Having worked in the radio industry for some time, I would suggest foregoing the conventional transeiver and getting a PLB, or perhaps even an EPIRB. They don't cost that much more, and are dedicated to your rescue. It may be that you are unable to communicate using a conventional radio. The idea of quick, easy, one or two step deployment makes these devices far superior, and since you are not intending to use the radio except in an emergency anyways, might as well make it a truly dedicated unit. As we all know from reading the reviews here, these devices still have a ways to go, but I would still rather have a device that operates as part of a dedicated system, rather than have to wait for an aircraft to get near enough to reach over the two way.

Yep, knife and fire are still top dogs, and fairly foolproof in trained hands.

Unfortunately, here in Baghdad, no communications system is reliable, as the Army jams all usable frequencies often. If you want to be rescued here, you might have a better response shooting at the aircraft, although sometimes this has undesirable effects from a survival perspective. Still, it will get the attention of the right people.