Bush pilots emergency pack

[Heliian]

If you are flying commercially then your employer will maintain a survival kit in the plane that should contain all the basics like food, snare wire, mirror, fishing tackle first aid supplies and a bunch of other stuff. It really depends on when/where you are. I always carry a lighter on my person.

[180]

I also carried a Leatherman "wave" on my belt...saved my life once too!

[bnot]

If you want to get a feel of what it would be like to use that kit then try this read.
Into the Abyss: How a Deadly Plane Crash Changed the Lives of a Pilot, a Politician, a Criminal and a Cop
by Carol Shaben (Goodreads Author)
This account will give you a real impression of what you need to pack.
bnot
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1333 ... -the-abyss

[awitzke]

I also carried a Leatherman "wave" on my belt...saved my life once too!

There are so many different leatherman versions. So far I'm liking the wave and the rebar.

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/leath ... L3jty4mm88

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/leath ... L3jui4mm88

Looks like the rebar has a few more blades. Maybe overkill?

[BigWillyStyle]

The one disadvantage that I have noticed with the Leatherman products is that when you use the pliers, the metal edges dig into your hand. That's why my current tool of choice is the Gerber. That said, a cheap pair of gloves solves the problem. Personal preference, I reckon.

[C-FDPB]

I currently sport the Leatherman Rebar and use it multiple times a day. Whether a 'Leatherman' or 'Gerber' I can't stress enough how useful a 'multi'tool' is. I also spray painted fluorescent orange on mine to make it high visibility. Came in handy one day as sure enough it got kicked off the float and could be seen right there on the bottom.

[NunavutPA-12]

As someone previously mentioned, put all that stuff in something that floats - especially if you're ON floats.

A few years back I bought one of those soft-sided coolers from LL Bean. Guaranteed to float with that foam insulation and it is bright orange in colour. Electronic devices in zip-lock bags in the cooler and smaller survival stuff in the pockets of an inflatable vest PFD. The cooler is kept within reach beside my seat in case I have to bail in a hurry.

The cooler is not a back-pack but you probably won't be in the mood to do much hiking anyway!

[seasonaldriver]

check out http://www.vsslgear.com
A Canadian company, it has some cool, small survival packs that could fit into a (big) pocket.
That and a multitool of some sort and you would probably do OK.

[INVERTEDAV8R]

I carry a SPOT messenger. Saved my but twice now.

This is just off the top of my head and there are some great lists on the Google.
First aid kit, snare wire, bug jacket, fishing kit, cards, knife/multi tool, dried food, flint and steel, cotton balls soaked in Vaseline (wicked fire starter and water proof), heavy orange garbage bags, thermal blanket, flare gun, small axe, rope and a survival book. I like the SAS guide personally. Also, didn't see anyone mention the Life Straw. It processes 1000L of water and runs for about $20, you can't beat that.

Something else that should always be considered is dressing for the occasion. I think of what I'm wearing as part of my survival kit. I never wear shorts and sandles when flying, even with the big boys. I always have a jacket or hooded sweater and proper footwear with me regardless of the weather. In my opinion there's nowhere in Canada you can go a night without having to cover up, even in July. I recently had a forced landing 5 miles from the nearest farm house and without good hikers and long pants I would have sustained more damage walking out than I sustained from the landing. Dress for success is what I like to say...

Then there is the ongoing gun debate...I don't typically carry a gun but if you really wanted to, you can't beat the versatility of a shot gun. Either a 12 or 20ga and some 4 shot for small game and a couple of slugs for protection, all be it very rare you'd ever need it for that reason. Although when it's not too combursome, I do carry when spending time in heavy grizzly or polar bear territory, mostly for comfort. But in the high arctic I was taught you'd be crazy not to have some sort of bear gun. In that case I like my trusty Marlin 45-70. It's short/compact, reliable, cycles fast, has relatively little kick and packs a nasty punch. Its like a shotgun on steroids. There are ways to get a restricted carry permit but I don't think it's worth it for the hassle. The last thing I need to worry about on a day to day basis is keeping tabs on a pistol, especially with some of the yahoos that I run into...

Thats my two cents on the subject. A first aid kit and all the survival gear you can reasonably fit is what EVERY aircraft should carry regardless of location. Check it over every year or so to make sure some starving pilot hasn't raided all the food;) Be prepared and hope you never need to use any of this stuff.

[Meatservo]

I don't understand how any pilot can do without a "leatherman" or equivalent (other than guys who get shaken down at security-keep fighting, brothers!) and also I can advise you to think of a novel you have always wanted to read, "War & Peace" or "Dune", whatever, put it in your bag and don't read it. The only time I was ever in a "survival" situation I was able to make a fire and had lots of food but I almost died of boredom sitting there reading and re-reading the flight manual. Luckily the Beaver I was in had lots of supplements but still... ask me anything about the DHC-2... ANYTHING.

[Shiny Side Up]

The one disadvantage that I have noticed with the Leatherman products is that when you use the pliers, the metal edges dig into your hand. That's why my current tool of choice is the Gerber. That said, a cheap pair of gloves solves the problem. Personal preference, I reckon.

