The Survival Products raft is a lot cheaper than my Winslow quote.

I know some life preservers have 10-year inspection intervals. What raft has the longest interval?

For the ELT requirement, I think I can just strap a PLB to the raft.


FAR 91.509(b) Except as provided in paragraph (c) of this section, no person may take off an airplane for flight over water more than 30 minutes flying time or 100 nautical miles from the nearest shore, whichever is less, unless it has on board the following survival equipment:

(1) A life preserver, equipped with an approved survivor locator light, for each occupant of the airplane.

(2) Enough liferafts (each equipped with an approved survival locator light) of a rated capacity and buoyancy to accommodate the occupants of the airplane.

(3) At least one pyrotechnic signaling device for each liferaft.

(4) One self-buoyant, water-resistant, portable emergency radio signaling device that is capable of transmission on the appropriate emergency frequency or frequencies and not dependent upon the airplane power supply.

(5) A lifeline stored in accordance with § 25.1411(g) of this chapter.

FAR 25.1411(g)Life line stowage provisions. If certification for ditching under § 25.801 is requested, there must be provisions to store life lines. These provisions must -

(1) Allow one life line to be attached to each side of the fuselage; and

(2) Be arranged to allow the life lines to be used to enable the occupants to stay on the wing after ditching.


Since I am not requesting certification for ditching under 25.801, my interpretation is that I do not need to worry about lifeline attachment.

Worth noting, for most of us in turboprops operating part 91 this doesn’t apply. I’m assuming your 350 is heavier than 12500 so you are snagged in the “large aircraft” clause.

Not that it isn’t wise anyway, but legally I can cruise offshore without a raft.

Jon,

15,000# MGTOW on my 350.

You are of course correct: King Air 200, 441, MU-2, and PC-12 are all immune from the raft reg.

Survival products are better than Winslow simply because they are lighter....... By a lot.

In an airplane ditching I want lightweight and ease of egress.

I have an 11 person raft that weighs 18lbs.......

Looks like you finally found the glass slipper! Glad to see the smiles on the faces, it's hard to put a price to those. You've got a thoroughness that I wish many people had, soon you'll be the expert on the 350's.

Cheers,

Sean Fowler