Lifejackets

[MSULDO at aol.com]

Not sure that you mean by "on demand". There are water activated jackets or 
ones with permanent buoyancy that are unsuitable for helicopters or aircraft. 
The last thing that you want is a jacket inflated in the helo that floats you 
up to the roof, or floor if inverted, and makes egress difficult or impossible. 
So if yours are that "touchy", they may not be good.
We use Switlicks here for our over water work and they are fairly 
comfortable. All of our pilot vests will, or do, have 400mhz voice personal electronic 
beacons, and some other survival items.
We also have emergency flotation on the helicopters with built in rafts 
(Apical). There are also, or will be shortly, 400mhz beacons in the rafts, and we 
are in the process of putting automatic activation on the floats so they deploy 
upon water impact automatically.
Remember, if you are not wearing it or have it attached to your body, it's 
probably useless.
Mike Suldo
Air Logistics (160 overwater aircraft in the Gulf)
 



**************Looking for simple solutions to your real-life financial 
challenges?  Check out WalletPop for the latest news and information, tips and 
calculators.      (http://www.walletpop.com/?NCID=emlcntuswall00000001)