<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>I’ve got to say that I’m surprised at the turn this thread has taken. I’m not going to criticize anyone else’s idea of survival preparations- it’s their life, not mine, and they should be defending it however they see fit- so I’ll just address some points from my own personal point of view.<p><hr></blockquote><p>Hmm... Let's see:<br><br>Mental exercises like these keep us from getting intellectually flabby.<br>1. How much gear can I carry?<br>2. How much gear can I covertly carry?<br>3. How much gear can I realistically carry?<br>4. How much gear can I realistically covertly carry under these restrictions?<br>Gear for commercial airline travel is just one particular example of such cerebral conditioning, and, as such, is valuable in and of itself, even if one never carries the gear in real life at all.<br><br>It's the principle of the thing... an ideal I strive ever to achieve more fully.<br><br>It's fun.<br><br>It gives me a sense of pride.<br><br>I got tired of hearing "Well, I guess there's nothing we can take with us onboard anymore," and wanted to make a point in rebuttal.<br><br>I like having my stuff with me.<br><br>It's good to thoroughly examine the edges of our freedoms. It's the only way to know with certainty where they end.<br><br>It calms my mind to know I'm as prepared as I can be.<br><br>It's fun.<br><br>Maybe it's my old Firefighter experience, but I don't travel without a smoke hood.<br><br>I never go anywhere without a 1st Aid Kit, although my EDC one is quite small.<br><br>Much of what I've discussed in this thread is just stuff that I keep on me, in my jackets, at my office and/or in my car, anyway. So, I might as well take it along when I travel.<br><br>And, oh yeah, it's fun. <blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>Personally, I consider the likelihood of a commercial airliner going down as barely worth consideration. Sure, I wouldn’t mind having a few things on my person that might come in handy, but… it’s incredibly unlikely that this is going to happen on one of the relatively few flights that I take a year. If it does happen, there’s an excellent chance I won’t survive to worry about anything at ground (or sea) level. If it does crash and I do survive, I think there’s little chance that I’m going to be out there long enough to worried about things like firemaking or aluminum foil after that- the movie “Castaway” notwithstanding.<p><hr></blockquote><p>I completely agree. I think you're right on all counts. Er, except that warmth for shock victims is an immediate need which cannot wait for SAR.<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>And if the commercial airliner does crash, and I survive the crash, and I’m in good enough shape to worry about it afterward, and I find myself stranded on land or sea long enough to worry about what I brought (assuming ANYTHING I brought, on my person or carry-on, also survived), with rescue for some bizarre reason not coming very soon… well, I might be glad for a something or other I have for awhile, but it may not make any difference for long. There are limits.<br><br>Personally, I’m about as likely to check on an airliner with a flotation jacket or inflatable vest, smoke hood, and snorkel as I am to go golfing with a lightning rod on my head- and lightning on a golf course is a much more real threat.<p><hr></blockquote><p>If smoke, drowning and cold water didn't kill so darned quickly, I'd agree with this too. But, if this were really true, then why have PDFs at all? And why is smoking banned on so many flights now?<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>Now, if anyone really wants to try to get on an airliner with all that, and wads of aluminum foil, aluminized mylar, batteries and steel wool, and lord knows what else, don’t let me stop you. I will watch- from a distance- with great interest.<p><hr></blockquote><p>Ah, it's boring. I carry a lot of gear, and it doesn't show. I don't even have a Leatherman on my belt. It's the same with airline travel. Pack it right and carry it right, and it's invisible. I haven't ever gone through an airport Security Checkpoint with all the stuff I wrote about on this thread, but I have carried an awful lot of crap, -- and since 9/11 -- and you can't see it. Even Security personnel don't notice most of it, and they're actually looking. No one thinks twice about a plastic poncho, aluminized blanket, gloves, sun hat, watch cap or ultra-compact unbrella when they are in jacket pockets. A small roll of duct tape, a small disposable lighter or matches, a pad of paper and a pen, a plastic whistle on a keychain... these things don't even register on the mental radar. "Travel" items also are perfectly normal for airline travelers. Hidden wallets, smoke hoods, toiletries (including mirrors), food & drink (including water and sodas), hotel door portable security alarms, flashlights, etc. Checkpoint Officers see all of this stuff every day. "I never travel without a First Aid Kit." "Oh, that's smart..." And if you have a one-line justification that sounds normal enough to the Security Officer for any of the things you can't make invisible, then there's no problem. "I'm going boating when I get there. This is my Float Coat, and I always keep that stuff in the pocket in case I'm washed over in bad weather" "Oh, okay... It's only plastic, and not sharp, so I guess we'll let you keep it..." (Gee, thanks.) All of this gear is completely legitimate.<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>My personal objections to the restrictions on airline flights has nothing at all to do with feeling that I might need survival gear if the plane crashes- it has something to do with the differences between what happened with Flight 93 and the other three commandeered planes on 9/11, the unknown number of lives on the ground that were saved, and the number of lives that were lost because passengers and crew were so carefully, and meticulously, and self-righteously made completely helpless.<p><hr></blockquote><p>I totally and wholeheartedly agree. I'm more worried about losing my checked bag than hijackings or crashes, but I hate that airplanes are prepackaged, inspected and approved containers full of helpless victims just waiting for anyone who is creative or determined enough to circumvent security measures to do with as they please.<blockquote><font size=1>In reply to:</font><hr><p>That, and I have SOME concern about the high likelihood of being in a strange city, for who knows how long, without my “urban” PSK. Sure, I can probably check a lot more than they’ll let me carry on, but the chances of my transferring stuff from the checked luggage to my person before reaching a hotel room are pretty small, and the chances of the airline losing my luggage are excellent.<p><hr></blockquote><p>Hmm... I guess here's where my real concern lies. But, that's a different thread. I always carry whatever portion of my EDC gear is legal at the destination, and I always transfer all the appropriate stuff from my checked baggage to my person before leaving the airport. And, I've only ever had a bag misplaced once, so I can't agree that the odds of a bag being lost are "excellent". I don't expect it will happen -- I don't expect anything "will" happen -- only that it can.