Some Guidance On Survival Gear

	The Cayman Caravan is no longer planning tours, however, we may return to the sky in the future. Some Guidance On Survival Gear We are often asked for advice and guidance on purchasing survival gear for Cayman Caravan flight operations. We're happy to make suggestions, provide sources and to tell you what our views are. However, like flying itself, selecting survival gear is a judgment call that you ultimately have to make for yourself. The suggestions we make here are just that and are in no way intended as guarantees on what will work for you. Based on your own risk tolerance, you'll have to decide for yourself what's appropriate and what's not. What The Regulations Say All of the aircraft which participate in the Cayman Caravan do so under FAR Part 91. Simply stated, there are no requirements for small aircraft operated under Part 91 to carry survival gear of any kind for overwater flights. No rafts, no signaling devices, no personal flotation devices, no nothing. Obviously, we think carrying no survival gear for the Cayman trip borders on the suicidal so the only instance in which we'll insert our views into your planning is at this juncture: We require Caravan aircraft to carry a raft and PFDs for all persons aboard. That's the only condition under which we'll arrange overflight permits. If you see aircraft making the trip without rafts or PFDs, they aren't part of the Caravan. Rafts What's the best raft for Caravan operations? Again, it's your call. If you have two people aboard, a four-man raft of some type is probably appropriate. If you have eight aboard, it obviously won't be. We're renting and selling two types of rafts, the Winslow Rescue raft and the Survival Products rafts. In our view, both of these products are suitable for the Caravan trip, namely flight over warm water in daylight in relatively benign conditions where rescue is close at hand. Make no mistake, these minimal rafts are not the same equipment you would use to cross the North Atlantic or even to fly to remote Caribbean islands during the winter. They're simply basic rafts; nothing more. Why carry a raft at all? For Caravan operations, the raft will do one important job: In the event of a ditching, it will get you and your passengers out of the water and it will improve the probability of detection from the air, the key to quick rescue. During the summer months, the water temperature in the Florida Straits and Caribbean is quite warm, so hypothermia is less of worry than exposure or dehydration. An inflated raft is four times more likely to be detected from the air than a person in the water with no signaling device and only an inflated PFD. Coast Guard pilots frequently use the coconut analogy: If you have no raft and are floating in a PFD, from 500 feet, your head is all that's visible and it's about the size of a coconut floating in the water. No surprise then that many survivors report SAR aircraft passing right over head without seeing the survivors in the water. SAR crews are far more likely to see a raft, which is the primary reason for carrying one. How Much Raft? Ideally, a raft should accommodate twice as many people as the aircraft carries, it should have an inflatable canopy, full ballast, an emergency inflation pump, boarding ladder, an array of signaling gear, a full survival kit including food and water, two-way communications, a marine EPIRB and a medical kit suitable for treating any conceivable wound or injury. Kitchen and dinette optional. It should also be approved under an FAA TSO and, if you have room, you really should carry two such rafts, in case one fails to inflate. Obviously, these are unrealistic requirements. Although such a raft is available (less the dinette), it would cost $5000 and we don't expect anyone to invest that kind of money for a single or occasional overwater trip. In any aviation-related purchase, you draw the line somewhere, measuring risk against the investment you're able and willing to make. Simply put, the inexpensive raft you'll rent or buy has few of the features described above. But it will get you out of the water and improve the probability of detection. We think the additional features are a good idea but it's entirely up to you to add them on your own if you agree. These small rafts are not approved under FAA TSO. Is this important? It depends on your risk tolerance. There's no question that a TSOd raft is more desirable. It's likely to be more stable in the water, easier to ingress and more reliable. (Also, it will be slightly larger and heavier.) Again, it's a cost tradeoff. If you want the additional benefits of a TSOd raft, you'll have to triple your investment. The choice is yours. Part 91 operations, by the way, require no raft, let alone a TSOd design. The primary difference between the inexpensive Winslow and Survival rafts is shape and material. The Winslow is eight-sided round, the Survival is square. The Winslow is inflated with a mixture of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, while the Survival uses only carbon dioxide. Both are single-tube designs but the Winslow has a boarding ladder, a lifeline with quick-release fittings and an aluminized urethane carrying valise. In calm conditions, the boarding ladder will make it far easier to get into the raft. In windy conditions or heavy seas, getting into a raft without a boarding ladder may take considerable effort, if you can do it at all. Size wise, the Winslow four-man Rescue Raft is 5 X13X19 inches, a bit longer and wider than the Survival raft. It weighs 16 pounds, versus 11 pounds for the Survival raft. Bottom line, you get what you pay for in these rafts: The Winslow has more features, thus it costs more. Inspections and Repacks Raft manufacturers recommend that rafts be inspected and repacked at least once a year. We're often asked if it's okay to use a raft that's out of date. Again, it's your judgment call to make. If you feel more comfortable having the raft repacked once a year, that's what you should do. If you believe the risk of an out-of-date raft is acceptable, extend the repack cycle to suit yourself. (The rafts in our personal Cayman Caravan aircraft run on a two to three-year pack cycle, sometimes longer. We accept the risk that this diminishes reliability and we're not holding ourselves up as an example.) The rental rafts we will provide for you are either of brand new manufacture or are in the recommended repack cycle. In the event that we learn that a rental raft is out of date for any reason, we will let you know. Raft inflation reliability, although quite high, is still somewhat unpredictable. Over the years, we have inflated many rafts of various brands for demonstration purposes. We have encountered no failures. However, the Coast Guard and other sources tell us failures occasionally occur. Repacking the raft once a year probably reduces the likelihood of an inflation failure. PFDs Personal flotation devices are sold in a wide variety of sizes, designs and types. Other than requiring that you have one for each person, we make no recommendations on type or brand. In years past, some pilots have used ski-type vests, non-inflatables and PFDs intended for boating and other sports. Another judgment call; decide for yourself what's appopriate. Like rafts, inflatable PFDs have repack cycles. If you have PFDs that have been in their packs in your airplane for 10 years-or even five-we recommend caution. We have seen several PFD failures in our demos, all on vests that were several years old and out of inspection. Either get the PFDs inspected, replace them or carry a spare or two. (Our recommendation.) Survival Kits We think it's a good idea to carry a survival kit heavy on signaling devices and water but one which doesn't emphasize food. We're told that rescue in the Florida Straits is a matter of hours, if not minutes. South of Cuba, it may take longer but not much longer. The basic survival kit we're selling is by no means the final word in survival gear. It is merely a basic kit you will find useful if you have nothing else. Considering your own risk tolerance, you may wish to buy or assemble your own kit or add to the Caravan kit. The flight guide you'll receive in may offers some suggestions and sources. If you have nothing else aboard your raft, have a gallon of water and some signaling mirrors. We'll provide you with a mirror in Key West and can provide additional mirrors at a nominal cost. For water, just buy a jug from the local supermarket and stow it where it can be reached easily. Fortunately, fresh water floats in salt water so in the unlikely event of a ditching, you can toss your water out of the airplane and retrieve it later.

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