I was involved in the "feasability" trial of ASRA chucked from the side door of the NEAF (takes you back) LXX Argosy for the first time.
I have vivid memories of bobbing up and down (vigorously) in the MCU pinnace in Akrotiri Bay in mid winter.....The wind was howling, the waves were towering, and the pinnace crew (but not me, strangely) were throwing up..
We were the target `survivors`
I watched the three yellow containers, 1 small, 1 large and 1 more small, exit the door all in a bunch. They spun down together throwing hanks of orange rope all over the place and the liferaft inflated about half way down.
The entire shebang hit the sea about 50 meters upwind of us and the liferaft burst on impact....I think we eventually recovered some of the cardboard container segments and that was about it...
I think the crew went back dispatch sequence training after....Ho Hum!
BTW: I don't think the Ryan Air option would work either - Have you seen the rates they charge for check baggage these days & ASRA is pretty heavy...
