Remote Area Survival
In a former life I taught Survival and here's my 2 bob's worth.
Like the boy scouts, be prepared! Besides a survival kit tailored for where you operate, what about what you are wearing? I visited Darwin recently for a while, and was amazed at all the GA pilots dressed like grade 3 instructors from Morabbin or Bankstown. In the tropics a hat, lose fitting clothes and a pair of walking boots e.g. Rossi, Blundstone are essential. A good quality knife either fold up or in the Nav bag is loads more useful than a firearm and less likely to get you in trouble.
The 3 essentials of survival are always the same wherever you end up,
1. Protection: first aid, proper clothing, shelter and if necessary a fire,
2. Water: without a supply you have 3 days maximum, and you will deteriorate significantly after 1 day.
3. Food: not important unless you are Robinson Crusoe, you can last up to 1 month without food.
I believe the personal ELB is a must, as long as you understand it's use and limitations, and for God's Sake make sure it can't be accidentally activated, they waste a lot of good people's time and money.
Finally, every pilot MUST have the necessary equipment and knowledge to survive in the event of a forced landing. It is not only common sense but is MANDATORY under CAO 20.11 Subsection 7.
I'm sure all you top end charter guys and girls get survival training as required by 20.11 Subsection 12 right?
After all, it is a requirement of your AOC so you would in breach and probably voiding any insurance policies on you and your pax in the event of a mishap.
Like the boy scouts, be prepared! Besides a survival kit tailored for where you operate, what about what you are wearing? I visited Darwin recently for a while, and was amazed at all the GA pilots dressed like grade 3 instructors from Morabbin or Bankstown. In the tropics a hat, lose fitting clothes and a pair of walking boots e.g. Rossi, Blundstone are essential. A good quality knife either fold up or in the Nav bag is loads more useful than a firearm and less likely to get you in trouble.
The 3 essentials of survival are always the same wherever you end up,
1. Protection: first aid, proper clothing, shelter and if necessary a fire,
2. Water: without a supply you have 3 days maximum, and you will deteriorate significantly after 1 day.
3. Food: not important unless you are Robinson Crusoe, you can last up to 1 month without food.
I believe the personal ELB is a must, as long as you understand it's use and limitations, and for God's Sake make sure it can't be accidentally activated, they waste a lot of good people's time and money.
Finally, every pilot MUST have the necessary equipment and knowledge to survive in the event of a forced landing. It is not only common sense but is MANDATORY under CAO 20.11 Subsection 7.
I'm sure all you top end charter guys and girls get survival training as required by 20.11 Subsection 12 right?
After all, it is a requirement of your AOC so you would in breach and probably voiding any insurance policies on you and your pax in the event of a mishap.
PPRuNe's Paramedic
Join Date: May 2001
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I am all for survival.... and some great points raised.....
Having spent nearly 7 years in the kimberley and darwin areas, I am well aware of the perils which await the unprepared.... I carry my epirb in the car now... all those long distances with very little traffic on some occassions and extreme conditions to deal with.
As far as having a well stocked kit in your aircraft, dont live just to die through a common mistake.... be very careful with the old asprin.... its primary response once ingested is to act as an coagulation suppressant. So if you have an injury... and it hurts... taking asprin will lead to potentially more and possibly life threatening bleeding. the effect lasts up to seven days and there is no reversal agent.
Read the directions as well, some asthmatics can have reactions to it and pregnant women shouldnt be taking it either without medical advice. Our protocols will not let us administer asprin to a child under 12.... due to the potential side effects.....
and why is it those neat foil wrappers always have the use by date on the end that someone has ripped off????
If pain relief is required, perhaps consider the good old paracetamol in the kit as well.... Keep the asprin in the kit though.... there is nothing like a good scare to trigger cardiac related chest pain (angina or heart attack) for which asprin is recommended.
Having spent nearly 7 years in the kimberley and darwin areas, I am well aware of the perils which await the unprepared.... I carry my epirb in the car now... all those long distances with very little traffic on some occassions and extreme conditions to deal with.
As far as having a well stocked kit in your aircraft, dont live just to die through a common mistake.... be very careful with the old asprin.... its primary response once ingested is to act as an coagulation suppressant. So if you have an injury... and it hurts... taking asprin will lead to potentially more and possibly life threatening bleeding. the effect lasts up to seven days and there is no reversal agent.
Read the directions as well, some asthmatics can have reactions to it and pregnant women shouldnt be taking it either without medical advice. Our protocols will not let us administer asprin to a child under 12.... due to the potential side effects.....
and why is it those neat foil wrappers always have the use by date on the end that someone has ripped off????
