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Survival Vest

Mike Mustache

Mike Mustache

Registered User
Wasilla, AK
I’ve been putting together a vest for flying in Alaska and wanted to get some ideas of what others might include in the list of items carried. This is for the vest only. The required items for the aircraft will be stored in a waterproof bag and secured in the baggage compartment.

I have a number of items already; multi tool, fire starting kit, hand warmers, a couple of protein bars, survival blanket. I plan to pick up some type of signaling device, pen flares maybe and a PLB. That brings up another question. What PLBs are folks using and why? I’ve checked out a couple. I like the ACR, just not sure which model yet.

The vest I’m using I picked up at Bass Pro. Yep, it’s a fishing vest. I went to a shop that sold purpose made survival vests but they wanted over 300 clams for one. Granted it was fire resistant and had a built in floatation device. I’ll incorporate a PFD in my vest come spring.

Any way, I just thought I’d reach out to the community.

Mike
 
Should be able to find a stearns inflatable fishing vest off eBay for around 75 bucks. Same as the fancy ones just not nomex
 
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Life Straw or equivalent.
Spare reading glasses.

I have a ResQLink+ just because that’s the one Aviation Consumer liked best at the time.
 
Think carefully what you would actually NEED in the event you were left with nothing but the contents of your vest. Then carry only that stuff. It’s really easy to get carried away with “stuff” and wind up not wearing the vest cause it’s uncomfortable.

I want THREE independent means to start a fire, not just one. A hank of parachute cord will help make a shelter. A piece of parachute material (two gores is plenty) offers good shelter, and isn’t too bulky, or one of the small “survival blankets.

I don’t carry flares. They are momentary signals, meaning searchers have to be looking right at you to see them, and in daylight, they’re near useless. Instead, carry a signal mirror for daytime use and a good small flashlight and spare batteries for night. Remember, these days, searchers at night are likely to be wearing NVGs, so a flashlight will be seen a long ways off.

some bags to carry water in and to fill with snow to melt in winter.

Small compass. Best to stay with Aircraft, but you never know and a compass doesn’t take up much space.

I like multi tools, but be careful of they’re blades.....ONLY use one with blade lock. I always carry a good, fairly large folding knife in a pocket anyway.....better knife and the multi tool serves other purposes.

A PLB is a good device.....make it a 406 beacon, with GPS.

A VERY basic first aid kit......think blood stopper. Not a full kit. The beacon will get help headed your way, don’t bleed out while you wait.

Probably other stuff I’ll think of as soon as I close this. Remember, the key to survival is the survivors attitude and skills. Tools make the episode more comfortable

MTV
 
Needed item? A pack to carry the vest in, because most guys won't wear it. Been talked about for as long as I've been flying. I see vests on float pilots. Almost never on wheel pilots. In 25 years I can count the number of wheel pilots wearing survival vests on one hand.
 
Don't forget some items to help you stay alive long enough to use the survival kit items. A good seat belt cutter, tourniquet , and a quick clot/ israeli bandage accessible from your seat should be high on your list of items. A small chest pack like those from hill people gear are nice for immediate need items and aren't bulky. After wearing a vest for 20 + years I have always found them uncomfortable and bulky. Just my 2 cents!

Greg
 
A couple of Trojans are easy to carry water in when in side a sock. And double as protection for what a bear is gonna do to ya before he eats you
 
This flashlight has a strobe -

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Tactical-Flashlight-50000LM-Power-Torch-T6-LED-Zoomable-Lamp-18650BTY-Charger-US/233094316942?hash=item364581038e:m:mkm0Y7Aot51GeQcq9da_FhA:rk:1:pf:0

