Tristar
Pattern Altitude
As I glance through my books I’ve collected over the years consisting of Flight Training materials of all types and even the FAR/AIM, I’ve noticed they include many important topics such as the basic principals of flight, maneuvers, navigation, and radio communications to name a few which gives a general background of flight theory. Through out your training you will also go over many “what if” situations along with the basics that have befallen other previous pilots including lost procedures, engine out procedures, and even practice simulated forced landings. After you have shown your skills to the examiner and have that great piece of paper in your pocket with your name on it and the clearly printed rating on the back, you’re ready to conquer the universe. Or are you?
Now out of the practice area and in the real world, you will not only practice what you are taught but also demonstrate to others thus continuing the aviation legacy through the wild world of flight instructing and even professional flying. The loop never ends and the numbers of newly rated pilots aren’t stopping but are they really ready for all that will be asked of them? As pilots we have to stop and consider that our world does not stop once we leave the ground and begin once we step foot on the tarmac at our destination. Many would like to believe that the beautiful sunset and view below them is just a picture in their imagination as much as people may disagree with me. As a pilot with a common pilot’s education, they believe they could probably make a good engine out landing (ground obstacles permitting) but rarely think about what to do afterwards. Does anybody know why? Because survival is not taught in any flight department I know of. I have never sat down with any instructor much less fellow pilot and really considered, “what would we do if we had to put the plane down in the middle of nowhere? How would we survive?” It just isn’t taught. Be careful not to include yourself in one of the most hazardous thoughts, “what’s the worst that could happen?” or “that just wont happen to me!” Pilots who bring up subjects such as this are even sneered at and told, “well, you just had a bad instructor!”
To those of you that believe such things, let’s think of a scenario that hits closer to home.
A lovely day is scheduled to 6Y9 or Gastons or another fly in with family and friends. You have your whole flight planned out and weather looks perfect for the whole trip. So you walk out the airplane, do the standard preflight inspection. Everything looks good so you jump in you’re plane and go. Halfway into your flight, you see the beautiful hills and lakes of countryside when all of a sudden your engine quits. You don’t know why and you can’t start it up again as much as you try. You’re also VFR and for some unfortunate reason, no one is hearing your pleas for help on the radio, maybe you’re out of range! Your plane is set up the best you know how for a crash landing in the trees. To avoid too much detail, the next thing you know, your beautiful aircraft is bent and sitting in the bushes somewhere miles from civilization and thank goodness you’re alive…but…what do you do now? No one ever taught you what to do AFTER the forced landing! How long exactly will it be until someone just figures out you’re missing?
Scary isn’t it? It should be, because now you’re life is not dependant on anything you were taught in flying, now it’s on your instincts and attitude for survival because that is all you have left.
What is so sad is that many who are lost to situations like this could incredibly enhance their chances for survival if they were taught something….anything, about what to do if they were caught in the elements and I believe it has a full hearted place somewhere in flight training. As the old saying goes, the flight doesn’t stop until you are safely at home.
Although I won’t attempt to be an expert but I found an interesting book at my library called, “Plane Safety and Survival” that I believe should include invaluable tips to at least the basic needs of life including food, water, and shelter. There are of course many helpful tips that are unknown to me that I’d be more than willing to hear from those would share. Let me point out first that I know health is a huge issue itself, so I ask you to make that a second half of this post. For now, a good survival and first aid kit will do.
First, take into consideration what kind of wilderness you are in. Situational awareness is a huge key whether flying or not. This will help you understand if you are near water or other valuable resources. Second, is your attitude. You are obviously not going to have a good start if you automatically think you are going to die, think positively and logically. Third, understand what sources you brought with you aka, anything in your bags or even the aircraft itself. A good example of this is using aircraft fuel to help make a fire or even the material in aircraft seats will help keep you warm by stuffing it in your clothes. Fourth, don’t leave the scene of the accident if possible. Remember you might have flares or a mirror (CDs work too) as a signaling device. The first airplane you see fly over, may be you’re only chance.
