Constant wear life jackets interference with seat belts

[TailwheelPilot]

Just something to keep in mind when flying floatplanes.

ATSB found many tourism operators' ground crew (who were responsible for boarding passengers and fitting seat belts) did not know about proper seat belt placement and how constant wear life jackets can interfere. They do not say how to get around it, but ensure the lap belts are low and tight on the hips, not over or above the pouch type life jackets.

They also say a TC study of floatplane accidents found the fatality rate for those not properly wearing a seat belt was three to four times higher than those with seat belts properly worn - so remember to wear your seat belts in general!

https://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/sa ... s-aircraft

[PilotDAR]

Yes, a seatbelt and life jacket saved my life, I wear them both when flying from the water. An underwater egress course is a good idea too!

[flyingcanuck]

Yes, a seatbelt and life jacket saved my life, I wear them both when flying from the water. An underwater egress course is a good idea too!

Maybe a dumb Q, if you are in a submerged or half submerged airplane, could the lifejacket actually hinder you escaping especially if you've flipped?

[nutlord]

Yes, a seatbelt and life jacket saved my life, I wear them both when flying from the water. An underwater egress course is a good idea too!

Maybe a dumb Q, if you are in a submerged or half submerged airplane, could the lifejacket actually hinder you escaping especially if you've flipped?

Great question, and you're totally onto something here. In my experience we've worn inflatable survival vests (more than just a PFD) that have a compressed air tank that you activate to inflate the life vest once you're clear of the aircraft. A big point in the training is not to inflate it until you're clear of the aircraft so that it doesn't work against you. Until it's inflated, it's not buoyant, so not an issue in the event of underwater egress.

[PilotDAR]

No safety system is perfect, all have their risks. Once you've taken the underwater egress course, the balance of risks will be more clear to you. For my experience, the least risk for GA floatplane operations is when you wear your lifejacket, and carry on your person everything you will want to have with you when you exit the airplane.

Yes, a lifejacket may impede your exit, so practice is beneficial to reduce that risk. Once you exit, you may be injured, the water may be cold or rough, and you will likely be far from a quick rescue - so you're going to be in the water, with deteriorating capability, for a while. Best if something is helping you float while you figure out what's next. And, if passengers accompanied you, they could need your help, or you, theirs. If you swim over to a struggling person, and they depend upon you for flotation, you're both at risk. If you swim over, and pull their tab, and then you're both floating, everything is better for both of you. And maybe, pulling your own lefjacket tab is all you can manage before you pass out.

My arm was broken, so I could not pull my tab, but I managed a manual inflation, because I had practiced. I remember blowing up my lifejacket, then seeing the yellow part pop out, knowing that air was going in, then waking up in hospital four days later. I made myself rescuable, and I was. Without a lifejacket, it would have been a different outcome.

Get training, practice, and wear your emergency equipment.