Remote Area Survival

[Screw Jac]

Hopefully it never happens, but another forum topic gave me a good idea!

Ive flown around the central australia for five years. Like most pilots have enjoyed it immensely. In another life I spent a lot of time carrying a significant load by foot over large tracts of Australia. Lost a freind in a helo accident a few years ago. On track Helo ELT didn't go off. Took a few days to find the wreck.

The lesson left me with a realisation that I ought to plan on having to survive a few days until found!

I built a survival kit (obviously suited to Central arid regions)

Signal mirror
fly nets( absolutely essential)
space blankets
survival handbook
matches
vitamin tablets
wire saw
carabinas
rope
notebook
pocket knife
puritabs (for water)
insect repellant
snack foods
first aid kit
heaps of Aspirin
plastic bags (solar still)
rubber bands

This all fits in a small bag about the size of a shoe box

And also when carrying the old smelly cargo, remember they know where the water soaks are!

A few "snack maps" for this region which have bush tucker available in the area of the map printed on the reverse!

Just thinking that us people's flying the remote areas could benefit from the knowledge out there and maybe some other's who head north chasing that elusive job may find it useful.

Would appreciate any other ideas PPruners could add


Hoo roo

Terrific thread idea and a must read for anyone operating beyond the metro area.
Metro area?? you say, yup, just have a look at some of the heavy country outside your Capital City. Sydneys the worst, you can disappear in there without trace.

[hurlingham]

Add a personal ELT, preferably a 406.
Altho if fire consumes the aircraft ELT good chance the PLT is gone as well.
SAR response in Central Australia is very good.

Food is not that important, you can survive a long time without it, but you can never carry enough water - especially in summer.

[Screw Jac]

Thanks old mate.....I agree you get a little hungry but its only because your system is used to getting fed, you certainly don't starve...Learned that in the old green machine! We used to carry up to 10 litres on each person, which would be used up pretty quickly when involved in moderate activity.....

Have got the old ELT 121.5/243M variety, sits in the headset bag everywhere I go out here!

Best wishes to all for the festive season!

[ITCZ]

Saw a bloke with one of those Breitling EPIRB watches, thought to self..

"Why would an airliner pilot need one of these? Sort of like a bald fifty-year-old with a Ferrari."

The RPT driver is the one with the full reporting, two comms, many engines, ELB, and a full galley plus many gallons of potable water.

It would make more sense for a bush C206 pilot to be wearing one. You know, down in the weeds, engine fails, maybe get out a Mayday that noone hears. Don't scrabble around in a bent and burning cabin. Get the hell out, and if you didn't lose your left arm in the process, the ELT is attached to you.

Suppose the $1000 price take took care of that one.

Do they make a 406 EPIRB that fits on your belt buckle yet?

[compressor stall]

$1000???

Thought the cost was about 5 times that.

And you cannot tax deduct watches

[Sheep Guts]

Ok like your kit looks good, but dont forget your emergency water, I used to have 6- 2 litre plastic milk or juice bottles full. Requirement by Casa and makes good sense too for a C206 or C210 OR WHAT EVER! And really your company should have this in the Aircraft Allready, and should be checked along with the First Aid Kit every so often. The problem with most kits they get lost, during maintenance and dont get serviced. Im not a MAF pilot, but the system they use in their a/c is pretty solid, all their C206S have a briefcase strapped in the back with Survival and First Aid

Regarding the Epirb the GME Electrophone model is good, a fella crashed his c177 in the gulf ( Massacre Inlet) years back and got picked up by a SAR Chopper out of Tindal.

What sort of flying do you do? If it Charter in the Centre or Top End youll generally be at high ALTs, because A you may have no aircond, and B its less bumpy up there.Now cruising at that alt should give you time to talk to CENTRE or FS whatever and give your position etc, you mate in the Helo probably didnt have that luxury. Which reason C for being there....

I think that was in USD the watch CS and more than likely Duty Free somewhere, like Dubai Or Cayman.

I used to fly long over water flights here. We used to carry a life raft, but it didnt have an elt in it. So if per chance you went down the A/C elt sunk with the machine go figure......

Anyway thats my 2 bobs worth

Happy New Year when comes evryone

Regards
Sheep

[High Altitude]

A 357 Magnum to survive if you are unlucky enough to come down in that croc infested swamp...

But seriously the above advice sounds solid. VHF comms are pretty good these days so I would be surprised if you couldn't blast out a MayDay that was heard. Then again if you are 1 comm on 126.7 maybe not??? A portable GPS is good security.

Important aspect number 1 is to get the plane down safely at ALL costs, doesn't matter how good your survival pack is if you did not survive the impact. There have been several bingles up here that were perfectly executed forced landings and unfortunatley there have been the ones that were not.

