Excelent Topic (Back to the Top)
What a fantastic topic and great thinking SJ.
The carriage of your KIT and the thought put into this topic are great. I see you have found the paradox of carrying the right amount of survival equip Vs only carrying survival equipment, obviously from your "Light Green" experience where carrying it on your back, means only carry what you need. Yea, I’ve been there too.
All excellent stuff, but the best bit about this topic is that you are at leat thinking about it, and by posting are encouraging others to do the same.
You can have all the survival gear under the sun, but if you don't have knowledge, ability and MENTAL PREPARATION it may be to naught.
The greatest challenge to every person in a survival situation (i.e. after the prang) is the MENTAL CHALANGE. It is easy to teach someone how to use the equip and build the solar still in a class room or practical session. But to simulate the MENTAL CHALANGE is near impossible. So the first time you see it is for real and you now have no option but to accept it and survive.
Everybody, take a few moments to consider what challenges you may face if you were presented with a no warning no preparation situation in which you had to survive and maybe even lead others in a survival situation.
The problem with a survival kit in aviation is the vast distance and types or terrain we can cover in one day. In winter we may experience everything from Artic conditions to the dry central desert in one flight, Ocean crossing from Tassie and the bight and tropical survival in the far north.
Fair enough that in the smaller operations may only cover a select area but you never do really know where you are going to be from day to day, do you. The problem is can we have kit for all situations, without grossing out the MTOW with survival gear only.
All the best, and if it ever happens to you (or me) and I hope not then remember this :
Fly first, First aid second, Survive as long as you can Hope is always there. Read AIP/JEP, use specialist knowledge (not only yours) and keep a positive mental attitude.
General rule : Survive in this order
Health - First aid
Shelter - dependant on climate but a high priority anyhow
Water - Must have within 12 hours
Food - good to have after 24-36 hours, must after 48
Prepare to be rescued - set signals (fire flare panel)
Comfort - remember Robinson Crusoe, you may be there for a while.
This from a distant AIRTC past :
S - Stop and Think
U - undue haste makes waste
R – use all available resources
V – visualise/prepare your plan
I – initiate plan
V – visualise your rescue
A – assist rescue
L – last as long as you can
Or something like that.