If pain relief is required, perhaps consider the good old paracetamol in the kit as well.... Keep the asprin in the kit though.... there is nothing like a good scare to trigger cardiac related chest pain (angina or heart attack) for which asprin is recommended.
C210 into a salt lake
in all of the above assistance was fairly quick, however the pilots managed to get the aircraft down safely.
****************************************************
If that's the one I'm thinking of, it wouldn't have happened in the first place if the pilot hadn't been showing his passengers how he could fly below sea level. Flying an aircraft into the water when you are showing off does NOT come under the heading of getting the aircraft down safely!!
in all of the above assistance was fairly quick, however the pilots managed to get the aircraft down safely.
****************************************************
If that's the one I'm thinking of, it wouldn't have happened in the first place if the pilot hadn't been showing his passengers how he could fly below sea level. Flying an aircraft into the water when you are showing off does NOT come under the heading of getting the aircraft down safely!!
Join Date: Dec 2001
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Shelter?
Folks
As Thermal Bandit pointed out, it's most likely that the cav will be on the way presently, and 12-24 hours or so will be the longest you'll wait.
However, in addition to the aforementioned items, a 'shelter individual' a.k.a. 'hootchie' might be a worthwhile addition. For those of you who don't know, it's a rectangular green sheet with eyelets and loops to help the user 'rig it up'.
If it's hot & sunny, it's your shade. If it's -5 plus windchill, it will make a windbreak & keep the sleet or snow at bay. IT can also be used as a v. rudimentary stretcher.
Cheers
As Thermal Bandit pointed out, it's most likely that the cav will be on the way presently, and 12-24 hours or so will be the longest you'll wait.
However, in addition to the aforementioned items, a 'shelter individual' a.k.a. 'hootchie' might be a worthwhile addition. For those of you who don't know, it's a rectangular green sheet with eyelets and loops to help the user 'rig it up'.
If it's hot & sunny, it's your shade. If it's -5 plus windchill, it will make a windbreak & keep the sleet or snow at bay. IT can also be used as a v. rudimentary stretcher.
Cheers
Join Date: Dec 2000
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I own my own Ultralight, i carry just a standard survival kit, an EPIRB, and my best insurance policy, a Ballistic Chute!
I weigh 70Kg, the Sapphire is designed around a 100Kg Pilot, so my aircraft carries 30KG of permanent ballest in the nose, but instead of using lead or other heavy material, 30Kg of ballest = 30 Ltrs of water.
as far as im concerned, WATER is my No1 prioroty in a survival situation.
I weigh 70Kg, the Sapphire is designed around a 100Kg Pilot, so my aircraft carries 30KG of permanent ballest in the nose, but instead of using lead or other heavy material, 30Kg of ballest = 30 Ltrs of water.
as far as im concerned, WATER is my No1 prioroty in a survival situation.
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
Join Date: Jul 2000
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Although several people have said that you dont need food for several days, If you have access to a food supply or know where you can pick up a biy of tucker whilst wandering around, one should keep in mind that certain food has a moisture content and will help to keep up your liquid levels. By the same token, other foods will require a certain amount of energy and liquid to digest, so Do be mindfull of what you eat out there.
The priorities for survival:
1. Protection. From the sun and the other elements of the environment in which you find yourself.
2. Location: ELB; Strobe: Mirror (yes it works). DO NOT walk out. Saty with the wreck. Everyone has anecdotes of people who wouldn't have been found if they hadn't walked out etc but the chances of being found if you stay with the wreck are several times greater.
3. Water: In a tropical /sub tropical / desert situation you will not be much use after the first day without water. Look up some survival websites / books and learn how to construct a solar still. Works wonderfully in the desert. Needs only a small tarp / spaceblanket or similar.
4. Food. Only mentioned to remind you that it is NOT important. You can last for weeks without it. Contrary to previous posts all eating uses water to digest. Unless you are eating water melons or similar - forget it. Eating is good for morale but thats about all (and then only if you have copious amounts of water).
Safe flying!
1. Protection. From the sun and the other elements of the environment in which you find yourself.
2. Location: ELB; Strobe: Mirror (yes it works). DO NOT walk out. Saty with the wreck. Everyone has anecdotes of people who wouldn't have been found if they hadn't walked out etc but the chances of being found if you stay with the wreck are several times greater.
3. Water: In a tropical /sub tropical / desert situation you will not be much use after the first day without water. Look up some survival websites / books and learn how to construct a solar still. Works wonderfully in the desert. Needs only a small tarp / spaceblanket or similar.
