Pax life vests not MEL?
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,847
Likes: 0
From: Confoederatio Helvetica
Let's be realistic the number of passengers actually using/needing life jackets in the past decade can be counted on one hand.
Yes there was that Ethiopian hijacking in 1996 where some lives were saved by having life jackets, but some lives were also lost from premature inflation.
I'm struggling to recall any other incident where life jackets were needed in the last decade, or even longer if you exclude the ET ditching which was unique.
Do we really need life jackets for anything other than 'to feel good'?
Yes there was that Ethiopian hijacking in 1996 where some lives were saved by having life jackets, but some lives were also lost from premature inflation.
I'm struggling to recall any other incident where life jackets were needed in the last decade, or even longer if you exclude the ET ditching which was unique.
Do we really need life jackets for anything other than 'to feel good'?
Paxing All Over The World
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 10,842
Likes: 328
From: Hertfordshire, UK.
Indeed ExXB, I agree. Which is one of the reasons (given earlier) I did not protest about not having one on that occaision.
Life jackets were mandated when aircraft reliability was lower and the speed of prop driven aircraft was very much slower, so the chances of survival on a ditching were much better.
I am well aware that the few ditchings we see these days are at low speed on take off/approach. Other arrivals in water tend to be from altitude after a catastrophic failure when a lifejacket is meaningless.
As we know, since changes involve politicians, no changes will be made. Accordingly, I'd like to have one! Even if it means I have to deal with pax who have inflated jackets in the cabin. Hhmm, should carry a short sharp knife.
Life jackets were mandated when aircraft reliability was lower and the speed of prop driven aircraft was very much slower, so the chances of survival on a ditching were much better.
I am well aware that the few ditchings we see these days are at low speed on take off/approach. Other arrivals in water tend to be from altitude after a catastrophic failure when a lifejacket is meaningless.
As we know, since changes involve politicians, no changes will be made. Accordingly, I'd like to have one! Even if it means I have to deal with pax who have inflated jackets in the cabin. Hhmm, should carry a short sharp knife.
