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  #31  
Old 12-28-2011, 09:19 AM
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flion flion is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Flagstaff, AZ
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I was thinking the same thing. Sounds like people are expecting to land like they do at an airport, deplane, and then leisurely grab their packs and strike out into the wilderness. I'm not sure why no one has mentioned bringing along a sherpa or pack mule.

It's beginning to sound like the opening chapters of Tunnel In The Sky (Robert A. Heinlein). I admit, though, you guys are pointing out some great field gear. It's just what I'd pack if I were going backcountry or even as a backup kit in case I did have a safe out-landing.
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  #32  
Old 12-28-2011, 11:12 AM
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flyboy1963 flyboy1963 is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Lake Country, B.C. Canada
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Default How MUCH survival gear????

Lots of good info, and many other threads on this, (one of my favourite subjects).
To help decide whether you just need a knife sewn into your boot ( a la Richard Bach et al) or an entire safari kitchen with butler, one has to frankly asess......am I Rambo, or dumbo? Most of us fall in between.

"Crashkit" has a good idea, ( not affiliated)
http://www.crashkit.ca/

'Alpha' kits for the experienced outdoorsperson, 'Bravo', and 'Charlie' for the tenderfoot who needs a lot of support, food, etc. ( the Charlie obviously costs more, weighs more, etc.)
Plus, they publish the contents of all the kits, so you can make up your own, which I did, as I felt I wanted some much better quality components, ( knives, lights, etc.) and already had some of the miscellaneous gear.
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  #33  
Old 12-28-2011, 03:04 PM
KC10Chief KC10Chief is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Edmond, OK
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bkthomps View Post
you guys are forgetting a kitchen sink

geez
Quote:
Originally Posted by flion View Post
I was thinking the same thing. Sounds like people are expecting to land like they do at an airport, deplane, and then leisurely grab their packs and strike out into the wilderness. I'm not sure why no one has mentioned bringing along a sherpa or pack mule.
Carry what you want! Go fly in shorts and flip flops in the winter if that's what you want to do! For me, I wouldn't carry nearly as much stuff as I do if I lived in the lower 48. I just mentioned the gear I carry to give people some ideas. Some of the things I have might be applicable to somebody else's area. My main gear bag is about 35 pounds. It's a little inconvenient, but worth it. The stuff I carry on my person isn't really inconvenient at all. I don't even notice it's there when I'm in the plane. The basics like a couple knives, 550 cord and a fire starter, are cheap!
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  #34  
Old 12-30-2011, 10:11 AM
gear1 gear1 is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Pagosa Springs CO
Posts: 243
Default Survival Gear

Matt,

Thank you for starting this thread, and creating a list of things to carry when flying over hostile territory. The time you have taken will help all of us who occasionally fly over unfriendly terraine.
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  #35  
Old 12-30-2011, 12:19 PM
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Alan Carroll Alan Carroll is offline
 
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Location: Madison, Wisconsin
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Lots of useful ideas posted here. A few years ago when I was doing some geology work in AK I took note of what the charter pilots were carrying (aircraft included C180, C206, PA32, Bell 206). Most commonly they brought along a medium sized backpack, big enough to hold a sleeping bag and some form of shelter along with other emergency stuff. Presumably a gun was stashed in there as well.

None of these pilots wore an emergency vest or any noticeable amount of gear on their persons. One did wear a suspenders-type inflatable life preserver.
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  #36  
Old 12-30-2011, 03:37 PM
Frank Smidler Frank Smidler is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Stoughton, WI
Posts: 473
Default What to wear when flying to Alaska

Thanks all for the great info on emergency gear. One thing that has not been discussed is what the pilot and pas should wear. Cotton and natural fabrics are better than man made for fires, but the newer man made fabrics are best for staying dry and wicking moisture away from the body when walking through the wilderness. I'm considering the layered apparel hikers would wear and not jeans and cotton shirts. What do modern day bush pilots wear? I am in the process of long range planning for a trip from the lower 48 to Alaska in June, 2013, so will not need winter gear.
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  #37  
Old 01-01-2012, 05:27 AM
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NickAir NickAir is offline
 
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Location: McMinnville, Oregon: HOME of the SPRUCE GOOSE
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The rule of Three (3)
1) AIR - you need air with in three (3) minutes. Rescue breather.
2) SHELTER - you need shelter in three (3) hours to avoid the beginning of Hypothermia death, under 60 degrees.
3) WATER - you need potable water with in three (3) days to stay alive.

