Chapter 1, Practice Questions, Second Set:
Which item must always be carried on a single engine aircraft during an overwater flight:
(a) life jackets for all occupants
(b) life raft big enough to accommodate all occupants
(c) a locator beacon
(d) distress flares
According to 91 MOS para 26.56, life jackets are only required if aircraft is flown over water beyond gliding potential. Furthermore, life jackets are not required over water for the purpose of takeoff or landing. Hence, I thought the more correct answer should be (c) since carriage of ELTs are mandated under 91 MOS para 26.48.
May I ask how should I interpret such questions?
<<Afternote: Apologies, this question should be under "General Enquiries". Will post it there instead>>
Your interpretation of 91 MOS 26.56 is correct: for a single-engine aeroplane, lifejackets are only required when the flight takes you over water beyond gliding distance to land suitable for a forced landing, and they’re not required just because you’re over water during take-off or landing.
The practice question doesn’t tell you whether it’s within gliding distance, or whether it’s only a take-off/landing segment. In exam-style questions, when “overwater flight” is stated without qualifiers, it’s normally shorthand for the beyond-glide overwater crossing case (i.e. the condition that “switches on” the overwater equipment requirement). On that basis, the item that must be carried is (a) lifejackets for all occupants.
Also, be careful with the term “locator beacon”. It’s not a precise CASA equipment term on its own — it could refer to an ELT, a PLB, or an EPIRB, and these are not interchangeable in all regulatory/operational contexts. When CASA requirements are being tested, the question should specify the device type (e.g. ELT), not just “locator beacon”.
Exam technique tip: if the question is vague, choose the option that is specifically triggered by the overwater condition for single engine (lifejackets beyond glide), rather than a general item that may have exceptions depending on the operation (e.g. ELT carriage exceptions).
