IO540:
The vast majority of pilots do not have a raft - the cost of ~ £1200 seems too much. But in a jacket, hypothermia will get you within a few hours in the summer, and quicker in the winter.
A raft but no jacket assumes you will be able to step off the wing into the raft. I'd venture that is a risky assumption. If you get the raft in the water but then you have to go in the water too, even in quite mild sea temps you will lose the ability to use your fingers very quickly, such that pulling yourself up the ladder into the raft may well be impossible. Then you'll die of hypothermia - or drown - looking up at a nice dry inflated raft. The answer is a survival suit with gloves. I bought four for £25 each last week. None have ever been used, only ever came out of their bags for annual servicing. Not the most brilliantly comfortable apparel in the cockpit but it certainly calms the nerves on sea crossings.
Well done the Lance guy for a successful ditching. He's in the lucky 50%. Good for the SAR boys too.
NS