The first thing after a crash on our list is to find/ make a shelter. The aircraft shell itself could be a great shelter but personally I’d advise stepping away from it for a while to make sure it doesn’t ignite. But do consider temperature because metal is not a good insulator of heat or cold when the opposite is trying to be protected but it is good to get out of the rain, bugs or a wind block. Basic shelters can also be made using sticks and even brush with leaves tied together/leaned against tree trunks. You can use a vine or tie down ropes. Other shelters include digging holes or tying a line between two trees and staking down a tarp over the top
Water is obviously a very important necessity. Be careful not to assume water is bad based on color, many tree leaves stain the water but underbrush actually can filter it. If a water source is near by, boiling it would probably be the best option. You can also find water sources in plants but be careful you’re not going to suck on a poisonous plant. A good way to collect water is to find a plastic bag of some type and tie it around a tree branch. If I understand this correctly, the moisture in the tree will cause an effect like humidity resulting in little pools of water at the bottom of the bag. It won’t be a ton but enough to wet a dry throat. Also, don’t miss up the chance to collect rain water if it happens to rain.
Food is an interesting subject. There are probably many methods and types I am unaware of but from what I understand, there is no short supply in the forested areas of North America. Obviously you’re not going to run into a Big Mac tree but you shouldn’t starve either. Plants are obviously a tricky test of toxicity. Usually if animals eat them, they are probably okay. Avoid plants with a milky sap or red or white berries (obviously strawberries and cherries were an exception). Bitter taste is also a warning so take that into consideration. If in doubt, drop the plant into boiling water and change the water three times. If it makes you sick or feels funny in your mouth, obviously don’t eat it. Many nuts are okay including walnuts, hickory nuts, and pecans. As far as eating meat, most flesh is okay although I’ve heard it isn’t smart to eat toads or funny looking fish. Obviously bugs such as grasshoppers and earth worms are edible.
Making a fire seems like a pretty interesting and challenging process. Apparently you can make fires by using either standard matches, magnifying glass, flint and steel, or using an interesting method of batteries and steel wool which I’m curious how exactly that works. You’ll also need a lot of wood to last you the night and a bundle of twigs and dry grasses to get it started. Fires are incredibly helpful in many obvious ways including heat, light, food preparation, boiling water, and maybe keeping bugs away.
Having the basic necessities of life will obviously ensure a greater chance of survival no matter what place you are in. The environment will vary so the techniques can be different. I know it may be difficult for the facts of survival to be condensed when picking a place to land the plane but if the closer you are to a town, water, and/or an easily seen patch of land, the better your chances. I obviously don’t want anybody taking these tips completely to heart without consulting an expert but I figured someone needed to step up and say, “hey, nobody is teaching this in flight training,” it might as well be me. If nothing else, it provokes thought and idea sharing between your friends and fellow pilots who have just as much chance to be caught in these circumstances as you do. After all, understanding what you’re up against is half the battle.
Fly Safe
Now out of the practice area and in the real world, you will not only practice what you are taught but also demonstrate to others thus continuing the aviation legacy through the wild world of flight instructing and even professional flying. The loop never ends and the numbers of newly rated pilots aren’t stopping but are they really ready for all that will be asked of them? As pilots we have to stop and consider that our world does not stop once we leave the ground and begin once we step foot on the tarmac at our destination. Many would like to believe that the beautiful sunset and view below them is just a picture in their imagination as much as people may disagree with me. As a pilot with a common pilot’s education, they believe they could probably make a good engine out landing (ground obstacles permitting) but rarely think about what to do afterwards. Does anybody know why? Because survival is not taught in any flight department I know of. I have never sat down with any instructor much less fellow pilot and really considered, “what would we do if we had to put the plane down in the middle of nowhere? How would we survive?” It just isn’t taught. Be careful not to include yourself in one of the most hazardous thoughts, “what’s the worst that could happen?” or “that just wont happen to me!” Pilots who bring up subjects such as this are even sneered at and told, “well, you just had a bad instructor!”
To those of you that believe such things, let’s think of a scenario that hits closer to home.
A lovely day is scheduled to 6Y9 or Gastons or another fly in with family and friends. You have your whole flight planned out and weather looks perfect for the whole trip. So you walk out the airplane, do the standard preflight inspection. Everything looks good so you jump in you’re plane and go. Halfway into your flight, you see the beautiful hills and lakes of countryside when all of a sudden your engine quits. You don’t know why and you can’t start it up again as much as you try. You’re also VFR and for some unfortunate reason, no one is hearing your pleas for help on the radio, maybe you’re out of range! Your plane is set up the best you know how for a crash landing in the trees. To avoid too much detail, the next thing you know, your beautiful aircraft is bent and sitting in the bushes somewhere miles from civilization and thank goodness you’re alive…but…what do you do now? No one ever taught you what to do AFTER the forced landing! How long exactly will it be until someone just figures out you’re missing?
