What is the purpose of the white release handle under flap labeled for ditching use only?

• A. Release the slide from the girt bar
• B. Detach the slide from the aircraft
• C. Inflate the life vest
• D. Cut the mooring line

Answer: (A)

In a ditching (water) scenario, evacuation slides are often used as life rafts. The white release handle under the ditching label is there to free the slide from its attachment at the girt bar. Pulling it releases the slide so it can be used as a raft and float away from the aircraft, making it available for passengers to board from the water. It isn’t about inflating the raft, cutting lines, or detaching the entire slide from the door in ordinary evacuations—that handle is specifically for converting the slide into a standalone life raft during a water landing.