4. Food. Only mentioned to remind you that it is NOT important. You can last for weeks without it. Contrary to previous posts all eating uses water to digest. Unless you are eating water melons or similar - forget it. Eating is good for morale but thats about all (and then only if you have copious amounts of water).
Safe flying!
Bugsmasherdriverandjediknite
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Of course all digestion uses water, but that water is absorbed into the system in the normal part or hydration, unless you are sweating profuslly (and you shouldnt be because your lying down in the shade during the heat of the day, Right?) some of the foods available in the bush have a water content and will assist in keeping your fluid levels in the credit side instead of slowly but surley slipping into the debit side because one didnt use available resources.
Props are for boats!
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Prop Jet good post,
Just to add to Location, also include some matches in your kit and get a fire going if possible.
Now a signal fire is still the best way of getting attention from an Aircraft. During the Night you want less smoke and more light so use alot of dry kindling etc. the more you put on, the brighter the fire obviously. Now you cant maintain these fires indeffinitely, otherwise you would collecting wood forever.
So heres the deal, bulid three fire sites in a Triangle around you crash site. Approx 30-50 metres apart, this depends on your situation really.
Have heaps of kindling and Brush Green and Dry stacked beside each fire site.
1.Green stuff for smoke (Day signal fire). More green more smoke.
2.Dry stuff for brightness (Night Signal Fire).
This obviuosly depends on you mobility, but keep a small central fire going, use it as a lighting source to light the others if you hear or suspect an AIRCRAFT is near. You stack on more relevant fuel once its going, to attract attention.
MAKE SURE YOU BUILD THE FIRES BIG ATLEAST 6 FEET TALL IF POSSIBLE AND HAVE PLENTY OF FUEL COLLECTED. THE BIGGER THE BETTER!
I know the subject of fires isnt exactly pleasant , at the moment. But I suspect if in a Survival Situation the right to be an Arsonist lies with you.
Regards
Sheep
Just to add to Location, also include some matches in your kit and get a fire going if possible.
Now a signal fire is still the best way of getting attention from an Aircraft. During the Night you want less smoke and more light so use alot of dry kindling etc. the more you put on, the brighter the fire obviously. Now you cant maintain these fires indeffinitely, otherwise you would collecting wood forever.
So heres the deal, bulid three fire sites in a Triangle around you crash site. Approx 30-50 metres apart, this depends on your situation really.
Have heaps of kindling and Brush Green and Dry stacked beside each fire site.
1.Green stuff for smoke (Day signal fire). More green more smoke.
2.Dry stuff for brightness (Night Signal Fire).
This obviuosly depends on you mobility, but keep a small central fire going, use it as a lighting source to light the others if you hear or suspect an AIRCRAFT is near. You stack on more relevant fuel once its going, to attract attention.
MAKE SURE YOU BUILD THE FIRES BIG ATLEAST 6 FEET TALL IF POSSIBLE AND HAVE PLENTY OF FUEL COLLECTED. THE BIGGER THE BETTER!
I know the subject of fires isnt exactly pleasant , at the moment. But I suspect if in a Survival Situation the right to be an Arsonist lies with you.
Regards
Sheep
Last edited by Sheep Guts; 23rd Jan 2003 at 22:55.
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some additional points
something I recall from an aboriginal guy on an ABC program.
fire is something that gets checked out in the bush. if you get lost light a little fire and keep it burning and smoking. any search party in the area will check it out first.
always fly wearing long sleeved cotton shirts. with sleeves rolled down they protect from the sunburn.
A Betadene tube (povidene iodine ointment) takes up ****** all space and prevents nicks and scratches from becoming septic.
Uncle Toby's Museli Bars take up little space but you can survive for quite a while munching on one occasionally.
other suggestions in the thread have been excellent.
btw if you use the kit and find something useless turf it out of the kit. have in the kit just what you use, not what you think you might use. it'll stay light that way.
good maintenance on the aircraft is the best aid to never needing the survival kit.
glueing
fire is something that gets checked out in the bush. if you get lost light a little fire and keep it burning and smoking. any search party in the area will check it out first.
always fly wearing long sleeved cotton shirts. with sleeves rolled down they protect from the sunburn.
A Betadene tube (povidene iodine ointment) takes up ****** all space and prevents nicks and scratches from becoming septic.
Uncle Toby's Museli Bars take up little space but you can survive for quite a while munching on one occasionally.
other suggestions in the thread have been excellent.
btw if you use the kit and find something useless turf it out of the kit. have in the kit just what you use, not what you think you might use. it'll stay light that way.
good maintenance on the aircraft is the best aid to never needing the survival kit.
glueing
