When Does Aircraft Safety Equipment Need Servicing?
To ensure the well-being of passengers and crew during flights, aircraft safety equipment plays a critical role. These items are essential for handling emergencies effectively when they arise, equipment ranging from fire extinguishers and oxygen systems to escape slides, life rafts, and life vests. While one may be familiar with a variety of safety equipment types, a question that often comes up is when such equipment needs servicing to guarantee functionality when needed most. In this blog, we will explore the importance of maintaining and servicing aircraft safety equipment to answer this question.
On an aircraft, fire is one of the most hazardous emergencies that can occur. In order to combat this threat, aircraft are equipped with fire extinguishers. These devices need regular servicing to ensure their effectiveness, and according to industry standards, fire extinguishers should be inspected and serviced every 6 years. This includes checking for pressure, condition, and the presence of the correct extinguishing agent. In addition to these scheduled maintenance checks, fire extinguishers should also be visually inspected before every flight to ensure they are in good condition and ready for action in case of a fire emergency.
Aircraft oxygen systems play a crucial role in safety, especially at high altitudes where oxygen levels are low. Most commercial aircraft are equipped with portable oxygen masks for passengers and fixed oxygen masks for crew members. Passengers and crew rely on these systems to provide breathable air when needed, and to ensure their functionality, oxygen systems should be serviced regularly.
These systems typically require a thorough inspection every 12 to 24 months, depending on the airline's policies and the specific regulations governing their operations. As part of these inspections, technicians check the integrity of masks, the condition of hoses, and the pressure of oxygen tanks. Ensuring that the oxygen system is well-maintained is essential to address any emergency that may require passengers and crew to use supplemental oxygen.
The safety of an aircraft extends beyond its cabin. As an example, life rafts and escape slides are critical to ensure the safety of passengers in case of a forced landing on land or water. This survival equipment needs to be serviced at specific intervals to make sure it functions as designed.
Every 12 months, life rafts should be serviced to inspect for leaks and damage. Moreover, these rafts are equipped with emergency rations, flares, and signaling devices that also require periodic checks to ensure they are present and/or are in working order.
In contrast, escape slides need to be serviced every three years. These slides are essential for rapid evacuation in the event of an emergency landing. The servicing for this equipment includes inflation tests, damage inspections, and function checks. Passengers' lives may depend on the proper operation of these slides in a crisis, so ensuring their serviceability is paramount.
Life Vests
Life vests are another critical piece of safety equipment on aircraft, especially on flights over water. The vests are designed to keep passengers afloat and increase their chances of survival in the event of a water landing. They are typically serviced every 2 to 3 years, depending on the airline's maintenance schedule. During these inspections, technicians check for leaks, damage to the inflation system, and the condition of straps and buckles. In addition to regular servicing, it is crucial for flight attendants to briefly inspect life vests before every flight. This visual check ensures that each vest is in good condition, properly stowed, and readily available for passengers in an emergency.
Compliance with Regulations
Airlines are subject to strict regulations regarding the maintenance and servicing of aircraft safety equipment. These regulations are in place to ensure that the equipment is in optimal condition and ready to perform as expected during an unexpected emergency. Regulation compliance is not only a matter of safety; it is also a legal requirement.
Airlines have maintenance programs in place to ensure their aircraft safety equipment is serviced as required by regulation. To do this, they work with certified maintenance organizations to perform inspections, testing, and servicing as needed. The programs also keep track of the history of each piece of safety equipment, documenting when it was last serviced and any repairs or replacements that were carried out.
Conclusion
Airlines and their maintenance partners are committed to upholding the highest standards of safety, and their rigorous inspection schedules, compliance with regulations, and commitment to ensuring the readiness of safety equipment are all part of their ongoing efforts to ensure everyone on board has a safe and comfortable flying experience. It is essential that aircraft safety equipment is regularly serviced and maintained to ensure that it remains functional and ready for use at any time. Remember, aviation safety always upholds the highest standards to protect the lives of passengers and crew.
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