Survival kits
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A Hi-Viz vest is ... surely is the most important bit of survival kit in any aeroplane, anywhere in the world.
MLS, don't let it trouble you. A great many airport operators in the UK have become somewhat obsessive about hi-viz vests, to the point of fining pilots who don't wear one for walking (probably about 20 yards) to their aircraft. This has made a great many of us rather sarcastic on the subject (one British flying magazine will sell you a yellow hi-viz vest with printed in large letters on the back "I'm wearing this vest to protect somebody else's a**s*"). It wasn't a serious comment, but unless you've flown from any medium sized English airports in the last couple of years, you'd not realise the context.
G
G
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Genghis,
I gotcha. I didn't realize that it was a tongue-in-cheek comment.
Actually, there is something to be said for having at least one piece of high-viz clothing in the old survival kit. One of those MA-1 jackets with reversible orange lining would not be a bad idea; or, if one flies a float plane, one of these might be prudent for full-time wear (although it won't meet the legal requirements and would need to be supplemented with a normal May West in the back of the 'plane).
I gotcha. I didn't realize that it was a tongue-in-cheek comment.
Actually, there is something to be said for having at least one piece of high-viz clothing in the old survival kit. One of those MA-1 jackets with reversible orange lining would not be a bad idea; or, if one flies a float plane, one of these might be prudent for full-time wear (although it won't meet the legal requirements and would need to be supplemented with a normal May West in the back of the 'plane).
MLS
Thank you. I do actually carry an knife as well and there's no need for a two-man liferaft since the bloke in the front has got his own!
Thank you. I do actually carry an knife as well and there's no need for a two-man liferaft since the bloke in the front has got his own!
As i mostly fly epic cross country trips like my last one of Luton - Old Warden (12 mins up the A1) I tend to carry a less than comprehensive survical kit. 
I always carry a jacket for the same reasons Genghis mentioned. I always carry a small tin of cigars and a lighter plus I always wear footgear that I can walk a decent distance in. There's a Leatherman multi tool in my bag.
If I venture further afield then I carry some choccies, crisps (chips for the chaps on the West coast of the pond) and drinks of some description. I always arrange to call somebody upon arrival from my mobile.
I'm building up to getting a hi-viz thingy from Flyer as I think the logo on it is amusing and sums up my feelings perfectly.
I always carry a jacket for the same reasons Genghis mentioned. I always carry a small tin of cigars and a lighter plus I always wear footgear that I can walk a decent distance in. There's a Leatherman multi tool in my bag.
If I venture further afield then I carry some choccies, crisps (chips for the chaps on the West coast of the pond) and drinks of some description. I always arrange to call somebody upon arrival from my mobile.
I'm building up to getting a hi-viz thingy from Flyer as I think the logo on it is amusing and sums up my feelings perfectly.
Why do it if it's not fun?
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I'm building up to getting a hi-viz thingy from Flyer as I think the logo on it is amusing
FFF
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FFF not like you not to read the whole thread.
Genghis posted:
Genghis posted:
one British flying magazine will sell you a yellow hi-viz vest with printed in large letters on the back "I'm wearing this vest to protect somebody else's a**s*
Why do it if it's not fun?
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I shall consider myself suitably reprimanded 
Since I've handed in my notice now, I can't even use the excuse that my boss doesn't understand how important these things are, because even my boss doesn't expect me to do too much work for the next few weeks. So I get a big "Must Try Harder"!
FFF
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Since I've handed in my notice now, I can't even use the excuse that my boss doesn't understand how important these things are, because even my boss doesn't expect me to do too much work for the next few weeks. So I get a big "Must Try Harder"!
FFF
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At risk of dilluting a very humourous topic with data pertaining to survival; last year I was considering popping over to Ireland to enter an aeros competition.
Having taken a quick peep at the chart, I realised that there is an awful lot of very cold water to cross (abvout 62 miles if memory serves me correctly).
I posted a question on the Mil Aircrew forum asking about heliographs and mini flares and had some very useful feedback. I just wish that I'd retained some of my survival kit (which I stored in a tobacco tin!) when I was "in".
I see that Ireland are hosting another comp in early summer so may well need the contacts that the post unearthed.
As for the hi-viz vest, I'd rather chew silver foil than wear one.
