of time to get the jacket on. Now, a survival
suit would be another matter. I also sail, and when we're offshore, at
night, or in the winter, we're wearing inflatable suspenders and if there's
a bit of sea up then we'll be harnessed in as well. Of course the water's a
lot closer then, that's why.

-cwk.