The UK's Civil Aviation Authority has chosen not to mandate or ban the use of emergency breathing systems (EBS) on UK helicopters flying over water after a preliminary study, electing to make individual operators responsible for the devices.
Systems are in use on helicopters flying to offshore North Sea locations, but the equipment falls under employer safety liability regulations and is neither mandated nor approved by the CAA. The system provides a short air supply, usually about 60s, which gives helicopter passengers and crew time to escape from a submerged or capsized helicopter in the event of a crash or ditching in water.
Source: Flight International