Stik
FNG/Monocock - you are very funny guys!
Having taken a quick peep at the chart, I realised that there is an awful lot of very cold water to cross (abvout 62 miles if memory serves me correctly).
I posted a question on the Mil Aircrew forum asking about heliographs and mini flares and had some very useful feedback. I just wish that I'd retained some of my survival kit (which I stored in a tobacco tin!) when I was "in".
I see that Ireland are hosting another comp in early summer so may well need the contacts that the post unearthed.
As for the hi-viz vest, I'd rather chew silver foil than wear one.
Stik
FNG/Monocock - you are very funny guys!
I can understand your reluctance to wear a yellow hi-viz stik . Oooooohh I can see it now, yellow jacket next to a purple Pitts. Arrgghh the clash, the clash
Spoon PPRuNerist & Mad Inistrator
New Thread:
PURPLE hi-viz vests
MLS 12D, glad you get the joke about the hi-viz vests. I thought that the
was a bit of a giveaway, myself.
I'll just put "Joke for English people" next time.
I'm not laughing at you MLS, sir, honest - I just found it very funny, is all.
SD
PURPLE hi-viz vests
MLS 12D, glad you get the joke about the hi-viz vests.
I thought that the
Smiley added for those from parts of the world that don't understand sarcasm or suffer "Sense of Humour Inoperability Trouble"
I'll just put "Joke for English people" next time.
I'm not laughing at you MLS, sir, honest - I just found it very funny, is all.
SD
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I’ve got a question/idea that nobody else has touched on, what about the fluorescent marker dye packs for water?. You know, the kind that turns vast quantities of water that attractive yellow colour to help being spotted by the rescue people. Are these available to buy or are they a purely military thing?.
I can remember reading a story about an RAF crew crashing in the Welsh mountains on a training exercise during WWII. One of the crew had the rather bright idea of releasing the dye into a stream they had crashed close to, the dye eventually made it down stream and into a lake. This was then spotted by the mountain rescue people, who followed the stream and located the crash.
If this is not available, as a substitute you can always use potassium permanganate (available form all good chemists), this can be used to stain water purple. Useful if crashed in high mountains and need to stain a large area of snow (no jokes about yellow snow please ), it can also be used to sterilise things and light fires. Although slightly less useful if you are stuck in a field in Devon.
I can remember reading a story about an RAF crew crashing in the Welsh mountains on a training exercise during WWII. One of the crew had the rather bright idea of releasing the dye into a stream they had crashed close to, the dye eventually made it down stream and into a lake. This was then spotted by the mountain rescue people, who followed the stream and located the crash.
If this is not available, as a substitute you can always use potassium permanganate (available form all good chemists), this can be used to stain water purple. Useful if crashed in high mountains and need to stain a large area of snow (no jokes about yellow snow please
), it can also be used to sterilise things and light fires. Although slightly less useful if you are stuck in a field in Devon.
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No offence taken, Saab.
From previous threads, I have a slight knowledge about the requirement to wear high-viz stuff at some UK aerodromes. I also recalled that some people feel very strongly that this is a great idea and that the nay-sayers are reckless fools ... it's sometimes difficult to know whether they (or, in this case, you) are serious or not.
Cheers,
MLS
From previous threads, I have a slight knowledge about the requirement to wear high-viz stuff at some UK aerodromes. I also recalled that some people feel very strongly that this is a great idea and that the nay-sayers are reckless fools ... it's sometimes difficult to know whether they (or, in this case, you) are serious or not.
Cheers,
MLS
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For the information of FNG and anyone else flying over Essex.
Since the pound is strong against the dollar, Brightly coloured beads have taken a fall as well. (About 5000 to the pound)
Having checked with the tribal elders, the good news is that brightly coloured blankets and Fire water are still strong.
You may wish to update your kit
As for colouring the water. A British chicken tikka the night before and a good ditching should see the water turn a nice colour.
Since the pound is strong against the dollar, Brightly coloured beads have taken a fall as well. (About 5000 to the pound)
Having checked with the tribal elders, the good news is that brightly coloured blankets and Fire water are still strong.
You may wish to update your kit
As for colouring the water. A British chicken tikka the night before and a good ditching should see the water turn a nice colour.