In my experience, the leatherman is the better quality tool. All the gerbers I've had, didn't last long, their blades aren't made of as good quality steel. They don't hold an edge and are way more brittle. Several have snapped off blades and screwdriver tips if they're dropped on a hard surface. I find the pliers, while maybe not great for heavy use due to the above, are a better mechanism for not jamming up on you, and the blades have a better not-fold-onto-your-fingers set up - which is probably the most critical feature if you have to survive, things get a lot tougher if you injure yourself.

If I have to choose though, I'd rather make sure I have an axe. Though I wouldn't recommend one for lots of people since they're more likely to hurt themselves with one.

[karmutzen]

Two Spots, one tracking the aircraft and the other in my pocket. If I have a passenger it goes into his pocket after I show him how to use it. Practise starting a fire, Leatherman and flint - cheaters can put a Bic in their pocket. Mosquito head net. Dress for the occasion. What you are wearing and in your pockets is what you should expect to end up with
Short handle axe. Gun? Heavy and awkward, though I know some Timber Cruisers with restricted category .44, and no I could never figure out how they got them. Company aircraft I flew had pistol-grip shotguns or old rusty .303 with the big clip. I like the 45-70 "copilot" takedown, but too expensive to trash around in the back of my plane. I've never worried about landing remote and hiking around, but maybe with the increase in cougar/wolves/black bear as the rural population decreases I should rethink it.

[Taiser]

Interesting thread. I have to put together a kit for my plane, since I plan on many fishing trips up north in the near future! I'd add a couple of road flares to the kit. Only need one or two. Lifesavers for starting fires, good for signalling too. If you want a gun, then a 12 Gauge with the shortest legal barrel you can get with birdshot and some slugs (just in case) would do. Some spare batteries for whatever you have. LED flashlights last forever now. Bug jacket and dope for sure. A small fishing gear kit maybe (small box with line, a few lures and hooks).

A SPOT for sure, be dumb to fly up north now-a-days without one. If you can swing it get a satellite phone. There are some now where you just buy the phone with no monthly charge, just usage so it can sit in the back forever and not cost you a dime! The 10$ a minute they will charge you for a call will seem cheap when you call for help!

Guess it depends on how far you go and where and how much room you got I guess!

[Johnny#5]

Pack an iPad loaded with MacGyver episodes, and this.....

[Tips Up]

Just my two cents after using the SPOT people have mentioned, sat phones and now the inReach in the bush. In real life, I have found the inReach worth every extra cent - SPOT on steroids. The Iridium satellites way more reliable getting a message out in the north versus Globalstar, having two way texting and confirmation that your message got out was a huge relief, and not having to fiddle with an antennae pointed just right at a tiny place in the sky while you held your tongue in just the perfect position while trying to carry on even a quick conversation on a sat phone was much less frustrating.

12 gauge short barrelled or sawed off floatable shotgun with various loads- good for bear to birds to rabbits.

[rigpiggy]

Break it down to 3 levels in pockets, on you, in airplane.
in pocket knife, fire, first aid

on you matches/lighter, water, survival blanket, signals a mustang fishing vest is good

in airplane more fire gear, fishing kit, bug dope, hatchet, shelter, food, extras go bag with extra clothes, cordage, etc....

[BeaverDreamer]

What is the difference between on you and in your pockets?

I do agree that the essentials should be carried on your person if possible.

[DanWEC]

If you want to get a feel of what it would be like to use that kit then try this read.
Into the Abyss: How a Deadly Plane Crash Changed the Lives of a Pilot, a Politician, a Criminal and a Cop
by Carol Shaben (Goodreads Author)
This account will give you a real impression of what you need to pack.
bnot
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1333 ... -the-abyss

Really, really good book. A rare account that's also refreshingly accurate from a pilot's perspective.

I'm sure a few people have made the connection with Rachel Notley winning in AB!
(Thread drift, sorry.)

My current job is around the 55-60th, remote. Our COM dictates exactly what goes in our survival pack. It's decent, but for some reason (I found out the hard way trying to lash the thing down after putting down off base waiting out a wicked thunderstorm last month) that we had about 15 packs of dry pasta..... but no rope. What? Get rope.

[rigpiggy]

What is the difference between on you and in your pockets?

I do agree that the essentials should be carried on your person if possible.

Maybe your vest was snagged and you had to take it off to get out of your sinking hull. Or you took it off to dry it so you don't die of exposure. Multiple scenarios think about them

[BeaverDreamer]

What is the difference between on you and in your pockets?

I do agree that the essentials should be carried on your person if possible.

Maybe your vest was snagged and you had to take it off to get out of your sinking hull. Or you took it off to dry it so you don't die of exposure. Multiple scenarios think about them

Fair enough. But couldn't you also argue that a similar scenario could result in you having to get butt naked?

Very good point though, I rarely carry more than a multi-tool and matches on my person and I'm definitely going to rethink that.