What is the primary purpose of passenger life jackets?

• A. They are decorative.
• B. They provide buoyancy and survival capability in a water landing.
• C. They are for warmth.
• D. They are used for signaling only.

Answer: (B)

In a water landing, the main purpose of passenger life jackets is to provide buoyancy to keep you afloat and give you time to be rescued. They’re designed to float you on the surface so you don’t struggle to breathe or tire out, even if you can't swim well or are injured. Some models inflate automatically when in contact with water or are manually inflated, but the essential function is staying buoyant. Features like a whistle or light help rescuers, but they don’t replace the flotation benefit. They aren’t decorative or primarily for warmth, and signaling alone wouldn’t keep you afloat.