Why We Wear Life Vests Over Water
Wear a life vest whenever flying over water, as putting one on in a cramped cockpit in an emergency is unrealistic; keep the inflation tag easy to reach.
1 min readKapiti Aero Club safety team
Legal or club requirements aside, wearing a life vest when flying over water is about giving ourselves the best chance of survival in the unlikely event of a ditching – or of ending up in the water after an overrun.
GA cockpits are usually too small to keep vests within easy reach of each occupant, and too tight to unbuckle and put a vest on in an emergency. Wearing the vest from the start means you're ready to pull the inflation tag immediately, however you end up in the water.
When wearing the vest in flight, don't tuck the yellow inflation tag inside the vest – it must always be easy to reach.
If you're not sure where the life jackets are kept at the aero club, ask an instructor.