Interesting Plane and Pilot Article

[NickH]

http://www.planeandpilotmag.com/prof...out-alive.html

Originally Posted by Getting Out Alive

Current FAA statistics for length of time from last-known position (LKP) to rescue are: 13 hours for an IFR flight, 37 hours for a VFR flight with a filed flight plan and 42 hours for a flight with no flight plan. The Fossett disappearance shows that even 42 hours could be optimistic given difficult or obscured terrain and lack of a signaling device.

I find these lengths of time amazing! I always assumed rescue would be just an hour or so away, if IFR or on Flight following. The statistic that a flight plan only improves your time by five hours is especially surprising. I've always carried a survival kit on long distance cross-countries, especially in the west, but I always expected never to have to use it. Now I'm rethinking that attitude, and I'll probably repack that kit. I think if I'm on the ground uninjured for 40+ hours I should at least be able to offer rescuers a spot of lunch.

[tonyw]

Wow. I think this should get people to always carry an emergency kit with them when they fly.

[BajtheJino]

I know a guy that went down near CTY less than a year ago and it took about 5 hours for the crews to find him. He was IFR. The Coast Guard never found him (according to him they flew too high and too fast to see his flashlight) so he started to walk out when some Sharfs' Dep'tees came in on fourwheelers. We now carry 12gauge flares and some snacks-well we did until we ate them.

[Firebird2XC]

These survival times all overlook something important- injury.

If you, or anyone aboard sustained even a semi-serious injury, you're hosed.

When I flew in the Medevac, we had a term we used: "The Golden Hour".

If you've got a serious, potentially life-threatening injury, you've got an hour to be under the care of a doctor or you're probably not going to make it.

With exposure, stress, the possibility of shock, and whatnot, even a minor injury can degrade rapidly into something life threatening quickly.

If you fly alone, or in remote areas, the following may save your life:

Basic first aid training, along with a well-stocked first aid kit.

A hand-held aviation band radio (or cell phone- but consider coverage!)

A working ELT is great, but DF signals can be hard to pinpoint, and SARSAT coverage will pick you up... over a period of several hours. Up to a day, even, I think. I forget. I used to do SAR for the Civil Air Patrol.

so... get yourself a handheld GPS unit. A simple one from your local outdoor store will work.

A good, stout knife like a Ka-bar or just a leatherman or gerber multi-tool could be useful too.

Some sort of visual signaling device, like a signal mirror, or an aerial flare device or strobe beacon might not hurt.

A good wilderness survival training guide might be helpful too, if you fly in remote areas.

Most of the like can be scrounged up on Ebay for a relatively cheap price, if you don't mind some secondhand gear.

For those that might not know, knowing how to plan an "inadvertent IMC" or "forced landing" or crash scenario *depending on your terrain* is highly important.

Knowing the minimum safe altitude for terrain in your area can give you some indication of how high you need to be to clear terrain to be safe. Flying as slowly as possible also exponentially increases your chance of impact survival.

DISCLAIMER: The above items are recommended for PART 91 private aircraft flying and must comply with all FAR regulations. Don't carry any of that stuff on board a commercial aircraft.

Lastly- don't forget the best way to survive a crash is to avoid one. Know your limitations!

[SlantG]

A properly registered EPIRB is far better than an aviation handheld radio. A few phone calls after the signal has been received and those calls find out that you are out doing whatever and haven't returned, SAR is in full swing, not three or four days later when the wife finally realizes you haven't come home yet.

www.equippedtosurvive.org

[taseal]

better start watching man vs wild on discovery! lol