GA Life Jacket HM Series Survivor
 

Hi All

I'm about to buy my first Life Jacket. The only three requirements that I have are that it is a "always on", that it is CASA certified and lastly that it is not too expensive.

I read several posts about life jackets and did some research what is available in AUS and I found the "HM Series Survivor Lifejacket With Light" for $150.

Anybody who has experience with this one? Good or Bad?

Thanks for the help!
Alex

I bought 2 of these for my Bass Strait crossing. I can't report on how well they work as we didn't need them! They were however, comfortable & non obtrusive to wear. Not much else one can say really.....

Another requirement should be that it DOESN"T inflate automatically when immersed!

The last thing you want when trying to extract yourself from a ditched aircraft is the life jacket inflating before you get clear of the cabin.

Dr :8

I hear lilo's are all the rage at the moment (from KMart) :cool:


Alex79, you really need to try one on or perhaps and make sure it's comfortable. The one you are looking for is simply a boat one with light that the manufacturers have bothered to get CAA approval for. Price wise not too bad, the going rate for boat jackets is around $70 plus this one has a water activated light.

I recommend if you are getting one to purchase it from Mendelssohn's; if they don't have it, they can usually get things shipped from OS in 5 days or less and they often discount below their advertised Internet price. We purchased a liferaft from them a few years back and were very happy, plus a transponder more recently.

Go straight to Survitec ( RFD ) less than $100 for a proper SOLAS jacket

I'm with T28D.....

Get a 'proper' one.....your life MAY depend on it.....

And, while you're there 'contemplating', help yourself to be located efficiently with a GME 410G GPS Pocket beacon in ya top pocket.....

The less time spent in 'Great White' territory, the better...;)

Cheers:ok:

Hey guys what are you trying to say about the HM Survivor!

I bought mine from Mendelssohn's Pilot Supplies $150 each just like Alex has quoted. They are advertised as non TSO, so if unless you need TSO'd Life Jackets they are fine. And they are not automatic inflators on immersion, although HM do make an automatic one. They are rated for persons 40 - 150kg

A proper Solas Jacket from RFD will cost around $100 and will support 275 Nm

Hmmm. Just had a look at the RFD SOLAS. $89.95. I think you get what you pay for. It is a quick donning PFD not one to wear in the confines of a cockpit in a small plane well I wouldn't wear it in mine that's for sure. Be OK in a commercial passenger plane maybe. I think it would be OK in a boat.
LIFEJACKET RFD SOLAS
The HM survivor has a crotch strap as well so there is no way it can accidentally slip over your head

Alex

I am not a pilot but hope this info is useful. I only took an interest to see
what type of Life Jackets were being talked about.

In the past I have worn an RFD Version in the military for water ops activities
- Port Phillip bay, Bass Straight etc for significant lengths of time both in and
out of the water including the odd time in aircraft. The majority of time this
included wearing additional heavy "kit" that you obviously won't be wearing.

All was good except when wearing one for some time, you often ended up with sore neck from where the life jacket occasionally touched or was rubbing the skin. This included through light cotton shirts. I notice on the one's recommended by your fellow pilots that some have sheep skin around the collar which IMHO
is a good feature as it should alleviate rubbing marks.

I would suggest making sure that they have a whistle and a light
although most seem to have them. Manual top up valve is very useful.

Re use, I have been held up in water. At the time I was 85kg and probably
had 12 - 15kg of additional dead weight on me in kit plus a 3.5kg dead weight in my hand.
They really do keep your head above the water and then you just need to worry about the waves.
(I'm being serious, waves crashing into you is a problem in the sea).

A crotch strap or waist strap is important to stop the life jacket floating up
and away (over your head).

One thing I always found useful when wanting to make sure you have
the life jacket (ie not forgetting it) was you can reverse the RFD
so the strap is still around your waist but he RFD points down and
then you strap it to your leg. This keeps it out of the way but "on you".

When you put the PFD away, you can back the gas bottle out a bit (unscrew it)
to make sure you don't get accidental inflation although personally
I take it right out so it is obvious. That way you won't forget it.

As suggested, I would try the on if possible.

As an aside and not 100% sure of your need but Cyalume light sticks
are worth carrying, light, don't require batteries and can be "cracked"
when required.

Anyway, hope that helps.

Take ya pick........


https://www.google.com.au/search?q=s...w=1096&bih=612

I'm sure that you will find one to suit....

Cheers:ok:

Thanks for the feedback and I got some valuable pointers.

DWB50 you wrote that the HM Series Survivor is not TSO certified. I must admit that I thought it was. I tried to google the manufacturer but I can't get any information about the level of certification for that model.

As I understand the CASA requirements a life jacket must be either TSO or CAA(UK) approved, if the HM Survivors isn't ... wouldn't this be officially "flying without a life jacket"?

I didn't purchase the jacket yet, I enquired about other models that were mentioned here, and while I agree that it may save your life, I'm not a professional offshore pilot ... so not sure if a $350+ is necessary.


If somebody has some info on the HM surviver certification ... would be much appreciated.

Cheers!

Hi Alex,

Didja think about acquiring a 'pocket' GPS / EPIRB..??

We all think that we may 'never' use it....but...??

:p

HM Survivor
 

Alex, Mendelssohn's advertisement (most magazines) states the HM Survivor is Non TSO. Depending on your type of operation it doesn't need to be.

The HM Survivor is actually a Baltic Winner 150, EN 396/EN ISO 12402-6 (Baltic Lifejackets Sweden | Flytvästar, räddningsvästar, flytkläder, uppblåsbara räddningsvästar). Baltic also manufacture the M.E.D./SOLAS range according to the manual that came with the HM Surv.

Good luck with your choice. I'm happy with mine in the meantime. Proof will be in the testing which of course we always hope never happens, like pressing the ACTIVATE button on your PLB.

The success rate for inflatable life jackets on boats is exceptional. You just need to ensure that they are serviced in accordance to the manufacturers recommendations. Corrosion of the bottle and activating components is sometimes an issue but not in aircraft operation unless you are maybe flying a seaplane. Inflating the jacket would be the least of your worries in an aircraft use scenario.

Get a decent one, Mk28WB from RFD would be my choice, $225 last purchase we made.
Survitec Group Australia - Aviation Products - Life Jackets & Vests

Black is not a good colour for Australian conditions.
John

cheers....finally updated my location, been here a few years now.

We have 600 odd Mk28 in service, no complaints from the passengers yet about the colour.

chute packer
Not trying to be argumentative, but how long are the pax wearing them, and are they in direct sun exposure, as in the cockpit under overhead perspex as some light aircraft?
Black shouldn't be a problem if in shade, but if in direct sun and for hours I would be surprised if not an issue.
Happy to be proven wrong.
John

Funny
 

Isn't it funny how a specific simple question from Alex, post#1 gets screwed around. Now we're talking about colours!