Both Stearns and Mustang product should be available approximately Jan.
3, 2000.
Stearns is using both the Halkey-Roberts V85000 inflator and Secumar 3001S inflator. Mustang has written approval for the inflator and will have product available in Jan, 2000, along with Stearns. Halkey-Roberts just received the written approval and has to produce the inflators now.
All of the vests will be manual/automatic. This means they are a manual inflatable with an automatic feature and an oral backup. The general concern is with the automatic inflator going off in high humidity and having a vest without any CO2 inflation. The consumer would still be able to inflate the vest orally. For this reason, Mustang will be selling each vest with an extra cartridge packed on the opposite side of the vest. If for some reason the automatic feature has been used, you can still replace the cartridge and pull the cord for manual inflation.
USCG Approves First Automatic Inflatable PFDs
The Personal Flotation Device Manufacturers Association (PFDMA) is
pleased to announce the approval of the first Manual/Automatic inflators
for use on fully inflatable life vests, and USCG approval of the first
inflatable life vests to use automatic backup inflators.
Halkey-Roberts Corp, St. Petersburg, FL, is the first company to be
awarded 6F recognition of their V85000 series inflators. 6F inflators
maybe used on Type V, USCG Approved for Type III inflatables. Stearns,
and their partner Secumar, will follow shortly with an inflator
approval.
Sporting Lives of Fruitland, Idaho, and manufacturer of the "SOSPENDERS"
line of inflatables was simultaneously awarded approval on several (8)
different inflatables that will utilize the Halkey-Roberts inflator.
Mustang Survival, Richmond, British Columbia, and manufacturer of "Air
Force" line of inflatables, was also awarded an approval based on
Halkey-Roberts system.
Scott Swanby, president of Sporting Lives and current PFDMA President,
was quoted as saying, "This is a giant step toward full implementation
of inflatable life vests. The life vest industry, USCG, and Underwriters
Labs have worked more than 20 years to develop standards for
inflatables. The approval of these automatic backup devices brings us
another level of comfort able safety for United States recreational
boaters. He went on to say "Life vests work when they are worn.
Inflatables now have an approved place along with the inherently buoyant
devices in helping to save lives."
Received on Fri Oct 8 11:18:43 1999