MOC VTOL.2315(a) Means of egress and emergency exits

1.      Means of egress and emergency exits for Ditching, Emergency Flotation and Limited Overwater Operations[3]

(a)      If certification with emergency flotation provisions or limited overwater operations is requested by the applicant, the aircraft should meet the following design criteria:

(1)     There should be an emergency exit accessible to each passenger on each side of the cabin with the aircraft in any stable floating attitude.

(2)     For aircraft where the proximity of the passenger emergency exits to the flight crew area does not offer a convenient and readily accessible means of evacuation for the flight crew, the following applies:

(i)      there should be a flight crew emergency exit on each side of the aircraft, or a top hatch emergency exit in the flight crew area, accessible to the flight crew with the aircraft in any stable floating attitude

(ii)     each emergency exit should be located to allow rapid evacuation of the flight crew

(3)     Each emergency exit should be reasonably protected from becoming jammed as a result of fuselage deformation.

(4)     In addition, for flight crew underwater exits:  If flight crew emergency exits are submerged in any stable floating position, these exits should meet the following design criteria:

(i)      Each exit should be shown by test, demonstration, or analysis to be accessible and operable underwater.  Evaluations should consider ranges of size and strength found in the 5th percentile female to the 95th percentile male.

(ii)     Each operational device (pull tab(s), operating handle, ‘push here’ decal, etc.) should be marked with black and yellow stripes.

(iii)     The exit should be marked so to be readily located and operated even in darkness, and these markings should remain visible if the cockpit is submerged.

(5)     In addition, for passenger underwater exits:  If passenger emergency exits are submerged in any stable floating position, these exits should meet the following design criteria:

(i)      Each exit should be shown by test, demonstration, or analysis to be accessible and operable underwater to give each occupant every reasonable chance of escaping.  Evaluations should consider ranges of size and strength found in the 5th percentile female to the 95th percentile male.

(ii)     Each operational marking (pull tab(s), operating handle, ‘push here’ decal, etc.) should be marked with black and yellow stripes.

(iii)     The exit should be provided with a suitable handhold, or handholds adjacently located inside the cabin, to assist occupants in locating and operating the exit, as well as in egressing through the emergency exit.

(iv)     The exit should be marked so to be readily located and operated even in darkness, and these markings should remain visible if the cabin is submerged.

(6)     Additionally, for aircraft fitted with an emergency flotation system (floats):

(i)      Each emergency exit, including underwater exits, should be shown by test, demonstration, or analysis to open without interference from flotation devices, whether stowed or deployed, and with the aircraft in any stable floating attitude.

(b)     CS 27 Amdt. 5 (or later): AMC 27.805(c) and AMC 27.807(d) provide additional guidance for certification with emergency flotation provisions or limited overwater operations

(c)      If certification with ditching provisions is requested by the applicant, the aircraft should meet the following design criteria:

(1)     Each emergency exit, including underwater exits, should be reasonably protected from becoming jammed as a result of fuselage deformation.

(2)     Any non-jettisonable doors intended for use after a ditching should have means to enable them to be secured in the open position and remain secure for emergency egress in all sea conditions for which ditching capability is requested by the applicant

(3)     For Category Enhanced the following is also applicable:

(i)      Ditching emergency exits should be provided such that following a ditching, in all sea conditions for which ditching capability is requested by the applicant and in the intended floating attitude, passengers are able to evacuate the aircraft and step directly into any of the required life raft

(ii)     It should be possible for each passenger to egress the aircraft via the nearest underwater emergency exit, when capsized, with any door in the open and secured position;

(iii)     Means should be provided to assist cross-cabin escape when capsized

(4)     In addition, Flight crew emergency exits should meet the following design criteria:

(i)      Each exit should be shown by test, demonstration, or analysis to provide for rapid escape in any stable floating attitude.  Evaluations should consider ranges of size and strength found in the 5th percentile female to the 95th percentile male. 

(ii)     The average load required to operate the exit release mechanism and open the exit should not exceed 222N (50 lbf), and the maximum individual load of a test series should not exceed 245N (55 lbf).

(iii)     Each operational device (pull tab(s), operating handle, ‘push here’ decal, etc.) should be marked with black and yellow stripes and should be shown to be accessible for the range of required flight crew heights and for both the case of an un-deformed seat and a seat with any deformation resulting from the test conditions required by VTOL.2270(b)(1)

(iv)     For Category Enhanced: each exit, its means of access and its means of opening, should be provided with highly conspicuous illuminated markings that illuminate automatically and are designed to remain visible in any stable floating attitude and the cockpit flooded.

(v)      For Category Basic: The exit should be marked so to be readily located and operated even in darkness, and these markings should remain visible if the cockpit is submerged

(5)     In addition, for passenger underwater exits:  Underwater emergency exits should be provided in accordance with the following requirements and should be proven by test, demonstration, or analysis to provide for rapid escape with the aircraft in any stable floating attitude:

(i)      One underwater emergency exit, providing an unobstructed opening that will admit a 0.48 m by 0.66 m (19 inch by 26 inch) ellipse, should be installed in each side of the aircraft for each unit (or part of a unit) of four passenger seats. However, the seat-to-exit ratio may be increased for underwater emergency exits large enough to permit the simultaneous egress of twopassengers side by side.

(ii)     Passenger seats should be located in relation to the underwater emergency exits in a way to best facilitate escape with the aircraft capsized and the cabin flooded

(iii)     Underwater emergency exits, including their means of operation, markings, lighting and accessibility, should be designed for use in a flooded and capsized cabin.  Evaluations should consider ranges of size and strength found in the 5th percentile female to the 95th percentile male.

(iv)     The average load required to operate the exit release mechanism and open the exit should not exceed 222N (50 lbf), and the maximum individual load of a test series should not exceed 245N (55 lbf).

(v)      Each operational marking (pull tab(s), operating handle, ‘push here’ decal, etc.) should be marked with black and yellow stripes.

(vi)     The exit should be provided with a suitable handhold, or handholds adjacently located inside the cabin, to assist occupants in locating and operating the exit, as well as in egressing through the emergency exit.

(vii)    For Category Enhanced:  each exit, its means of access and its means of opening, should be provided with highly conspicuous illuminated markings that illuminate automatically and are designed to remain visible in any stable floating attitude and the cabin flooded.

(viii)   For Category Basic: The exit should be marked so to be readily located and operated even in darkness, and these markings should remain visible if the cockpit is submerged

(6)     Additionally, for aircraft fitted with an emergency flotation system:

(i)      Each emergency exit, including underwater exits, should be shown by test, demonstration, or analysis to open without interference from flotation devices, whether stowed or deployed, and with the aircraft in any stable floating attitude.

(d)     CS 27 Amdt. 5 (or later): AMC 27.783, AMC 27.805(c), AMC 27.807(d) and AMC 29.803(c) provide additional guidance for certification with ditching provisions.