Im just gonna say this.... you just cant always be completely prepared these days when it comes to having the right equipment for the potential threat at hand. Planes and federal buildings both come to mind although there are plenty of other places. If I'm on a commercial airliner and it crashes in the ocean or out in the boonies and I actually live through the crash without any life-threatening injuries but I am completely naked and with out an ounce of useful gear, I'm the happiest man on earth! The best way to prepare for these situations IMO is not with gear but rather by practicing with your main survival tool... the one attached to your shoulders! Learn primitive skills, learn to improvise, learn to go without food (disclaimer: after talking to your doctor of course <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> to make sure it's safe). In a nutshell, learn to adapt. Learning to use your brain will never hurt you, even when you have tons of gear, it can only help.

Well, I'm sure I can find at least a few uses for my torso...but I'm not sure it's really good as a "main survival tool"... <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'm on a 7:45AM EST flight home. This is the first time I have ever flown without any sharps of any kind. The client I'm flying with hates checked baggage, so I thought I'd give it a try...bleh. I hate being far away from home without so much as a Victorinox Classic to trim my nails. Of course, I could buy one here and give it away before I leave, but I'm going to be on a long term project, and that could get expensive.

I'm thinking about getting a safe deposit box on site to stash a few things that I can get when I'm in town.

Anyway, just because you can't carry a knife on board, that's no reason not to carry the things you *can* bring. Here's what's with me today that could possibly be useful...

1. Petzl Tikka Plus headlamp
2. Mini Mag AA
3. Brunton Eclipse compass
4. Serengeti sunglasses
5. Breitling Avenger Seawolf wristwatch (so big it sets off the metal detectors)
6. SAS survival flashcards
7. A mini Bic or two.
8. Purell hand sanitizer
9. Diphenhydramine HCl, Acetaminophen (Paracetamol), small first aid kit
10. Warm wooly clothing
11. Water bottle
12. probably a few other things that might be useful

so, as you can see, the lack of a knife is not the end of the world...after all, I can always bring a can of soda or soup and crush it for a sharp edge in the wild, or some such...a positive attitude and a bit of knowledge goes a long way.

Unfortunately, with the way or society is going, I don't see the new regulations getting repealed, ever.

Oh, and my hip has been acting up lately, so I think i'm going to have to start carrying a cane... that hickory one that Cold Steel has looks nice. I'd bring my City Stick, but I don't want to have to deal with the steel head at check-in time.

I agree with Brian. Being able to adapt is very important. Improvision is good too.
You don't want to be at a loss when you don't have your gadgets with you.
Maybe we could all learn a few lessons from the master of improvision, Macgyver.

Pick up a 1911... works every time <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

No, but the next best thing... been there done that, he's not exagerating by much! <img src="/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />.

Do it New York style; drool, adapt a faraway look in your eye, go slack jawed while swiping at and trying to catch invisible things and talking to the invisible buddy next to you.

The world over that type of behavior is more intimidating than even a Mdl. 1911 A1 in US Caliber .45 auto, because the other guy may have an MP6 under his coat.

Bountyhunter
<img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

In todays world, some of those school teaching nuns might be considered child abusers, but in my day ( I'm 58 years old.) Catholic school educated individuals scored much higher intellectually and seemed to always get better paying jobs.

I believe in properly applied corporal punishment when it is done for the purpose of teaching an important point. In our great-grandfathers and grandfathers days, you only had to back up and touch the woodburner once before you learned the difference between a warm butt and a branded butt.

Bountyhunter

MP6?????

All right, all right, an MP7A1!

Bountyhunter

"I saw a movie where an aeroplane crash results of a person(young girl) being stranded in the amazon jungle."

That wasn't just a movie, it was based on the real thing. I believe 5 people survived the crash (scattered around -- she never saw any of them), but this 17-yr-old girl is the only one who survived.

She had no knife, she was dressed for her confirmation in a white dress & white shoes. Her mother died in the crash. I faintly remember that she found some cigarettes and a squashed birthday cake, both of which she took with her. She ate the cake, & used the tobacco as insect repellent.

Her father was a scientist who worked in the jungle, & he told her if she ever got lost & there was any kind of a stream nearby, to follow it downhill*, which she did. After about 2 wks of hiking, she came across a hunter/woodcutter's cabin & went inside to rest. The occupants returned & took her by boat to the local mission. She also had an injured knee & had insect larvae growing under her skin.

Why did she survive & the others didn't? Authorities said afterwards it was because she had a plan, and used her head. The other 4 people decided to wait to be rescued, despite the fact that they were under heavy jungle canopy, where they couldn't be seen from the air.

As has been said, it's what's in your head more than what you've got on your person.

But I'll bet she wished she had a knife.

*This advice worked for her, but the technique can also lead you right into a swamp. Luck has a lot to do with survival, too.

Sue