Clothing is 1st form of survival shelter. An off airport landing with an RV in wilderness, three types of clothing, see below.

Wool clothing is fire resistant.
Wool is good for keeping hypothermia from taking you out prior to a rescue.
Wool maintains its insulation properties even when wet.

Cotton: good for tropical, but will kill you at 50 degree or less, when wet.

Polypropylene: (Fleece) The new wool w/insulation when wet. Melts in a fire!
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  #38  
Old 01-01-2012, 09:55 AM
Pave Tim Pave Tim is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Out West!
Posts: 80
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Not sure if it was mentioned, besides all that gear, you need some skills. All the **** will get you nowhere if you do not have the skill to use and effect your own rescue. That gear will help you survive but for how long? How long before someone comes looking for you? How will they find you? Can you treat basic injuries? You think you are not gonna get hurt in an off airport landing? What if you are solo..how will you take care of yourself? If you do make it out of the airplane, what is IN the airplane you can use to your advantage? Avgas for fuel (keep warm, boil water, cook, and signaling), seat covers (warmth, comfort) pieces of aircraft aluminum (shelter, cooking, table, signaling (shiny side), cutting?) Carpeting..warmth, clothing layer, burns black (good signal). Canopy or aircraft lighting lens covers..might be able to start a fire? Aircraft battery..fire starter. Seatbelts..straps for carrying stuff..tourniquet?

When you hit the ground, what are you gonna do? Stay near the a/c? That would be your best bet..even if you are mobile. I can tell you for a fact that someone walking in woods is a mofo to find from a helicopter..sometimes even in a grassy field. How about the clothes you are wearing? Are they reflective, bright, reversible? Dark clothes might absorb some much needed heat..but also might overheat you in the wrong environment.

Does someone know where you are going and when you will be back? Did you file (most do not). Do they know your path? Do they know what gear you have on board or on your person? Do they know your abilities to survive and your signaling devices? Important things we in the military rescue business would like to know.

Lastly, are you READY to survive. Your mental state will keep you alive.
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  #39  
Old 01-01-2012, 08:26 PM
David Paule David Paule is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Boulder, CO
Posts: 4,435
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As KC10Chief mentioned, you need to adapt what you're carrying to the terrain you'll be flying over.

It also might be appropriate to have a set of different survival gear kits in the hangar. Perhaps a base one that's always in the plane and has some rather general things in it like bandages and what the pilot will need anywhere, and then an additional one for each passenger (if you're carrying a passenger, put it in the plane too and account for it in the weight and balance).

And then a modification package depending on the terrain. For flying out here, it might be a tent with sleeping bags and cold weather gear, or it might be a couple of those two gallon water containers, for example.

One thing I've found is that often the baggage I carry doubles as the survival gear. Just the sort of trips I go on, maybe.

Dave
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  #40  
Old 01-01-2012, 09:53 PM
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Andrew M Andrew M is offline
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Secluded Lake,Alaska (AK49)
Posts: 359
Default Where to stow it

I intend to stow gear that I am not wearing strapped to the back side of the aft bag wall. This is normally where sleeping bags and a small dufflle are kept in the Cessnas. A lot of guys wear a metal whiskey flask full of gas to toss on a standing dead tree and torch.Some guys put the sleeping bag or wool blanket in the seat cushion, others count engine covers as a bag or blanket.
Alaska law requires this eguipment.
http://www.bestglide.com/survival_eq...quirements.htm
I might as well have it installed for weight and balance, and its location wont effect the "normal" baggage as its already figured in. I also carry a bag of Snickers because I like them and they are loaded with calories! Hatchet can go within reach so I bust my way out if I need to. Currently I keep my snowshoes in the aircraft, last time I did some off airport stuff my Chief sank in 8". When I stepped off to get the snowshoes of the strut, I sank in up to my crotch!
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Last edited by Andrew M : 01-01-2012 at 10:57 PM.
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