EQUIPPED TO SURVIVE (tm) - Aviation Life Raft Rating System (tm)

These Colors Don't Run - Remember 9.11.2001

Appendix #1
The Equipped To Survive
Aviation Life Raft Rating System

The rating system used in our evaluation of aviation life rafts is based on numerous items, only the most significant of which are detailed here. Excellence in one area or a number of areas may compensate for deficiency in some other area and can raise the rating. Conversely, a serious deficiency in one critical area or a number of areas may result in a lower rating than would otherwise be made. In the end, flexibility is required in the analysis of features and performance and some subjective considerations also come into play in determining the rating awarded.

Poor or Unacceptable: Has a critical life threatening deficiency and significant deficiencies in other critical areas. Any single buoyancy cell raft. Not recommended. The best that can be said is that it is far better than nothing at all.

Marginal: Has at least 2 main buoyancy cells, but has significant deficiencies in multiple critical areas including boarding aids and/or stability and/or SEP and deficiencies in other areas and/or fails to maintain occupants out of fresh water if a cell fails and has a manually erected canopy. Appropriate for use only for mild weather and sea conditions, no more than 100 nm from SAR and when in constant communication with ATC.

Mediocre: Has at least 2 main buoyancy cells. Has deficiencies in boarding aids and/or stability and/or SEP and deficiencies in other areas and/or fails to maintain occupants out of fresh water if a cell fails, but has at least a basic auto-erecting canopy. Appropriate for use only for moderate weather and sea conditions, no more than 100 nm from SAR and when in constant communication with ATC.

Adequate: Has at least 2 main buoyancy cells and maintains occupants out of fresh water if a cell fails. Has effective stability and/or boarding aids and/or at least a basic auto-erecting canopy (but not all three), but may have deficiencies in more than one critical area and deficiencies in other areas. May not include an adequate SEP. Appropriate for use only for moderate weather and sea conditions and when in constant communication with ATC.

Fair: Has at least 2 main buoyancy cells and maintains occupants out of fresh water if a cell fails and an auto-erecting basic canopy. May have significant deficiencies in a single critical area and minor deficiencies in other critical areas such as stability, boarding aids or canopy. May have significant deficiencies in some non-critical areas. Is equipped with an adequate SEP. Appropriate for use only for moderate to poor weather and sea conditions and when in constant communication with ATC.

Good: Has at least 2 main buoyancy cells and maintains occupants out of the water if a cell fails. Has no significant deficiencies in any critical areas. Has an auto-erecting basic or better canopy, effective boarding aids, effective stability system, insulated floor and adequate storage for SEP supplies and equipment. May have minor deficiencies in some critical areas and may have minor deficiencies in some non-critical areas. Equipped with an adequate or better SEP including ELT or EPIRB and a Katadyn Survivor-06. Appropriate for use under any but the most severe weather and sea conditions.

Very Good: Has double tubes, an auto-erecting superior canopy, an insulated floor, minimum of 4 sq. ft. space per rated occupant, very effective boarding aids, very effective stability system, better righting system (for non-reversible rafts) and generally meets most SOLAS requirements with the exception of an insulated canopy. Has no significant deficiencies in critical areas and only minor deficiencies in a few non-critical areas. Has a very well equipped SEP including ELT or EPIRB, Katadyn Survivor-06 and waterproof survival manual. Has plenty of storage for SEP supplies and equipment and additional salvage, manual pump, bailer and flashlight readily at hand upon boarding and additional "nice to have" features. Recommended for use under any circumstances.

Superior: As "very good" with the addition of auto-deploying ELT and 406 MHz ELT/EPIRB (may be combined), auto-deploying strobe light (manually switchable), extremely well equipped SEP with premium quality supplies and equipment significantly in excess of Part 135 requirements including a quality multi-tool, Katadyn Survivor-06, extra signaling equipment and more comprehensive and higher quality medical supplies. Has only minor deficiencies in a very few areas. Recommended for use under any circumstances.

Excellent: As "superior" with the addition of minimum of 5 sq. ft. space per rated occupant, insulated canopy, auto or semi-auto inflating floor and a multi-band survival comm radio or aviation handheld comm radio in marine watertight enclosure and/or ELT/EPIRB with integrated GPS. Minimal land survival equipment such as fire-starting equipment (in case of unassisted landfall) in SEP. Recommended for use under any circumstances.

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Publisher and Editor: Doug Ritter
Email: Doug Ritter
URL: http://www.equipped.org/raftrate.htm
Revision: 05 January 14, 2002

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