Switlik Parachute Company Details the Anti-Exposure U-Zip-It

In the event of an emergency, the most minute differences can determine the line between survival and tragedy. Through the years, these important differences have remained the foundation behind Switlik Parachute Company’s continued research and development into new advances in survival gear technology.

From parachutes to rafts, from life vests to anti-exposure suits, Switlik Parachute Company’s safety gear has evolved alongside aviation’s own advancements since the 1930s.

At the 2010 Heli-Expo, Switlik company representatives were on hand showcasing the latest in state-of-the-art safety technology, particularly their aviation anti-exposure suit. Unlike most suits on the market, Switlik’s anti-exposure suit is custom-suited to meet each customer’s specifications, including leg length and torso sizing.

The suit features a unique low-slung zipper, the U-Zip-It, designed to provide enhanced comfort and freedom in the field. The suit also includes removable foam kneepads for flight crew operations, and articulated knee, seat, and elbow abrasion-resistant patches.

While comfort is important, safety is paramount: the suit utilities a flame retardant, three-layer design comprised of Gore-Tex and Nomex fabric to pull moisture away from the skin, while creating a seal from outside water intrusion. Based on independent findings, Switlik’s design drastically increases survivability rate in the case of ditching or water rescue; when immersed in water, moisture of any type will rapidly diminish body temperature. Using the “clo” system of measurement (calculating thermal resistance), the crucial number for survivability rates is 0.075 clo.

Using the standard layering system, Switlik’s anti-exposure suit exceeded over 1.2 clo. In other words, at temperatures 50 degrees and below, survival time during water immersion increases to over 10 hours. Join Aero-TV as Switlik explains the technology behind their life-saving products.

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