So what in YOUR emergency bag?

Timbeck2

Timbeck2

Final Approach
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Timbeck2
Not your normal flight bag of which mine contains all me stuff I need for flying plus extra batteries, cables for charging Ipad, phone etc, extra headset, my pistol, etc. I'm talking about the bag you keep in the back for unplanned landings. I keep a small set of tools, Leatherman, duct tape, some hardware, a couple bottles of oil and water, funnel, water, pee container, fire starter and oxygen.

What do you guys keep in there?
 
Since I can't edit the title and I look like a moron...So what's in YOUR emergency bag?
 
s-l400.jpg
 
It depends where I am flying. Terrain, temperatures all vary with location as I am sure you know. However, exposure to the elements claims the lives of pilots/pax that survive a forced landing, and I also have a fear of dehydration.

Thermal, space blanket(s)
Water/Water filter-purifier
Fire starter - lighters, magnesium ferro rod, cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly
Knife - Good fixed blade 4 - 5 inches
Pocket folding knife (swiss army knife or folding tool)
First aid kit
Compass/GPS
Flare
I do carry a pistol, but I check with the reciprocity with my CCW permit of each state I am flying over. You don't want to have one in NJ, CA, MD, NY, CT, MA, IL, and many other states unless permitted their, or you have reciprocity. Good luck getting a permit in those states, but I digress.
Power bars, or some type of food bar, but this isn't a big priority

The top six are most important, the others are nice to have. That's a start, but remember, anything that isn't attached to you may be lost and just excess baggage. :)
 
Ideally we would like the entire Cabellos warehouse !
However, weight & balance being what it is at a bare minimum I always have a Personal Locator Beacon and am wearing or bringing sufficient clothing for comfortably spending the night outside based on the climate/season for which I'll be traveling through. And of course weight/space permitting I add to that when able.

Some people think their ELT is sufficient. But the HUGE difference between an ELT and a PLB is that an ELT merely informs potential rescuers that an aircraft has CRASHED. A PLB by its very nature of activation reveals there are SURVIVORS.
 
- One forty-five caliber automatic
- Two boxes of ammunition
- Four days' concentrated emergency rations
- One drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine,
vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills
- One miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible
- One hundred dollars in rubles
- One hundred dollars in gold
- Nine packs of chewing gum
- One issue of prophylactics
- Three lipsticks
- Three pair of nylon stockings.
 
Timbeck2 said:
Not your normal flight bag of which mine contains all me stuff I need for flying plus extra batteries, cables for charging Ipad, phone etc, extra headset, my pistol, etc. I'm talking about the bag you keep in the back for unplanned landings. I keep a small set of tools, Leatherman, duct tape, some hardware, a couple bottles of oil and water, funnel, water, pee container, fire starter and oxygen.

What do you guys keep in there?
Click to expand...

The only thing I don't see there that I usually have in my "bigger backcountry bag" is some form of first aid. Doesn't have to be fancy, but stopping bleeding is important if someone is.
 
denverpilot said:
The only thing I don't see there that I usually have in my "bigger backcountry bag" is some form of first aid. Doesn't have to be fancy, but stopping bleeding is important if someone is.
Click to expand...
That's what the duct tape is for. Hey if the med folks use staples and superglue we can tape it.
 
Art VanDelay said:
Some people think their ELT is sufficient. But the HUGE difference between an ELT and a PLB is that an ELT merely informs potential rescuers that an aircraft has CRASHED. A PLB by its very nature of activation reveals there are SURVIVORS.
Click to expand...

If you are flying a plane that has been upgraded to a 406mhz ELT the PLB is redundant. They are going to dispatch SAR as quickly as possible after receiving a signal from either one.

If you own the airplane, upgrading your ELT to 406 is a must do. If you rent or fly a bunch of different airplanes, buying a PLB is a great idea. Keep it within reach. I recommend the ACR ResQ link + about $250.

Also the PLB is great to have if you do any activities that might have you out of cell coverage. Like hiking, mountain biking or offshore fishing.
 
I DO have a first aid kit and one of those mylar blanket/poncho deals as well. I don't have morphine, uppers, downers or tranquilizers though. I just wonder how one would obtain that. o_O I'm wondering which brand of "concentrated rations" would be best.

My airplane is equipped with the 406 ELT and a Yaesu portable radio in my flight bag.
 
flyingron said:
- One forty-five caliber automatic
- Two boxes of ammunition
- Four days' concentrated emergency rations
- One drug issue containing antibiotics, morphine,
vitamin pills, pep pills, sleeping pills, tranquilizer pills
- One miniature combination Russian phrase book and Bible
- One hundred dollars in rubles
- One hundred dollars in gold
- Nine packs of chewing gum
- One issue of prophylactics
- Three lipsticks
- Three pair of nylon stockings.
Click to expand...


Less than 5 post for this reference.....:lol::lol::lol:
 
I like to dress for an unplanned off airport landing. I might not wear everything while flying but it will be in to plane.

I agree with the PLB, but I do add clean underwear.....
 
