Life rafts are constructed of various types of
rubberized, rubber-coated, rubber-impregnated, or
nylon cloth.
Life rafts can be damaged by abuse. However,
when afloat at sea, rafts are surprisingly strong,
durable,
and
stable.
The
Aircrew
Survival
Equipmentman (PR) is responsible for inspecting,
packing, and maintaining life rafts and related
equipment carried in an aircraft.
ONE-MAN LIFE RAFT
The one-man life raft (fig. 11-18) is a single
compartment flotation tube with a non-inflatable floor
used with various soft and hard types of survival kits.
This life raft is intended for use by aircrew members
forced down at sea; however, it can also be used when
forced down over land for fording down rivers and
streams or as a shelter.
Emergency survival equipment is provided with the
life raft when it is used with the rigid seat survival kit
(RSSK) in a parachute/ejection seat egress system.
The life raft can be inflated manually or
automatically. The survivor can pull the CO2 inflation
assembly
actuating
lanyard
or
the
raft
will
automatically inflate when it is released from the
RSSK. You may top off inflation by using the oral
inflation tube.
One-Man Life Raft Container
The one-man life raft container is designed so that
the life raft and survival items can be secured to the
parachute and ejection seat system. This container is
called a rigid seat survival kit (RSSK).
The RSSK (fig. 11-19) is a two-part container. It
has a separating type hinge and a release handle
assembly that secures the two containers. The upper
11-13
ORAL INFLATION
TUBE POCKET
BOARDING HANDLE (5 PLACES)
ORAL INFLATION TUBE
SEA ANCHOR POCKET
WEATHERSHIELD
SEA ANCHOR
ACTUATING LANYARD
CARBON DIOXIDE
CYLINDER
ANf1118
Figure 11-18.—One-man life raft assembly.
RELEASE
HANDLE
LOWER
HALF
SURVIVAL
EQUIPMENT
CONTAINER
ONE-MAN
LIFERAFT
MANUAL OXYGEN
RELEASE
EMERGENCY
OXYGEN UNIT
DROP
LANYARD
UPPER
HALF
ANf1119
Figure 11-19.—Rigid seat survival kit (RSSK).
