ED Decision 2023/001/R
This AMC supplements FAA AC 29.811 and AC 29.811A.
(a) Explanation
This AMC provides additional means of compliance and guidance material relating to underwater emergency exit markings.
CS-29 Amendment 5 extended the requirements for exit markings to remain visible in a submerged cabin. CS 29.811(h) requires all underwater emergency exits (i.e. for both passengers and flight crew) and the exits and doors for use when boarding life rafts (as required by CS 29.803(c)) to be provided with additional conspicuous illuminated markings that will continue to function underwater.
Disorientation of occupants may result in the normal emergency exit markings in the cockpit and passenger cabin being ineffective following the rotorcraft capsizing and the cabin flooding. Additional and more highly conspicuous illuminated markings should be provided along the periphery of each underwater emergency exit, giving a clear indication of the aperture.
(b) Procedures
(1) The additional markings of underwater emergency exits should be in the form of illuminated strips that give a clear indication in all environments (e.g. at night, underwater) of the location of an underwater emergency exit. The markings should be sufficient to highlight the full periphery.
(2) The additional illuminated markings should function automatically, when needed, and remain visible for at least 10 minutes following rotorcraft flooding. The method chosen to automatically activate the system (e.g. water immersion switch(es), tilt switch(es), etc.) should be such as to ensure that the markings are illuminated immediately, or are already illuminated, when the rotorcraft reaches a point where a capsize is inevitable.
(3) The location of the operating device for an underwater emergency exit (e.g. a handle, or pull tab in the case of a ‘push-out’ window) should be distinctively illuminated. The illumination should provide sufficient lighting to illuminate the handle or tab itself in order to assist in its identification. In the case of openable windows, the optimum place(s) for pushing out (e.g. in a corner) should be illuminated.
(4) To make it easier to recognise underwater, the operating device for the underwater emergency exit should have black and yellow markings with at least two bands of each colour of approximately equal widths. Any other operating features, e.g. highlighted ‘push here’ decal(s) for openable windows, should also incorporate black- and yellow-striped markings.
[Amdt No: 29/5]
[Amdt No: 29/11]
AMC2 29.811(h) specifies illuminated strips for underwater emergency exits, requiring automatic activation, 10-minute visibility, and black-yellow striped operating devices to aid occupant recognition after capsize.
* Summary by Aviation.Bot - Always consult the original document for the most accurate information.
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