CHAPTER 6

INFLATABLE SURVIVAL EQUIPMENT

Learning Objective: Upon completion of this chapter, you will be able to recognize, inspect, and maintain inflatable survival equipment.

Since naval air operations are predominantly over water, the Navy has developed highly reliable and versatile inflatable equipment designed to meet the needs of aircrew personnel in a water survival situation.

The versatility seen in current inflatable survival equipment meets the ever increasing and diverse needs of the fleet. For example, the life preserver provides more than enough buoyancy to support a person with all survival gear donned, but not sacrifice comfort or adversely restrict movement in the water. It does not interfere with the aircrew member's ability to perform his/her duties aboard the aircraft. The life preserver is flame resistant, lightweight, and has the capability to contain certain survival items. The life preserver is reliable and will save a life, if used properly.

Life rafts provide protection from the cold and hostile environment of the sea. For single- and dual-seat aircraft, a one-man life raft adequately fulfills this function. However, for large aircraft, the 4-, 7-, 12-, or 20-man life rafts will be used. In addition to providing protection from the environment, these rafts carry an adequate number of survival items for their capacity, but are still light enough to carry.

Naval aircraft making operational flights over water are required to carry rafts that will accommodate all the assigned crew, plus passengers. These rafts are manufactured in various sizes and configurations to meet the demands of all type of aircraft.

Pneumatic rafts are compact assemblies, which can be stowed in a small area. They should be stowed so they are readily accessible, preferably near an emergency exit. Never stow a raft under other equipment or cargo or near batteries. Protect them from heaters, engines, auxiliary power units, electronic tubes, or other sources of heat. If the aircraft flight manual designates a storage place for rafts, this space will be used, unless you are otherwise directed by competent authority. Whenever possible, stow rafts in the same manner in all aircraft of the same model. This enables the crew to become familiar with their location, and thus avoid confusion in the event of a ditching.

Rafts are constructed of rubber-impregnated nylon fabric; therefore, they are susceptible to damage from maltreatment. However, when afloat at sea, they are surprisingly strong and durable, and have a tenacious stability. It is your responsibility as a PR to inspect, pack, and maintain all of the various types of rafts and related equipment carried in aircraft.

INSPECTIONS

All inflatable survival equipment will be subjected to periodic maintenance under the direction and control of the maintenance/material control officer of the activity to which the equipment is assigned. Maintenance must be thorough at all times. No instance of careless treatment or willful neglect of inflatable survival equipment will be allowed to go unnoticed. The vital function of this equipment must be uppermost in the minds of all personnel concerned. The periodic inspection cycles should coincide with the specific aircraft inspection cycles specified in OPNAVINST 4790.2 (series), or personal issue equipment cycle, as applicable.

To meet unusual situations and aid workload scheduling, a period of plus or minus 1 week, or portion thereof, may be applied to the authorized inflatable survival equipment calendar maintenance interval. A period of plus or minus 10% may be applied to equipment in phased maintenance aircraft.

The five different types of life rafts used in naval aviation are the LR-1 and LRU-7/P, which are one-man rafts; the LRU-12/A, which is a four-man raft; the LRU-13/A, which is a sevenman raft; the LRU-14 series, which is a 12-man raft, and the LRU-15/A, which is a 20-man raft.

You may be required to work on only one or you may work on all of them. All require the same three inspections-preflight, special, and calendar/phase.

The preflight inspection is performed on fuselage-installed life rafts before the first flight of the day. This inspection is done by line personnel (plane captain or delegated aircrewman) who have been designated by the line division officer, instructed, and found qualified by the aviators equipment branch.

The special inspection is performed on fuselage-installed life rafts every 30 days. This inspection is made at the organizational level of maintenance by personnel assigned to the aviators equipment branch. Upon completion of the inspection, the date of inspection and inspector's signature are entered in the inspections section of the Aviation Crew Systems History Card.

To perform a preflight/special inspection, visually inspect for the following:

1. Fabric for cuts, tears, deterioration, and abrasion

2. Seams for proper adhesion or stitching

3. Straps and handles for security and wear

4. Any other parts for wear, damage, and security

_5. All hardware for security of attachment, corrosion, damage, wear, and, if applicable, ease of operation

6. Life raft retaining line for proper stowage

CAUTION

DO NOT OPEN RAFT ACCESS DOORS, RSSK KITS, OR ANY SEALED OR SAFETY-WIRED PORTION OF THE LIFE RAFT FOR THIS INSPEC-TION.

Subject each life raft to the calendar/phase inspection before you place it in service, or if it is an aircraft inventory item at the time of the aircraft acceptance inspection. Thereafter, the calendar/phase inspection interval coincides with the aircraft inspection cycle in which it is installed. See the applicable Planned Maintenance System (PMS) publications for specific intervals. In no case will the interval exceed 231 days except that the LR-1 (RALSA) inspection is not to exceed 453 days. Unless operational requirements demand otherwise, the life raft calendar/phase inspection is performed at the intermediate level of maintenance or above.

The acceptance/calendar/phase inspection consists of the following major tasks (to be performed in the order listed):

1. Container/case inspection

2. Functional test (if required)

3. Pull cable proof load test (if required)

4. Visual

5. Inflation assembly inspection

6. Leakage

7. Records updating

8. Repacking

Details are listed in NAVAIR 13-1-6.1.

A functional test and pull cable proof load test are performed prior to placing a raft in service or during an aircraft acceptance inspection, and each fourth inspection cycle thereafter. You must make a leakage test at each inspection cycle. If the inspection indicates any damage beyond capability of maintenance, you must forward the entire assembly to supply.