Scary isn’t it? It should be, because now you’re life is not dependant on anything you were taught in flying, now it’s on your instincts and attitude for survival because that is all you have left.
What is so sad is that many who are lost to situations like this could incredibly enhance their chances for survival if they were taught something….anything, about what to do if they were caught in the elements and I believe it has a full hearted place somewhere in flight training. As the old saying goes, the flight doesn’t stop until you are safely at home.
Although I won’t attempt to be an expert but I found an interesting book at my library called, “Plane Safety and Survival” that I believe should include invaluable tips to at least the basic needs of life including food, water, and shelter. There are of course many helpful tips that are unknown to me that I’d be more than willing to hear from those would share. Let me point out first that I know health is a huge issue itself, so I ask you to make that a second half of this post. For now, a good survival and first aid kit will do.
First, take into consideration what kind of wilderness you are in. Situational awareness is a huge key whether flying or not. This will help you understand if you are near water or other valuable resources. Second, is your attitude. You are obviously not going to have a good start if you automatically think you are going to die, think positively and logically. Third, understand what sources you brought with you aka, anything in your bags or even the aircraft itself. A good example of this is using aircraft fuel to help make a fire or even the material in aircraft seats will help keep you warm by stuffing it in your clothes. Fourth, don’t leave the scene of the accident if possible. Remember you might have flares or a mirror (CDs work too) as a signaling device. The first airplane you see fly over, may be you’re only chance.
The first thing after a crash on our list is to find/ make a shelter. The aircraft shell itself could be a great shelter but personally I’d advise stepping away from it for a while to make sure it doesn’t ignite. But do consider temperature because metal is not a good insulator of heat or cold when the opposite is trying to be protected but it is good to get out of the rain, bugs or a wind block. Basic shelters can also be made using sticks and even brush with leaves tied together/leaned against tree trunks. You can use a vine or tie down ropes. Other shelters include digging holes or tying a line between two trees and staking down a tarp over the top
Water is obviously a very important necessity. Be careful not to assume water is bad based on color, many tree leaves stain the water but underbrush actually can filter it. If a water source is near by, boiling it would probably be the best option. You can also find water sources in plants but be careful you’re not going to suck on a poisonous plant. A good way to collect water is to find a plastic bag of some type and tie it around a tree branch. If I understand this correctly, the moisture in the tree will cause an effect like humidity resulting in little pools of water at the bottom of the bag. It won’t be a ton but enough to wet a dry throat. Also, don’t miss up the chance to collect rain water if it happens to rain.
Food is an interesting subject. There are probably many methods and types I am unaware of but from what I understand, there is no short supply in the forested areas of North America. Obviously you’re not going to run into a Big Mac tree but you shouldn’t starve either. Plants are obviously a tricky test of toxicity. Usually if animals eat them, they are probably okay. Avoid plants with a milky sap or red or white berries (obviously strawberries and cherries were an exception). Bitter taste is also a warning so take that into consideration. If in doubt, drop the plant into boiling water and change the water three times. If it makes you sick or feels funny in your mouth, obviously don’t eat it. Many nuts are okay including walnuts, hickory nuts, and pecans. As far as eating meat, most flesh is okay although I’ve heard it isn’t smart to eat toads or funny looking fish. Obviously bugs such as grasshoppers and earth worms are edible.
Making a fire seems like a pretty interesting and challenging process. Apparently you can make fires by using either standard matches, magnifying glass, flint and steel, or using an interesting method of batteries and steel wool which I’m curious how exactly that works. You’ll also need a lot of wood to last you the night and a bundle of twigs and dry grasses to get it started. Fires are incredibly helpful in many obvious ways including heat, light, food preparation, boiling water, and maybe keeping bugs away.
Having the basic necessities of life will obviously ensure a greater chance of survival no matter what place you are in. The environment will vary so the techniques can be different. I know it may be difficult for the facts of survival to be condensed when picking a place to land the plane but if the closer you are to a town, water, and/or an easily seen patch of land, the better your chances. I obviously don’t want anybody taking these tips completely to heart without consulting an expert but I figured someone needed to step up and say, “hey, nobody is teaching this in flight training,” it might as well be me. If nothing else, it provokes thought and idea sharing between your friends and fellow pilots who have just as much chance to be caught in these circumstances as you do. After all, understanding what you’re up against is half the battle.
Fly Safe
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I would recommend 2 bags in addition to any you store gear in, gear tends to poke holes after all.
