Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Attendant Current
Communication Breakdown; Training / Qualification
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Maintenance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General Maintenance Action
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure; Incorrect / Not Installed / Unavailable Part
During preflight checks; discovered one of the two Infant life vest kits unserviceable.  It contained (2) adult/child vests mixed with the remaining three correct Infant life vests.  Advised Captain who contacted Line Maintenance.  The Line Maintenance Technician (LMT) brought two other kits; each containing a mixture of both types of vests.  One of the kits appeared to be the older Aircraft kit which contained only adult/child vests.  I explained to the LMT that neither of the kits were serviceable for this type of aircraft.  However; to prevent a further delay; I instructed him to remove the two incorrect Adult/Child vests for the aircraft's kit and replace them with two of the Infant vests from each of the 'replacement' kits.  It is important to note; an average flight attendant is not provided with training to advise LMTs on the correct method to resolve issues related to cabin safety equipment.  Had my assistance not been available; most likely another non serviceable kit would have been swapped with the current incorrect kit.  This problem was first reported over 3.5 years ago; yet another event to indicate the risk is systemic and current mitigation barriers remain inadequate.  This event reveals yet another risk since it is the first time that an LMT has attempted to restock with replacement kits that were non-serviceable. As previously reported; this risk also continues to reinforce that flight attendants are either not accomplishing checks; or still unaware of the correct method to pre-flight this piece of equipment.The company has been made aware of this issue for an extraordinary length of time; yet customers continue to be exposed to an avoidable hazard; and the company remains at risk of regulatory enforcement.
Flight Attendant reported that life vest installed on an in-service aircraft were from a retired aircraft type and not approved for installation on this aircraft.