Fuel Saving Controversies - Air Canada Removes Life Vests to Reduce Weight (GALLERY)

Jazz Airlines, Air Canada’s regional carrier, is removing the life vests from all of their aircraft to save weight and fuel.  Passengers are directed that in an emergency they use the seat cushions as floatation devices. Good luck if you’re unconscious.

A spokesperson from Jazz Manon Stuart says, “Jazz is a transcontinental carrier that doesn’t fly over the ocean.”

The airline does however, fly over the world’s largest group of freshwater lakes, and along the eastern seaboard.

The removal of the safety devices which weight approximately 1 pound each will result in a 50 pound saving on a 50 seat Dash-8 aircraft.

I’m sure the airline and Transport Canada has done their research on this one, but as Core 77 suggests; could designs innovations not be implemented to reduce weight instead?