Thirdly, a multi purpose system capable of dropping a petrol driven pump with hoses and fuel to a sinking vessel or liferafts or Storpedos with supplies. PADS consists of a plastic Canister moulded to our specifications fitted with a release mechanism and shock absorbent expanded flotation material. Around the exterior is 330 metres of 8mm Trail Line arranged in hanks secured by rubber bands. A static line is attached to the Canister release mechanism and secured to a hard point in the aircraft. One end of the Trail Line is secured to a pin in the release mechanism and the supplies to be dropped are placed in the Canister attached by a bowline to the end of the Trail Line.
All components are impervious to fuel or seawater and are buoyant.
The entire PADS unit can be despatched from almost any aircraft through a horizontal hatch, a vertical door, a hole in the bottom of the aircraft, or from a platform at the rear of the aircraft or by helicopter. After dispatch the complete unit falls almost vertically to the end of the static line where it is clear of the aircraft. The fall of the Canister is arrested by the static line which stops the Canister and allows the supplies to be ejected by inertia. The supplies withdraw the Trail Line until it reaches the end of its 330 metres. The Trail Line then automatically withdraws the steel release pin, releasing the Canister from the aircraft.