Aircraft with Floats - Safety Best Industry Practices
- Published
AI-generated summary of the official EASA document. Verify against the PDF before acting.
What to do
Operators and flight crews of aircraft equipped with floats should voluntarily adopt recommended safety practices including the use of upper body restraints for front seat passengers, comprehensive passenger safety briefings on personal flotation device use, emergency egress training for crews, and implementation of aircraft safety design improvements that facilitate evacuation. No mandatory compliance deadline is specified.
Summary
EASA Safety Information Bulletin SIB No: 2011-21 is a safety advisory addressing all aircraft equipped with floats, including floatplanes and helicopters. It endorses Transport Canada Civil Aviation's Safety Alert CASA 2011-03, which promotes voluntary adoption of best industry practices to enhance floatplane safety. The bulletin highlights the importance of safety measures such as personal flotation devices and emergency egress training.
What changed
This bulletin introduces a formal endorsement by EASA of Transport Canada's CASA 2011-03 recommendations, explicitly applying these safety best practices to all aircraft equipped with floats regardless of origin. It does not impose mandatory requirements but encourages voluntary adoption of safety improvements and training to reduce risks associated with floatplane operations.
Why it matters
The bulletin matters because it raises awareness among operators and crews about the high risk of drowning in floatplane accidents and the lack of occupant use of personal flotation devices in survivable accidents. By promoting best practices, it supports improved safety culture and operational procedures, which can reduce fatalities and injuries in floatplane incidents. Compliance teams and maintenance organizations benefit from understanding these recommendations to advise operators accordingly.
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