Earlier this evening our engine company was called to assist Phoenix PD Firebird with a mountain rescue at South Mountain Park. While flying over the park (which is a huge mountain preserve in southern Phoenix) Firebird noticed an individual waving their open cell phone and investedgated to find a hiker who was complaining of being "dehydrated" and out of water.

The hiker, who was under prepared and had insufficient water for a 4+ hour hike was also wearing a sweatshirt (that was soaked through with sweat) “for fitness” had made to within ¾ mile of the parking lot where his car was when he signaled the helicopter for help. Firebird was able to land and extricate him to the parking lot.

While the whole event is a huge example of what NOT to do, it does show that in an emergency a cell phone can be used to signal low flying aircraft in an emergency…

Still unsure why he didn’t use his cell phone to make a call for help… and yes, I asked.

I hate those situations. When your relatively close to your goal, but you don't know it. It can be a drawl. And Afterwards when you find out you are extremely annoyed.

The chopper managed to see a cell phone in one's hand?

Good spotting.

I think I'm missing something. Please elaborate on how to use a cell phone to signal low flying aircraft.

During the day if you open it up you can probably reflect the sun off of the display for a signal.
At night since the display can be on for a few seconds you can constantly open and close the phone(my Samsung is fairly bright) and use as a flashlight or beacon-but I'm not sure how far away the light can be seen.I've just used my cell as a flashlight outside the home when I didn't feel like going in to get a real light.

What ??? You don't EDC a light ??!!??
And you dare post on this Forum ???

Nah,I do EDC a Pelican mytilite flashlight and two photons on my key chain.But there are those times when out in the yard just getting some air that I see something interesting and all I have on me is my cellphone and I whack myself for it
As soon as I leave though everything goes with me

heck I useta have a disposable cell phone that had a built in led I thought it was a good idea but I havent ever seen that feature on another cell phone since then

The hiker used the illuminated screen to signal the helocopter. A cell phone screen would be pretty visible from a distance in an otherwise dark enviroment, especially if NVG or IR was being used.

The milspec cell from verizon has a built in light. it think the phone is called the G'zone.

My Sony Ericsson K750i has a pretty good LED light. It's there as a camera light but it has a "flashlight mode" and also an SOS blink mode. Its relative lack of robustness, and the fact that I may have worn down the battery with calls, means it doesn't displace my ARC AAA for EDC; but it's a nice extra feature.

(Also, anything that gets non-"EDC" people to EDC a functional flashlight has to be good.)

eeph