Timbeck2 said:
I DO have a first aid kit and one of those mylar blanket/poncho deals as well. I don't have morphine, uppers, downers or tranquilizers though. I just wonder how one would obtain that. o_O I'm wondering which brand of "concentrated rations" would be best.

My airplane is equipped with the 406 ELT and a Yaesu portable radio in my flight bag.
Click to expand...

Fly air ambulance.....maybe the med crew will share after the crash....
 
Don't have one.

I do keep a GPS/406 EPIRB in the plane.
 
Fig Newtons, and a beer.
I can be happy waiting for a rescue with just some Fig Newtons and a beer.
I tried adding a red-head.
I could be REAL happy waiting for a rescue with some Fig Newtons, a beer and a red-head.
My wife was not happy about the red-head.
Fig Newtons and a beer.
 
dell30rb said:
If you are flying a plane that has been upgraded to a 406mhz ELT the PLB is redundant. They are going to dispatch SAR as quickly as possible after receiving a signal from either one.

If you own the airplane, upgrading your ELT to 406 is a must do. If you rent or fly a bunch of different airplanes, buying a PLB is a great idea. Keep it within reach. I recommend the ACR ResQ link + about $250.

Also the PLB is great to have if you do any activities that might have you out of cell coverage. Like hiking, mountain biking or offshore fishing.
Click to expand...

I disagree. If I were a rescuer I would have a much greater motivation when I see a PLB signal vs. an ELT.
 
We have
- some cereal bars
- two bottles of water
- a water filter straw
- one role of plastic sheet to cover us against rain / keep us warm
- rain ponchos
- emergency kit
- two emergency blankets (the golden ones from the emergency kit)
- some rope
- knife
- fire lighter
- flashlight
- handheld radio
- our wallets (they will be in there for every flight we make)
and most important:
- our PLB
 
You clearly aren't a rescuer. In Alaska an ELT brings the Air Guard in Pave Hawks and C-130s with para jumpers and battlefield medics. A PLB gets dispatched to State Troopers, who may send a VPSO out on a 4-wheeler. An ELT will bring help whether you survived or not. A PLB will only help if you remain conscious (or survive) to activate it. BIG difference.

I have a day pack with 500 magnum, sat phone, and an Inreach, headlamp, Leatherman, a couple of protein bars, a bottle of water, and season appropriate gear (raincoat, gloves, hat) that goes on every flight. For venturing out away from civilization I also have a survival pack that goes in the back with a Wiggy's sleeping bag and a Hilleberg Bivanorak. Water filter, stove, a small pan, Blast Match, Wet Fire cubes, knive, hatchet, first aid, water, spam, snickers, nature valley bars, parachute cord, a sil tarp, mosquito nets, some fishing line and lures, etc. Alaska law requires survival gear. I don't agree with all of it and think other items should be included so I take what I want and comply to the law for what I otherwise wouldn't take.
 
A tomahawk and tampons. Not the plane of course, but it could be useful if I had a spare plane in my Oh **** bag.

Tomahawk is a tool and weapon. Tampon is first aid and water storage; have multiples, use each one for only one fluid or the other.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
Stewartb said:
You clearly aren't a rescuer. In Alaska an ELT brings the Air Guard in Pave Hawks and C-130s with para jumpers and battlefield medics. A PLB gets dispatched to State Troopers, who may send a VPSO out on a 4-wheeler. An ELT will bring help whether you survived or not. A PLB will only help if you remain conscious (or survive) to activate it. BIG difference.

I have a day pack with 500 magnum, sat phone, and an Inreach, headlamp, Leatherman, a couple of protein bars, a bottle of water, and season appropriate gear (raincoat, gloves, hat) that goes on every flight. For venturing out away from civilization I also have a survival pack that goes in the back with a Wiggy's sleeping bag and a Hilleberg Bivanorak. Water filter, stove, a small pan, Blast Match, Wet Fire cubes, knive, hatchet, first aid, water, spam, snickers, nature valley bars, parachute cord, a sil tarp, mosquito nets, some fishing line and lures, etc. Alaska law requires survival gear. I don't agree with all of it and think other items should be included so I take what I want and comply to the law for what I otherwise wouldn't take.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure the 406mhz ELT and PLB's like the ACR I mentioned operate on the same frequency and are picked up by the same network and people. I know the only operational difference between my ACR and a marine EPIRB is the PLB battery is certified to transmit for 24hrs and EPIRB 48 hours.

The SPOT tracker is what you might be referring to. They are not official NOAA registered emer beacons and operate on a different network. SPOT does operate 24/7 monitoring and will notify the authority they deem most appropriate.
 
Nope. All 406 beacons are registered. When MCC gets a signal they know what or who that beacon was assigned to. In Alaska which beacon you use gets different responses. EPIRBS go to the Coast Guard. ELTs to the Air Guard. The others to the Troopers. None of the agencies just launches assets to go out after a beacon. The first thing they do is a telephone investigation to confirm there's reason to go. That's why your registration list has contacts. SPOT and Inreach use a contractor to monitor beacons. The contractor calls it in to MCC. Not a bad way to go but my Inreach doesn't meet the TSO standards that my ELT meets. Neither would a PLB.

