Introduction
This intensive one-day (8-hour) course provides comprehensive, hands-on training for aviation maintenance personnel responsible for the care and servicing of aircraft life vests. Conducted in alignment with CMM 25-60-12 Rev.10 and regulatory requirements under Part-145, Part-43, and Part-65, the course ensures participants can confidently perform inspection, maintenance, and documentation tasks to industry standards.
Participants will gain detailed knowledge of life vest models, their TSO approvals, construction features, and key operational differences between adult, child, and infant units. Through a mix of instructor-led demonstrations and practical exercises, learners will develop the technical competence to carry out visual and functional inspections, leakage and CO₂ cylinder tests, and light system checks safely and correctly. The course also covers best practices in cleaning, drying, and handling materials, understanding limits for minor repairs, and completing accurate documentation and tagging for continued airworthiness tracking.
By the end of the day, delegates will not only understand the procedures outlined in the Component Maintenance Manual but will also be able to apply them confidently within their maintenance organization to ensure compliance, safety, and reliability of life vests in service.
What is the Benefit of this Training – What will I learn?
a) How to identify different life vest models, their TSO bases, and key configuration differences.
b) How to correctly perform all required maintenance inspections and functional tests, including leakage, CO₂ weight, and light checks.
c) How to clean, dry, and handle vests safely while complying with material protection and CMM requirements.
d) How to make repair-versus-replacement decisions, complete tagging and documentation, and set next inspection due dates correctly.
Who is the course for?
This course is designed for Part-145 shop and line maintenance personnel who handle or service life vests, as well as QA and certifying staff responsible for airworthiness release. Participants should already be familiar with basic workshop safety, tool control, and company MOE procedures.
Detailed Content / Topics – The following Subjects will be addressed
1) Equipment & Model Familiarization (45 min)
• Models & TSOs: KSE-35L8 (TSO-C13e), XF-35/UXF-35 (TSO-C13f), IN-V20L8 infant: construction, buoyancy cells, harness, CO₂ inflation, oral tube, light system.
• Key specs: CO₂ charge (e.g., XF-35 2×16 g; UXF-35 33 g; infant 8/9 g update), service life concept (indefinite while passing inspection).
2) Regulatory & Program Requirements (30 min)
• “Trained personnel only” and manual structure per ATA 100; link to your MOE/145 procedures and tagging.
CMM 25-60-12 Rev.10
• Inspection interval logic: first and subsequent due dates; special case P0640-105; non-scheduled checks after deployment/demos.
3) Maintenance Inspection – Visual & Functional (60 min demo + 30 min hands-on)
• Visuals: fabric, stitching, webbing, buckles/inflators corrosion/damage, oral tube condition; light installation and condition.
• Functional: snaps/buckles operation, oral valve check.
CMM 25-60-12 Rev.10
4) Leakage Test – Method & Maths (45 min demo + 30 min hands-on)
• Set-up: barometer, thermometer, gauge/manometer, regulated air via oral tube adaptor; pressure/time/ambient compensation.
CMM25-60-15_Rev_10_Sep 12_2014
• Steps: inflate (~2.0 psig), stabilize, record T/P, compute adjusted pressure after 4–24 h window; acceptance criteria per CMM.
CMM25-60-15_Rev_10_Sep 12_2014
• Safety/handling surfaces (no sharp/abrasive; cover benches).
CMM 25-60-12 Rev.10
5) CO₂ Cylinder Weight Check (20 min demo + 20 min hands-on)
• Identify correct cylinder PN/nominal mass; weigh/record; replace if out of tolerance. (Model-specific: dual 16 g vs single 33 g; infant 9 g).
6) Light System Test (Water-activated) (20 min demo + 20 min hands-on)
• Use of light test set; pass/fail; battery/set troubleshooting (voltage under load).
CMM 25-60-12 Rev.10
7) Cleaning & Drying (25 min demo)
• Remove light assembly before wet cleaning; mild soap/detergent; rinse; dry; talc/soapstone; post-clean leak test if contaminants removed.
CMM 25-60-12 Rev.10
8) Minor Repairs & Limits (30 min)
• What’s not repairable vs minor repair allowed (e.g., punctures ≤½ in; limits on count/location; age/porosity fails; corroded hardware; split oral tube).
CMM 25-60-12 Rev.10
• When to stop and replace vs return to EAM.
CMM 25-60-12 Rev.10
9) Disassembly/Assembly & Storage (20 min demo)
• Only to extent necessary; marking; light/buckle removal/fit; storage care.
10) Tagging, Records, and Next Due (20 min + 10 min quiz)
• Tag content (test date/approval; next due); recordkeeping; service/return to storage.
CMM 25-60-12 Rev.10
Target groups
This course will be of very significant benefit to current and potential Trainers who need to have the necessary competence to deliver effective EWIS Training.
Training Department Managers and other Training staff will also benefit from attendance at this course.
Pre-requisites
Basic shop safety; familiarity with tool control; company MOE procedures.
Learning Objectives
- Identify vest models, TSO basis and differences (adult/child vs infant; CO₂ size; single vs dual chambers; light types).
- Perform the maintenance inspection correctly: visual checks, leakage test, CO₂ weight check, light test, functional checks.
- Clean and dry vests safely (including removal of light assembly prior to wet cleaning).
- Decide repair vs replace using CMM limits; carry out minor permitted repairs only.
- Disassemble/reassemble only as required; protect materials and follow handling precautions.
- Tag, document, and set next due date correctly; understand frequency rules (first due and subsequent intervals; exceptions).
What do People Say about Sofema Aviation Services Training?
“This training offers very good explanations of difficult topics.”
“All aspects were useful, and the examples were great.”
“This training helped me to develop some new skills.”
“The instructor is very resourceful and intelligent.”
“Having a visual material helps a lot in the learning process.”
Duration
1 day – Each training day will start at 09.00 and finish at 17.00, with appropriate refreshment breaks.
Covers full theory and guided practical training on routine maintenance inspection, tests, cleaning, tagging & records.
To register for this training, please email [email protected] or Call +359 28210806
