What safety equipment is required on single-engine aircraft during water takeoffs or landings?

During water takeoffs or landings in single-engine aircraft, having an approved life preserver is crucial for safety. This requirement stems from the potential risks associated with being over water, where an emergency landing or ditching could necessitate immediate access to flotation devices. Life preservers are designed to keep a person afloat and could be vital in an emergency situation, providing an essential means of survival until rescue can be made.

Carrying an approved life preserver enhances flight safety by ensuring that pilots and passengers have the means to stay above water if they end up in a ditching scenario. Regulations are designed to mitigate risks associated with flying over water, and life preservers meet that safety standard effectively.

The other options, while important for general safety protocols in aviation, do not specifically address the immediate survival needs during water operations as directly as a life preserver does. For instance, a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher are important for different types of emergencies, but they may not be of significant aid in a water emergency situation. A raft could also be useful, but it is not universally required in the same manner as life preservers.