Thread: Floatation Device

Is there a way to attach a floatation device or raft under the plane (ie: for emergencies during water crossings), perhaps in a cargo pod or something? I suppose I could always get something small and squeeze it into the cargo hold on the side of the fuselage, but I was wondering if anyone had heard of a pod or something that could be attached externally. If yes, please list the dealer etc. if you can. If not, what has worked best for the rest of you?

http://flightdesignusa.com/wp-conten...od_en_2010.pdf

Tim

Stuff a full bag of Styrene foam beads into the rear cargo compartment.[Abean bag]

Having spent a lot of my flying career with one small engine over big areas of water, perhaps I can, 1. Allay your fears, 2. Provide some practical advice.

If you think about it logically, you hop in your car, which may or may not have been serviced in the last six months, which has probably never had a water check on the fuel, which has one ignition source and which was designed with cost as the primary design driver, and you head off hundreds of miles from home without once considering that the engine might stop.

That's a very different quality standard from what is required for your airplane, which must be well serviced regularly and has far more redundancy.

I can tell you that in 40 years and nearly 7000 hours, I have had engines stop over water, but only because I did something really dumb and they have always (well on the two occasions) been very keen to start again once I fed them some fuel.

So the chance that your engine is going to stop over a large body of water is actually very slight indeed. But it does happen.

I would not let the minimal chance of it happening to me spoil the adventure, because navigating oceans in a light plane is a very rewarding thing to do. Just know how to manage the fuel system and know how to restart the engine if you accidentally run a tank dry.

I don't know if anyone has ever ditched a CTLS but my guess is that it will probably turn over on landing. That would, I think, given the size of the wing, the small amount of energy available to break up the aircraft and the light weight to be supported, keep the aircraft afloat for some time anyway.

Your best flotation device is always a properly serviced life-raft, easy to hand. Get the one that is only just big enough for the job, you will get a far more comfortable and less sick-making ride in a well ballasted small raft than in a lightly loaded big one, (there is also no point to carrying weight that is better carried as fuel) and make sure it has its own 406 beacon, that goes out the door when it does.

And of course, if crossing water, life jackets should not only be carried, they should be worn! But remember, don't blow the jacket up until you get clear of the aircraft, not only is there less chance of puncturing it, but it will not float you into a position where you can't swim down if necessary to get out.

Cross water flying is immensely satisfying and with appropriate precautions, in these days of GPS (of which you MUST have at least two) it is relatively easy. Get a good book about over water flying and go for it.

Kiwiflyer