Ditching
A really good useful thread - many thanks to you all. I've printed the whole thing off as it makes a very useful discussion document and thought provoker.
Life rafts?
One further question if this thread is still active. I privately own an R44 which I use for a bit of business travel but much more for simply having fun.
I cross water in it quite a lot. The channel to France, The Isle of Man, the Med to Majorca and have taken it across to Holland & Germany by the longer sea routes. It does not have floats! However I always wear an immersion suit and I have one for a passenger, We always wear life jackets over the suits and I carry a 6 man raft in the back. I think the raft is probably most useful psycologically as I am never sure that in a emergency we would be able to get it out and to manage it. What do you think? What is the best procedure for the raft and barring floats is there anything else I should have to increase my and my passengers safety.
Thanks.