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Aviation vocabulary · Cabin Service & Safety

Life vest

Meaning in aviation, with examples

nounCore term

In aviation, life vest means: An inflatable vest stored under or near each seat that keeps a person floating if the aircraft has to land on water.

In Turkish: can yeleği

How it is used

Shown in the safety demonstration; British English usually says 'life jacket'. Passengers are told to inflate it only when leaving the aircraft, because an inflated vest makes it hard to move through the cabin.

Example sentences

  1. Your life vest is under your seat; do not inflate it until you leave the aircraft.

  2. During the pre-flight check, one life vest was missing from row 14.

Common collocations

  • put on your life vest
  • inflate the life vest
  • life jacket
  • infant life vest
  • safety demonstrationThe short presentation before takeoff in which cabin crew, or a video, show passengers how to use the seat belts, exits, oxygen masks and life vests.
  • evacuation slideAn inflatable slide fitted to an aircraft door that lets people slide quickly to the ground in an evacuation. It inflates automatically when an armed door is opened.
  • emergency exitA door or window exit that passengers and crew use to leave the aircraft quickly in an emergency. Some are normal doors; others are smaller exits over the wings.

More terms: Cabin Service & Safety

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