Aircrew Survivability

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Aircrew Survivability

• Rick de Castro

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Class Objectives

• For part-time and regular passengers on aircraft
• Fixed Wing
• Rotor Wing
• Things you can do to MAXIMIZE your trip
• Even when things go worng
• Not a survival course

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Personal Actions

• The personal decision to survive is paramount in
  the survivability of any aircraft accident
• There are things that you, as a non-pilot aircrew
  member or passenger can do that will make a
  difference.
• Keep the cabin Clean
• Secure loose stuff before your head stops it

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Hygiene

• Bathe daily
• Minimize the amount of bacteria that is on your
  body
• Wear clean clothes
• Your mother was right - wear clean underwear, you
  might get into an accident
• Close the gaps in your clothes
• Dont let a fire get through
• Wear the right stuff

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Materials

• Dont wear synthetics
• Observe while I burn some swatches of different
  fabrics
• Polypropylene from long underwear
• Polypro fleece
• Cotton/Polyester from a shirt
• 100 cotton from an undershirt
• Wool
• Nomex

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Nomex

• Nomex is used by most folks for flight clothing
• Wear the flight suit correctly
• Sleeves down, Collars UP
• Zippers closed
• Dont let flame get through!
• Keep it clean
• Oil, Grease, Aviation Fuel on Nomex isnt good

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Other Clothing Items

• Nomex gloves
• Boots
• No synthetics
• High tops
• Minimize exposed skin
• Wearing a flightsuit over regular clothes is a
  fire path
• Helmets
• Adjusted
• Visor Closed
• Helicopter types

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Personal Survival Kit

• Carry items on person
• Flight suit pockets
• Dedicated vests
• Air Force / Army SRU-21/P
• Navy / Marine Corps
• Civilian Fishing / Photo Vest
• If youre wearing it, you always have it with you
• Make sure youre not so bulky that you cant exit
  or fly the aircraft

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What to carry?

• First Aid
• 4x4s
• Bandaids
• Roller Bandage
• Field Dressing
• Water
• More is better
• Carry a flask, baby bottle, or small designer
  water bottle

• Signaling
• Mirror
• Anything shiny will work
• Glass mirrors work best
• Smoke Flare
• Pen Flare
• Personal ELT
• Whistle
• Cash and Phone Card

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A few more things

• Shelter
• Can use Aircraft parts
• Small Space Blanket
• Parachute Cord
• Knife
• Sharp
• Multi-function
• Food
• High energy
• Low water

• Make sure all the perishables are fresh and in
  good condition
• Food, Water, Medicines, Pyros
• Check the kit every 3 - 6 months
• Store in ziplock bags

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Low Priority Items

• Lots of food
• Map and Compass of the area
• Youre not going anywhere
• Fishing or Snare materials
• At least in So. Cal
• Firearms

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Each Aircraft is Different

• Learn
• How seat seat belts unfasten
• How doors open
• Are there emergency exits
• Where the Fire Extinguisher is
• Where the ELT is
• How to use it
• LEAVE IT ON after the crash!
• Special Emergency Procedures

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When Ground Contact is Eminent

• Unlatch Door, Prop Open or discard
• Tighten Seatbelts and Shoulder Harness
• Duck
• Distress Call (Pilot or Obs)
• Activate ELT (Pilot or Obs)
• Nighttime
• Turn on landing light
• If you dont like what you see, turn it off

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Post Crash

• Wait for everything to quit moving
• Rotor Blades
• You can survive longer sliding in the cabin than
  on your own
• Exit rapidly
• Move cross-slope or uphill if possible
• You dont want to be under the aircraft if it
  starts to move again

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After the Crash

• Administer emergency first aid
• Wait for things to cool down
• Salvage
• ELT
• Aircraft Survival Equipment
• Other useful equipment

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Signal for Help

• Relocate ELT and activate, if possible
• Call on other radios
• Cellphones
• Hand-Held Radios
• Ready pyrotechnics
• Smoke Flares
• Pen Flares
• Practice with your mirror

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Waterings

• Water Landings
• Should have PFD (Personal Flotation Device)
• Ideally, an inflatable
• Dont wear a non-inflatable inside the aircraft
• Aircraft fills with water, you try to float
• Up to the top of the cabin

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How to use Signal Mirrors
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Time to Spare?

• Ground - Air Signals for Survivors
• Handout
• Shelter
• Check a good survival book, like the Air Force or
  Army versions
• Food
• Dont bother
• DONT LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT

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Questions?