Ryanair Life Vests
 

On the seatbacks on Ryanair aircraft there is a set of safety information diagrams One of these shows the life vest being donned. It is open at the front like a waistcoat so it is put on like one. The next picture shows it being worn, with the front closed, but no detail as to how the closure works. The cabin crew doing the safety demo have life vests which are already joined at the front, and they put them on over their heads like a v neck sweater. Now, this doesn't sound much but, of course, passengers are unlikely to practice, and it will be important they know what they are doing. I wonder if the vests under the seats, are as shown on the instructions, or as demonstrated? I can't see an easy way to ask Ryanair (my question was brushed off by the cabin crew I asked). I think Ryanair are regulated by the Irish authorities. Should and how should they be informed - assuming I am right. Perhaps other could confirm.

I imagine they are the same as the ones the crew use for their demonstration as they will be fitted inside the demo kit to match what is on that plane.

The seatbacks just show generic drawings. I imagine that whatever way a life vest is fitted, it will keep your head above the water anyway.

Only if you know how to put it on.

I am sure it will keep your head above water. However ,any mismatch is a recipe is a recipe for confusion in a stressful situation.

If the two differ, then either way you are correct in saying that it's a potential safety hazard.

If I encountered that situation, I would be tempted to get my LJ out from under my seat and invite the cabin crew to demonstrate how mine should be donned, as opposed to the other sort, in case the need should arise.

But don't forget to pay the Ryanair surcharge for the lifejacket before putting it on!

And don't look under your seat for the lfe-jacket. It ain't there ! :eek:

As folks were nicking them, they are now in the overhead panels with the O2 masks. When these drop, you'll collect the life jacket on you rhead too. :ouch:

Somewhere, there is a quite funny cartoon spoofing Ryanair evacuation procedures along just those lines. I'm sure someone can find it......

Copyright makes it difficult to post cartoons but you only have to put the statement Ryanair cartoons into your regular search engine and sit back to enjoy and in multiple langauges ...

Whichever way you look at it, there is obviously a possibility of added confusion at a time when the cabin crew are trying to organise passengers for survival. So, how does one flag this up? To the Irish aviation authorities?

I searched 'airline life jackets' images.

Each of the many pictures suggest a similar design with the air chamber in an inverted U shape. The air chamber(s) on the chest continuing behind the neck.

Rather than a 'waistcoat' which would open and close in the front, the two chest chambers are actually sewed (or otherwise secured) together.

When I look at the FR picture above I think it suggests the jacket goes over the head, otherwise the hands would be lower down. The split you see isn't on the actual device.

It is a crappy picture though and should be fixed.

It is a bad picture, especially as the two halves of the front appear to be about 100 mm apart as it is donned. If I only saw that, I'd wonder how the two halves get joined between that and the next picture.

There's always one........

http://i243.photobucket.com/albums/f...psv6xk7pgk.jpg

And one person wearing two.

I think you are looking at a double chamber jackets. The chambers are arranged symmetrically in the vertical plane on the body so that if one chamber leaks you won't be rolled over in the water.

PM