Background info: I am a helicopter flight instructor in the pacific northwest. I spend a fair amount of my day over the coastal mountain range instructing pilots in the finer art of flying and landing aircraft away from airports and runways.

Needless to say, there is a bit of risk associated with my current job, and a survival kit is virtually indispensable.

Here is the trick though: Flying small, piston engined helicopters, I am severely weight limited, and storage space is also extremely limited. I need to keep any kit as light weight and compact as possible.

Here's what I have so far (starting from top left):
First row:
2 - 1 gal. storage bags;1- waterproof match case with strike anywhere matches, a fishing hook and sewing thread; 1-Gerber Gator folding knife; 550 paracord;

Second row:
1- First Aid Kit containing various bandages, pads, surgical tape, antiseptics, alcohol pads, guaze, razor blade, shears, moleskin, and other various FAK contents. Also a Bic lighter thrown in as well; 2 film canisters, the first containing steel wool and fire cube, the second containing water purification tabs; emergency blanket; compass (wrapped in duck tape). Everything is contained in double wrapped vacuum sealed plastic bags.



Additional gear that always goes with me: Nomex flight suit, Helmet, folding CRKT knife, couple of plastic bottles of water, VFR sectional chart (fancy aviation term for a map ), gloves, and a cell phone.

What I feel I am missing: I think I need to have a means of boiling water, so I am going to get a stainless water bottle. I also think I should have some snacks thrown in as well.

Anything else I am missing? Any changes anyone would suggest?

Thanks in advance.

You might want to consider some signaling tools like a signal mirror and whistle. A two-way radio may not be a bad thing to have, nor is a small flashlight.

Having a redundant fire starter like a ferro rod is good back up for if the matches and lighter fails. Some signal flares can serve double duty as a signal device as well as an "I am going into hypothermia and need a fire immediately" device.

I always carry some fatwood and some bicycle inner tube with me since my environment is often wet. I imagine yours is too. It really helps get a fire going when everything is wet.

Maybe one of those bivy bags that redflare sells. I have one in my pack when I am out and about as well as when I travel. I also carry a poncho and some cordage in the carry bag. Both take up very little room but give me emergency shelter. Each one can fit in a cargo pocket.

If you have room, a machete or axe and a folding saw is really handy. I would carry the folding saw, like the Bahco Laplander in a pocket or on-person pouch. I would also wrap the machete (I like machetes) with a wool blanket and tarp with the tarp inside the blanket. An if you want to go in comfort and style, a hammock, like the Travel Hammock takes up very little space, is super light, and can keep you off the wet ground.

Once you get your metal water bottle, you can clean more water with your ability to make fire and you can make expedient as well as a more appropriate shelter with your tools, then you can signal. And with your snacks, you should be able to comfortably await rescue. I am not too worried about having too much food in your scenario.

Oh, and keep as much of your survival gear as possible on your person. Most of the stuff I mentioned except for the machete/axe blanket wrap can be on you comfortably.

Anyway, just my two cents.

Hello, rotorhead_, and welcome.

You have just about the most interesting job description I have ever seen.

From my POV the thing you haven't mentioned is SIGNALLING! If you go down (heaven forbid), your absence will be noted PDQ. Someone will come looking; so help them out. Flares, signal mirror, big orange panels, and ways to make fire even with a bum arm or leg. Also, be prepared to send text messages in areas with fringe cell reception; apparently, they punch through even though two-way voice can't.

Also consider that you may be incapacitated and your trainee may be trying to use your gear to get you both out.

Luck!
Doug

Agree about signaling. My first choice for additional gear would be a signal mirror - small, light, and highly efficient (if the sun is out). I would upgrade your match case or wrap the head with tape. The case you have is fine, but I have had the top unscrew on me, not good

I would opt for a small, light metal cup or pot rather than a water bottle.

As much of this gear as possible should be on your person, daintily tucked away.

In your situation, wool clothing is going to be a lot more suitable than synthetics (fire hazard), Dress on the warm side as much as possible.

green laser pointer, aerial pen flares, cyalume light sticks on some 550 cord to swing over head to indicate LZ...

...a refrigerator, a spare tire and some oil drums..

I'm really surprised no one has mentioned carrying a PLB
All the other suggestions are good but the object is to get rescued as quickly as possible, right?

Rotorhead This is the ultimate choice
please look and drool to your hearts content

Mike

http://www.dougritter.com/DR-aviator_survival_pak_index.htm

Breitling Emergency Watch

I am very not overly enthusiastic about "space" (survival) blankets. Most of the time, you want your blanket to resemble a bag anyway (i.e. you wrap it around yourself as good as you can, but with limited success). And if you do need a rectangular sheet, 10 seconds of careful cutting will provide exactly that. Consider the AMK bivy bag, or a big, heavy-duty garbage bag and a lightweight poncho.


Duct tape. I love gorilla tape, mainly because I don't have to try the 100 different kinds of duct tape to find the ones that actually works. Wrap some feet around your water bottle, around your FAK and basically any object you bring with you.


A small LED light.


A wool buff.


A snickers bar.


I think the process of assembling a kit is most easily done when trying to answer these questions:

1) Can you get enough to drink, even if forced to stay out for a night or two?
2) Can you protect yourself from the environment, i.e. being too hot, too hot, wet or eaten by bugs, even if forced to stay outside for a night or two?
3) Can you find your way home?
4) Failing that, will someone be able to find YOU?

For aviation, you have the complication that severe injuries are probably likely...


In your situation, I would consider a two-layered system:
- On your person: The PSK equivalent, plus some shelter. The classical bare-bones minimum. Plus a snickers bar. And the personal locator beacon (PLB).


- A bag somewhere in the aircraft. Assuming you don't have space for full size sleeping bags and the like, this would be the aircraft equivalent of what day hikers should carry in their backpacks.



Also, look through these threads for inspiration:
Emergency hiking list
PSK sharing center