C206 into a swamp,
C210 into a roadside scrapping,
C210 into a salt lake,
B58 onto a road,

in all of the above assistance was fairly quick, however the pilots managed to get the aircraft down safely.

Now if you look at the above 4 scenarios what survival gear would you want if you were not found immediatley?

1. Water is probably not that important, INSECT REPELLANT a must, and the standard in the survival pack. Although naked flames probably not a good idea as you are probably sitting on the wing to scared of crocs (i would be).

2,3,4. Everything that was mentioned above.

So basically the standard survival pack works, just adapt it to the local area you will be flying. Dersert = sub zero temps, swamps = mosquito plauges, rivers = crocs (not much ya can do about that)...

HA...

[hurlingham]

406 ELT is available as belt size, but still about $2300
If you get one don' forget to register it with AUSSar.

[*Lancer*]

Yeah those Breitling EPIRB watches are about 5 and a half...

Maybe some more possibilities:

A whistle to give your voice a rest...

Fire starters if there isn't much small fuel... or a candle even

I believe (standing by to be corrected) that many special forces carry condoms not only for overnights, but for carrying water when required...

Lancer

[Thermal Bandit]

Guys/Gals,

Some good advise here, now for my 2 cents worth: -.

Always fly, or go boating for that matter, with your PLB attached to your body. There are people who owe their lives to the fact this is one of their personal rules. A “Leatherman” or similar tool should also be part of your personal kit. I also carry a portable strobe light in my flight bag.

Your survival kit should reflect where you are, and what you are doing. They take up valuable room and weight. The further away from civilisation you plan to be, the longer it may take rescuers to get to you. Poor weather conditions, which may have contributed to your situation, can slow down and sometimes stop rescue efforts.

You should review your survival kit regularly, this review should not just look at contents, and it should include the suitability, serviceability, and use by dates of its contents. Unserviceable equipment is as useful as tickets to the 5th day of the current ashes series. Mobile phones – you just never know, remote area coverage is getting better. I know a glider pilot who walked 11km to make a phone call, after “outlanding” next to a mobile phone tower.

Water is vital to survival, however it is heavy, and cumbersome. How much do you carry and how to you package it? Old wine cask bladders can be a solution; they are relatively small and robust. Also never carry all you water in the one container. How many pilots carry drinking water in the cockpit, and maintain their hydration in flight? First Aid Kits are compulsory in commercial operations, however how many working pilots are qualified in First Aid? What is the value of the kit without the training?

Clothing – how many pilots and passengers dress and only carry clothing suitable for their departure and arrival points knowing they will be in a heated cabin, e.g. a flight from Merimbula to Wagga via Cooma will transit the high range are of NSW, this is also designated a “remote area”.

To summarise, what is remote? We all know the far-flung areas of North Western Australia, and this is definitely remote. However there are remote areas in the mountain regions of N.S.W., Vic, and the west coastal areas of Tasmania. These are completely different in nature, and one survival kit will not meet the needs of all locations.

Fly Safe, and hopefully we will never need to use our survival kit in anger.

[AMRAAM]

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.

[bush mechanics]

how many pilots when flying are actually looking outside at the scenary ,looking for a safe landing place incase the old fan stops.
Most of my flying is in the central australian region and when im flying im looking for a number of things,IE creek beds which still have water in them,Bores,windmills,Tanks,you would be surprised how many of the above are scatered all over the place,soo when flying next time take time out from your picture mag and have a look around,you will be surprised at what you see.

[Screw Jac]

Oh yeah meant to say I do carry a whistle! very good with a dry throat!

As stated elsewhere be first aid qualified......I am

Thanks everybody for the input Central Australia is pretty unforgiving, thats even when you are in the the allegedly "CIVILISED" places!

Hoo roo

[Zarg]

Excellent Topic, SJ!

One other thing apart from all the other good points mentioned by all above..........COMMUNICATION!

TELL people what you are doing. Lodge a SARTIME or flight note and activate a SARTIME for EACH LEG of the flight if possible. If you deviate from your flight plan for ANY reason.....TELL SOMEONE! Pop up on Centre Area Frequency or Flightwatch and advise the detail. Don't worry if this p*sses ATC off, if AusSAR come looking for you ALL the relevant tapes WILL be played back.

Go safely, all!

