An inflatable evacuation slide system includes a slide pack that is
ejected from its enclosure by means of an ejection bag, which inflates
rapidly to force the evacuation slide out of the enclosure. The high
accelerations imposed on the uninflated evacuation slide by the ejection
bag make the slide prone to tearing on the edge of the fuselage as the
slide pack is forced through the opening. Accordingly, the enclosure is
provided with a chafing skirt, which comprises a flexible collar that
deploys outward from the enclosure and lays flat against the aircraft
fuselage to provide a smooth transition region between the enclosure and
the aircraft skin.