Compact, automatic emergency flotation

ThrowRaft, founded by shipwreck survivor Troy Faletra—whose 16-hour, 9-mile swim to shore in the 1990s inspired the invention of a new generation of rescue devices—produces the TD2401 in color options including a limited edition tribute to NFL quarterback Patrick Mahomes, inviting users to deploy it with a tight spiral, if able. It was on sale (as of the date this article was published) for $129.99 on the company website.

The standard version, available in orange or search-and-rescue yellow, is listed for $149.99. It packs down to 11 inches by 4 inches, inflates to 22 inches by 21 inches, and weighs 2.2 pounds including the patented mechanism that inflates the device automatically on contact with water, or manually with a tug on a tab.

ThrowRaft recently announced that the U.S. Coast Guard has ordered TD2401 devices to equip the service’s aircraft.

“This underscores our dedication to developing products that meet and exceed the stringent standards of the U.S. Coast Guard, ensuring the safety and effectiveness of their rescue operations,” Faletra said in the news release. “It feels good knowing it's officially in their inventory, and they've written a maintenance procedure card for the TD2401 that will be used by the fleets to maintain it.”

The ThrowRaft’s larger cousin, the Survivor Personal Life Raft, keeps more of the user’s body out of the water, a key to extending the amount of time that person can stave off hypothermia while awaiting rescue or swimming to land, as the case may be. It comes in automatic and manual inflation versions. (For much more on this topic, including detailed charts and advice for pilots, an undated, downloadable PowerPoint presentation by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary makes useful reading. It includes 110 slides packed with tips such as keeping your thumbs on the outside of the yoke when ditching, to avoid having them broken by water-impact forces transmitted through the flight controls.)

In September, Faletra debuted a neutral-buoyancy vest designed for use by rescuers. Unveiled at a law enforcement boating convention in Denver, the neutral-buoyancy life jacket allows the wearer to move more freely in the water, and dive below the surface as needed. The vest was designed to be durable, and accommodate various other accessories including body armor, personal locator beacons, and other tools used by law enforcement and first responders.

Faletra reported in a follow-up email that ThrowRaft products, originally marketed as a nautical product, have gained a foothold in general aviation, including in the retail stock of Florida FBO Banyan Air Service. Rescue aircraft operated by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Osceola County Sheriff ‘s Office also carry ThrowRaft devices, and the Texas Army National Guard deployed them to flood victims after Hurricane Irma, he noted.

“My biggest challenge is raising capital to scale,” Faletra wrote. “I created the business in 2012 and started the patent journey there. We now have a dozen patents and are selling the products as far as Tokyo (Tokyo Police & Fire Departments).”