It seems that Transport Canada is moving forward to require all occupants of commercial seaplane operations to wear a lifejacket for the entire flight. This has been a hot topic, which is occasionally fueled by a sad drowning event.
The Canada Gazette: http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2016/ ... .body.html
I will comment this in favour.
I do understand that this will introduce a new burden of maintaining and providing life jackets to passengers, and bring to the forefront the issue of a risk of drowning, but it will save lives, and is worth it. For 25 years, in my other job, I have occasionally searched Lakes Simcoe and Couchiching for people who have entered the water unexpectedly. Every person I have found alive was wearing a lifejacket when I found them. Every person known to have not been wearing a lifejacket, for whom I was asked to search, was not found alive. From my personal experience 100%. When I fly my seaplane, and train other seaplane pilots in theirs, no one will be aboard without their actually wearing a lifejacket.
Experienced seaplane passengers will willingly and properly wear lifejackets (just like wearing seatbelts during jet cruise flight). Inexperienced passengers must be trained - it is our moral duty.
It also sounds like the underwater egress course will be mandated for pilots - excellent! The course I took was super, very enjoyable, and informative, it just makes you think better about being on the water.
I will watch this with interest....