DWB
Normally I am pretty placid, but....
Not talking about colour as an aesthetic. Talking about functionality in Australian conditions.
No way the original post is being screwed around with, the purpose of my post was to alert that a helpful NZ post should be assessed by original poster in light of non NZ conditions.
My post was:
1. To be helpful.
2. In context of I am also interested in getting 2 lifejackets in next few months.
So, hold the sanctimonious attitude.

I did say early in the piece that I was happy with my choice of the (Black) HM Survivor for my Bass Strait crossing from Coldstream all the way to Hobart via Flinders Is (in a bubble canopy aircraft incidentally) & return via King Is route.

Incidentally when the lifejacket is activated out pops a YELLOW flotation unit.

No sanctimonious attitude here. I just answered Alex's question with my opinion on the brand of product he enquired about, that I happened to have experience with as per his post #1.

DWB50
You flew Bass Strait in June - hardly a test of hot sunny weather, bubble canopy or not. A bit disingenuous not to mention that if you are making a point on the heat effect under a bubble canopy.
I am not sure if you are being deliberately obtuse re the point of my colour comment. To make it easy for you, it is bloody hot - hopefully you would have worked that out on your Atec 122.

What are you trying to say RJT, that a black lifejacket it too hot to touch on a sunny day under a bubble canopy? Seriously :ugh:

I guess I'll have to stop wearing a black shirt when I fly in low wings from not on, don't wanna burn my nipples :mad::ouch:

Whatever you choose make sure it is to SOLAS standard.

XXX
Who said I was implying or saying too hot to touch?
My point is it is hot to wear, around the neck, and thus in 40+ at low level, where I would be using it, it will be not the best colour for our climate. Go back and read my first post!
Heat especially in the area of neck has a significant effect on human susceptibility to heat effect and effect on performance.
I did not say not to buy or use it, just that it is not the best colour for Australia, and I would take this into account in my decision when choosing between available options.

Are they re-test annually or every 5 years? The 5 year ones are a lot cheaper / easier to manage. The re-test cost is a significant % of the new cost and logistically a nuisance.

Akro - have a read of this for your intervals.
http://www.casa.gov.au/ADFiles/equip/emy/EMY-002.pdf

Colour - well if you don't like black don't buy one, if it doesnt bother you then so be it. Our pax wear them for up to 2 hrs, the crew jackets, Mk44, (exposed to extra sun light etc) are a very dark blue, again no complaints and we fly and operate all the way up the northwest coast.

For alternate colours your choice is fairly limited
Constant Wear Lifejacket SMA2158 | www.safetymarineaust.com.au

If you read the background paragraph at the bottom, it basically says the AD was issued to facilitate longer inspection periods than annual ones based on the manufacturers maintenance schedule.

SOLAS mandates the inspection cycle, it is not onerous, and it is designed to keep you afloat long enough for the sharks to get a good smell.


More important is to carry a GPS PLB in the pocket on the SOLAS jacket that is put there on modern Jackets for the PLB.


Gets you out of the water before the sharks get a real chance to chew your toes.

Baffled...
 

Unbelievable! In my quest to find the correct Life Jacket up to CASA/SOLAS standards, I stumble upon this initially useful page. Only to find a bunch of children squabbling over the semantics of a colour (black) of a life vest. Was it not a fair point? Is it not true that us Aussies endure searing heat in our warmer months? Clearly the black life vests, thus the heat, has gotten to you that you feel the need to post such rudeness.

People look up to us pilots, similarly as they do police officers and fire fighters and yet here I am left wondering who put your pilots licence in the breaky corn flakes packet. Unbelievable. You should be ashamed of yourselves. We are all mates here sharing our love and knowledge of aviation, don't forget that. Professional Pilots is the title, perhaps we should take note of that standard and actually uphold it. Wouldn't that just be an idea!:eek:

In spite of initial trepidation, as I too thought, hey, it's black, it might be too hot wearing these, but I need them asap, they are sufficient for my intended flight path and in my price range, so, I have two of the HM Series Survivor Lifejacket With Light in the mail right now.

Thanks for the constructive comments guys, keep up the good work. I will update once I have utilised them.:D Cheers!

http://www.rfd.com.au/products/aviat...8_brochure.pdf
Beaufort MK28

I use one for round the world ferries. Carry an EPIRB, mini flares, fluorecin and a heliograph in it.
Pay peanuts, get monkeys.:cool:

They are only black until you pull the string and activate them then they are all bright yellow with reflector tape on them


Jacket up to CASA/SOLAS standards, I stumble upon this initially useful page. Only to find a bunch of children squabbling over the semantics of a colour (black) of a life vest.

Top Cat, here is one pilot who sincerely hopes you never utilise them.

Utilise: synonyms:make use of, put to use, use, employ, avail oneself of, have recourse to, resort to, look to, bring into service, press into service, take advantage of, exploit, milk, tap, turn to account, bring into play, bring into effective action, deploy

I hope you keep them until they expire of old age unused! :ok:

Beaufort MK 28 also has a spray hood in addition to the crotch strap and heliograph that are not found on a lot of jackets. If you're going to spend time in other than calm water the spray hood will stop you from inhaling salt spray which I understand can cause secondary drowning. I think mine was about $350.

This Beaufort is my second constant wear jacket. I got about six years out of the first - to get even that life out of it I had to get the valise replaced about half life. Admittedly mine was worn daily in commercial ops - they wore where the seat belt shoulder straps ran over them.

The colour makes no difference to comfort. I've had dark blue, yellow and black valises and I couldn't tell the difference. I've worn mine in Beavers, Caravans and an open cockpit Ag Cat in the tropics.

Mine also has a GME GPS PLB in the pocket. If I ever end up swimming I want to spend as little time in the water as possible. Unless you're very lucky it will take at least thirty minutes for a search asset to be on scene from the time of activation. GPS PLB's can pass on your location instantly to a geosynchronous satellite whereas a standard 406 requires passes to be made by polar orbit satellites which can take up to 2 hours in coastal areas of Australia.

The RFD ( Survivitec ) also is SOLS with a spray hood and GPS pocket for under $100

T28D, pretty sure the one you keep banging on about (the sub $100 RFD one?) is about as compact as Jooliar's arse, does not appear to inflate, has no mention of any aviation certification (SOLAS is a maritime standard and is fine if you're fishing) and only meets the cheap requirement.

If I'm looking at the wrong one, can you chuck up a link?

http://www.rfd.com.au/products/marin...anual_V1.0.pdf


I bought 15 for my yacht just 6 months ago

Why only 15?

Crew number on IRC cert 13 + 10% for offshore = 15 Capish