To the emergency bag topic? I expect to use my survival gear more for unscheduled/unexpected weather delays than a post crash scenario. Wet and cold and stuck in late fall, watch the rain turn to snow, and know the temps will drop into the teens tonight? Your gear is important. Been there, done that, adjusted my gear list as a result!
 
Last edited:
I carry:
  • Kindling for starting a fire
  • Emergency headgear
  • Emergency funnel
  • Light duty pouch
  • Writing surface for taking notes
  • Sunshade
  • Timekeeper
  • Bug killer
All in one compact lightweight package. Here's a picture of it along with some spares:
sps_sec_group-web.png
 
Shepherd said:
Fig Newtons, and a beer.
I can be happy waiting for a rescue with just some Fig Newtons and a beer.
I tried adding a red-head.
I could be REAL happy waiting for a rescue with some Fig Newtons, a beer and a red-head.
My wife was not happy about the red-head.
Fig Newtons and a beer.
Click to expand...

You might want to swap out the fig newtons for chocolate bars.

 
Shepherd said:
Fig Newtons, and a beer.
I can be happy waiting for a rescue with just some Fig Newtons and a beer.
I tried adding a red-head.
I could be REAL happy waiting for a rescue with some Fig Newtons, a beer and a red-head.
My wife was not happy about the red-head.
Fig Newtons and a beer.
Click to expand...

Just think... by the time they drag you out on the snow machine, you'll be "regular" and ready for a relaxing visit to the men's room, too! Bonus! Figs! LOL.
 
There used to be a guy here locally who was a "survival expert" and actually he was pretty good. He'd offer to take a group of people out with their own survival gear and show them tricks and tips on a weekend camp in the dead of winter so they could also figure out if their gear was the right stuff.

Half of the people he took out gave up and walked over to the parking lot of he campground to get in their cars and get warm after one night outside.

It was a two weekend thing and pretty cheap overall. What it really highlighted was, just take your stuff out and see if it works in winter. It'll only take one night to know if you brought the right stuff.
 
asicer said:
I carry:
  • Kindling for starting a fire
  • Emergency headgear
  • Emergency funnel
  • Light duty pouch
  • Writing surface for taking notes
  • Sunshade
  • Timekeeper
  • Bug killer
All in one compact lightweight package. Here's a picture of it along with some spares:
sps_sec_group-web.png
Click to expand...

I have actually used a sectional as emergency headgear several times. They come in handy when you are flying a bubble canopy aircraft and forget to bring a hat or sunscreen.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
dell30rb said:
I have actually used a sectional as emergency headgear several times. They come in handy when you are flying a bubble canopy aircraft and forget to bring a hat or sunscreen.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

During my primary training I used a sectional as a view limiting device for some simulated instrument training. Makes a decent hood stuffed under the headset.
 
Timbeck2 said:
Not your normal flight bag of which mine contains all me stuff I need for flying plus extra batteries, cables for charging Ipad, phone etc, extra headset, my pistol, etc. I'm talking about the bag you keep in the back for unplanned landings. I keep a small set of tools, Leatherman, duct tape, some hardware, a couple bottles of oil and water, funnel, water, pee container, fire starter and oxygen.

What do you guys keep in there?
Click to expand...

Oil and a peel container? Are you talking about a real emergency or just landing at an airport you did not plan to go to?
 
Timbeck2 said:
I keep a small set of tools, Leatherman, duct tape, some hardware, a couple bottles of oil and water, funnel, water, pee container, fire starter and oxygen.
Click to expand...
Same here... except no fire starter and oxygen but the fire starter is a good idea. Also have a hiking GPS and a batter booster pack... that will keep my phone charged long enough that I could hopefully hike to somewhere with a signal and call for help

My flying isn't hard core enough (yet) to warrant anything more legit than that
 
Couple people mentioned flying with a pistol... I do not own but completely curious question: what are the legalities of flying across state lines with one? I remember reading on a sailing forum that some boaters got in hot water over something similar when they were boarded for a routine Coast Guard safety check
 
Tantalum said:
Couple people mentioned flying with a pistol... I do not own but completely curious question: what are the legalities of flying across state lines with one? I remember reading on a sailing forum that some boaters got in hot water over something similar when they were boarded for a routine Coast Guard safety check
Click to expand...

There's a LOT of legalities. It'd take pages to answer that. Depends heavily on where you live and how you're licensed. Some here are ex-Law Enforcement and that changes things, too.
 
Tantalum said:
Couple people mentioned flying with a pistol... I do not own but completely curious question: what are the legalities of flying across state lines with one? I remember reading on a sailing forum that some boaters got in hot water over something similar when they were boarded for a routine Coast Guard safety check
Click to expand...

It is very complex when travelling over, and in multiple states, as every state law is different, and different states will have reciprocity with your state if you do get a CCW permit (license to conceal carry a firearm). The best thing to do if unsure is to leave it at home. I check which states I will be landing in, but also which ones I will be flying over prior to making that decision, and factor in fuel stops, weather diversions, and potential emergency landings. I will not put myself at risk for landing in a state in which my permit does not cover me. It just isn't worth it.
 
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