When to inflate the life jacket?

[Cato]

Thanks, you're absolutely right of course.
The life jacket, inflated, would make a useful airbag substitute for a brace type landing though wouldn't it?!
I only mention this as on 6/11/09 I was LHR-MAN with BMI and had an aborted landing VERY sharp, sudden ascent when we were 1-2 mins from landing, then went around 3 times. Captain said there had been bird strike ahead of us (feasible, as it was 5.30 ish)
I did start to wonder what sort of landing we were in for but it was OK.
Lots of screaming from other pax though!
While they were doing that, I was mentally re-checking where the exits where and making sure I knew how the door operated!!

[CornishFlyer]

A go-around caused that sort of reaction? What a bunch of hysterical pax there were on that flight then! For a very sharp and sudden ascent as you describe, I doubt you were 1-2 mins from the airfield. If there was a bird strike in ahead of the aircraft, doesn't mean there'll be another or that it'll cause an accident. Some people just panic too much

[Cato]

Agree completely re screaming pax. I wanted to punch the man sitting next to me.
I wonder if there's any way of finding out what was happening to cause our aborted landing. We landed 22 mins late, after being told in-flight that he anticipated landing early.
My husband was parked in a nearby pub car-park, with views of the runway, waiting for me to phone and say I'd collected luggage and was ready to be picked up at the departure drop-off zone. He saw my a/c land, but didn't see any other problems before us.

[NGsim]

One major international airline states during it's safety briefing to pull 1 tag of the lifejacket inside of the aircraft and the other after vacating!!!

Seems a little like hedging your bets and not really having a clue to me!!!

[Coopz67]

Don't try this in a studio

Interesting subject.
We have recently finished filming a new safety video for an airline who shall remain nameless. On set we were told to not inflate the jacket for the purpose of the video. On account that on some routes, non frequent flyers, shall we say, actually copied the video and lo and behold a cabin full of passengers with life jackets fully inflated was observed. An urban myth ?
Perhaps. For our purposes we decided to film an inflate and deflate. Soon realized that we were in fact asphyxiating the actor. It seems they inflate quite tight, so as to support the head in water. Fortunately we were able to release air through the manual inflate tubes and restore said actors now purple head back to pink. So I'd wait until I felt the cold freezing water sink through my clothes before pulling the red toggles.
One other thing, the light that activates in water !! Well it didn't and when we finally got one to work after soaking it in a bucket for half an hour, we fear that no one would spot a fairy light in the middle of the ocean.

Coopz

[tonni]

Yes, right say inflate the life jacket is necessary when leaving the aircraft , its a plus point in safety.

[Gne]

I was involved in an interesting discussion a couple of weeks ago, which has prompted my to ask a question of the cabin staff on my last four flights.

As they are walking back from the safety demo (or immediately after one of the "non safety" videos which are all the rage these days - don't get me started!) I very politely ask them to demonstrate how to don the life vest while seated and belted in an economy seat or should I stand in the aisle as they did to don it during the demonstration. On each occasion I initially got a bemused look following which two of them admitted they had no idea which option was correct.

Give it a try yourself next trip and let me know the result. I'd be very interested in any "official" response, including how a 120kg person is going to be able to "reach down and retrieve the life vest from under your seat."

Gne

[Expo737]

Originally Posted by Gne

I was involved in an interesting discussion a couple of weeks ago, which has prompted my to ask a question of the cabin staff on my last four flights.

As they are walking back from the safety demo (or immediately after one of the "non safety" videos which are all the rage these days - don't get me started!) I very politely ask them to demonstrate how to don the life vest while seated and belted in an economy seat or should I stand in the aisle as they did to don it during the demonstration. On each occasion I initially got a bemused look following which two of them admitted they had no idea which option was correct.

Give it a try yourself next trip and let me know the result. I'd be very interested in any "official" response, including how a 120kg person is going to be able to "reach down and retrieve the life vest from under your seat."

Gne

Have you tried to reach the lifejacket in its underseat stowage when you have been sat down? I'm not trying to be argumentative, I'm a bit of a bulky guy and I make it a point as soon as I'm seated to check that my seat has a lifejacket and that my partner's seat has one too. I have no issue reaching under and feeling that it is where it should be.

As for the bemused look from crew, well speaking as crew I've been asked some very "out there" questions (including some smartarse remarks about the light & whistle) but have never been asked that. As for the reply, well it'd probably get me fired so let's leave it at that

[AATC124]

If the life jacket is required definitely inflate it outside. I have inflated a life jacket before (under training conditions), and if everyone inflated it inside it would be difficult to evacuate the aircraft

[tonni]

Originally Posted by Rwy in Sight

On my last two flights as I was paying attention to the safety briefing and the instructions were, if using the overwing exit to inflate the life jacket after leaving the aircraft. Previously and at another carrier the instruction was to inflate the jacket as one was leaving the aircraft. I understand the reasons not to inflate the life jacket jacket inside the aircraft and I am confused why it is ok to inflate the life jacket to inflate the jacket why still inside the aircraft while heading to a normal exit.

I am concerned about heading to a normal exit, having inflate the life jacket then find the exit blocked and having to go an overwing exit and block it. What happens in that case?

Which is the policy in your airline about inflating the life jacket?


I hope my thinking makes sense!


Rwy in Sight

That’s a good point and it would be helpful to clarify the policy. The general procedure is to inflate the lifejacket after descending from the aircraft to avoid the risk of being trapped or obstructing the movement in case the exit is blocked. If someone rushes and inflates it too early and it belongs to an overwing exit, then it will be more difficult to evacuate. Even though the instructions might be worded slightly differently by different airlines, the right way is not to do it immediately when you are still inside but to drive outside of your place. I would like to hear from the airline staff about their individual policies to avoid confusion in the case of an emergency.

[bill fly]

Sometimes it's good to check the other folks' threads - check out this thread on the same subject...
The Ditching Experience From A Passenger Perspective