[Aussiebert]

I don't have much to add, only that in regards to the water, i'd recomend not using milk bottles and the like, use soft drink bottles, they tend to be a lot more durable

[Islander Jock]

The 4 basics I was taught during survival training were:
Food, Shelter, Water and Warmth.
The terrain, weather and climate will obviously determine what priority you put these in. Having recently completed a lengthy charter going to over 50 airstrips between Kalumburu and the Nullabor I know the first thing I always went for when I got out of the plane was the water. Treat it like fuel - if you can carry it, then do so as you will never have too much! As Aussiebert said, one of the best water carriers are the used softdrink plastic bottles. They're just about indestructable and chances are if they don't survive the forced landing, you won't either.

In a survival situation your passengers will turn to you to get them out. After all, you got them there in the first place.
Avoid the temptation to "Go for Help" or let any one else wander off. Bad enough for SAR agencies to have to deal with one search without compounding the issue. Unless you are positive you know where you are and know for sure other people are within a short range. Chances are, if AUSSAR know the approximate area that you have gone down, they will be calling known properties along your route.
ERSA has some basic info for survival which may be useful.

Oh yes and if you're a smoker, don't forget a couple of extra packets of Winnie Blue's

[the wizard of auz]

I spend nearly all my time in the hot middle bit of auz and have found that a little bit of local knowledge will stand you far better than a huge survival kit. the main thing out here is Water, if you have water, the chances of survival increase dramatically.
you should carry at least two litres per person, if going into the middle bit, and if you can get a few of the locals to take you bush with em, you will be supprised where they find water.......It WILL save your life if you get stuck.
I have had to spend a few days here and there in the bush due to all sorts of things and have found that the basic rules will keep ya going for a while, stuff like staying with the wreck, if you do have to move leave a note, and move in the cool of evening, carry a bit of plastic around with ya (solar still), carry a container for filling at windmills and water holes if your lucky enough to find any, having an Idea where to look for water and food is a good plan..... I have survived for a couple of weeks eating good tucker like lingees, karlgoorla, mingas, karlya eggs, sandle wood nuts, young kurrujong roots and trapping the odd meat animal and getting water from places like kurrujong roots gnamma holes, tree hollows, solar still, and a miriad of other places. these things, if learned, will stand you in good stead if you ever get stuck. Many of these things can be "country specific" but things like looking for water in deep creeks by digging and learning what animals will lead you to water or what type of pads (eg cattle are great at leaving very well defined paths) will lead you to water will pretty well do alright anywhere in the dryer bits of Auz. these things can be taught to you by the local Aboriganies, and they are usually more than happy to show you stuff like this. You blokes out on the camps should be learning this in ya spare time as it can save ya and ya pax.
Oh, and as IJ said, a couple of spare packets of smokes are handy, it will give ya somthing to do while ya waiting to get rescued

[Zarg]

This topic is becoming more interesting by the minute, so back to the top it goes! Three more words!

[Thermal Bandit]

Guys and Gals,

We have a lot of talk about survival, as if you are going to be out there for days, or weeks. Some of you are recalling survival camps from your AIRTC days etc, they were fun, they separated the wheat from the chaff, and we learnt a lot about others, and ourselves but are they realistic in 2002/2003.

The reality today is if you have survived the forced landing or crash, and you have been able to make a Mayday call with your position and/or activate your beacon, help should be no more than 12 hours away, given worst case scenario on the Australian mainland, provided the weather and associated conditions do not make it to dangerous for rescue crews. Survival of any injured, and moral will be far more significant than long-term survival.

If you were unable to transmit your distress situation, your situation will be vastly different. Who knows where you are or what you are doing. Where will search crews search, what will be the delay between your incident and someone raising the alert? This will depend on how good your sarwatch system is. Some of you may use Censar, others company, others family or friends, who cares, provided it works.

As an active cross country glider pilot I always depart prepared to land in a paddock miles from where I want to be, so short term survival following a remote landing is part of my planning. Prior to departure I always make sure that my crew know where I am going, and report to them every hour, my sarwatch system is sound. I always carry my beacon in a trouser pocket. I also carry a cycling backpack with my “Out landing” supplies. These include 2 lts of water in a build in hydration pack, a St Johns “Hikers” first aid kit (which includes a very light space blanket), food for at least one light meal, no complex sugars, mobile phone, handheld VHF radio, warm jacket, a strobe light, and a good book. I also have a GPS, which I would have been using in the glider, and spare batteries, and on my key ring, a miniature Maglight torch (solitaire). This package is so complete and self-contained I also use it when I am flying power.

As a said in an earlier post, your survival preparation will depend on where you are and what you are doing. Having seen some of the recent “Survivor” programme on T.V where personalities seem to dominate, do you fancy a night in the “GAFFA” with some of your recent passengers? The sooner you’re out of there the better.

[Zarg]

With all that survival gear Thermal's glider certainly doesn't need to carry any ballast!