Systems, methods, and apparatus for monitoring life vests on aircraft

A system for monitoring a presence of a life vest underneath a seat on an aircraft comprising:

• a container attached underneath the seat and configured to contain the life vest;
• a sensor positioned on the container to contact the life vest, the sensor configured to output a first signal when the sensor detects contact with the life vest and to output a second signal when the sensor fails to detect contact with the life vest;
• a console unit mounted above the seat and wired to the sensor, the console unit comprising:
• vents, a reading light, and an attendant request button;
• a first visual indicator in wired communication with the sensor, wherein the first visual indicator is activated based on the first signal;
• a second visual indicator in wired communication with the sensor, wherein the second visual indicator is activated based on the second signal;
• a monitoring unit positioned in a crew area of the aircraft away from the seat and configured to receive signals from the sensor, the monitoring unit comprising:
• a display screen;
• a graphical user interface that displays a time when the life vest is removed from the seat:
• wherein one of the first visual indicator and the second visual indicator is configured to indicate an expiration status of the life vest;
• and
• wherein the expiration status of the life vest is determined without the sensor;
• wherein the monitoring unit generates reports comprising a list of all of the life vests detected on the aircraft and a list of the seats on the aircraft where a life vest is not detected.