How do you reckon it was Cavalier?
Perhaps our whole attitude in those days would be considered such today.
A Mustang Floater Jacket was seen as top shelf survival kit.
Helicopter SAR was up to three to four hours away....assuming they instantly departed upon your Ditching Call.....and could magically arrive directly overhead and winch you up.
We were using Decca for Area Nav....any idea how accurately you could determine your position with that kit in an emergency?
You had one Sarbe in your vest and no EPIRB.
There was a single manually deployed Raft with no Canopy.
Then to Ditch at Night in a Sea State well in excess of the Float's capability....in really cold water and an OAT right at freezing......for a Caution Light Only and no secondary indications?
The Check List, RFM, and Company SOP all agreed and said "Land As Soon As Possible".....not land Immediately.
Talk to me about being Cavalier again will you?
Did turning the Caption Light so it quite shining so brightly in the Dark change anything other than not having to look at the thing for a couple of hours when there was absolutely nothing else it could tell you once it came on and stayed on?
What is it you find so "Cavalier" to you.....do be specific please.