A decent size lightweight poncho-

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000LP03FG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Water filter- I bought one for my vest but I regret it. I can take antibiotics for giardia and leptospirosis when I get home.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006QF3TW4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

paracord-

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ACL4QI4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

wire saws-

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FO9V0OG/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bare bones aviation handheld radio. I don't need to shoot ILS approaches with a handheld radio. I have a ResQLink PLB too but would keep it in a pack because of the weight of both of them together..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0762RF88S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Space blankets - you need more than one, because space blankets suck.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002YLF5YE/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08__o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Fishing vest with just mesh and no pockets in back - the vest has to be comfortable or I won't wear it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0796LWHF2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

and about 5 of these;

https://www.amazon.com/Lighter-Classic-Full-Size-Piece/dp/B00IMVL206/ref=sr_1_3?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1547495534&sr=1-3&keywords=cigarette+lighters

And a leatherman, of course.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005DI0XM4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But a good first aid kit is worth more than all of this together. Except the lighters..:smile:
 
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hotrod180 said:
And I'll bet most of those float pilot vests are float coats, worn for flotation - not for carrying survival items.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. Bear in mind that in a seaplane, the odds of an accident resulting in you losing your “survival gear”, (ie: the stuff in the baggage compartment) is MUCH higher than that of a landplane. Most seaplane accidents happen in water, and upside down is a frequent result.

MTV
 
Having come to a rapid stop once (unlike others who are overachievers) I wanted to suggest that we pay close attention to what you put under your seat belt and shoulder harness. I wacked a tree at maybe 15 mph and sustained harness bruises that make me cringe when I see something like the buckle shown in the vest above ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0796LWHF2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) which could/would do significant damage in the event the shoulder harness were ever called upon to do their job and keep your face out of the panel.
 
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OLDCROWE said:
Having come to a rapid stop once (unlike others who are overachievers) I wanted to suggest that we pay close attention to what you put under your seat belt and shoulder harness. I wacked a tree at maybe 15 mph and sustained harness bruises that make me cringe when I see something like the buckle shown in the vest above ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0796LWHF2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) which could/would do significant damage in the event the shoulder harness were ever called upon to do their job and keep your face out of the panel.
Click to expand...

Excellent point, Kirby. And, as I said before, it's pretty easy to over do it and really load a vest up with "stuff". I stick to the basics in my vest and I too have come to a fairly rapid deceleration, without further damage, short of some strap rash.

MTV
 
OLDCROWE said:
Having come to a rapid stop once (unlike others who are overachievers) I wanted to suggest that we pay close attention to what you put under your seat belt and shoulder harness. I wacked a tree at maybe 15 mph and sustained harness bruises that make me cringe when I see something like the buckle shown in the vest above ( https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0796LWHF2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09__o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) which could/would do significant damage in the event the shoulder harness were ever called upon to do their job and keep your face out of the panel.
Click to expand...

This would be a problem with just about any vest though. It should be an easy matter to adjust the straps to fit, then remove the buckle, cut the straps to the right length and join the two ends together with a sewing machine. A good seamstress could probably do it for 5 bucks or so.
 
The vest needs to remain adjustable for what a person might be wearing underneath. Summertime maybe a single thin shirt but in winter it may need to fit over a heavy coat. Or two vests......
 
Yes, two vests, OR just stow the stuff that's in the vest in summer in the pockets of your winter gear. Again, shouldn't be so much stuff that you couldn't stow it in pockets.

MTV
 
I guess you could wear it under a coat. Shouldn’t really need any of the items until you find yourself in an unintended “rapid deceleration” to quote MTV. It might be a bit tough to get to them until you get the coat off, and in most of the A/C we fly that would require getting out of the plane. Big guy in a big coat maybe, little guy in a big coat maybe not a problem to take it off inside. Depending on the vest, most front pockets can be accessed by just opening the coat and reaching in, but I have a large back pocket and some on the sides. I guess you do what you can with what you have in the situation that you’re in.
 
Or just buy the right jacket -

ultimatejacket0.jpg
https://www.coolthings.com/orvis-ultimate-travel-jacket/

https://uncrate.com/orvis-ultimate-travel-jacket/
 

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Hey now you're talking! I like that the sleeves and the hood can be removed. Anyone have first hand experience with this coat?
 
Garmin Mini InReach with tracking subscription. Or SPOT Gen 3. In that order. I’d want one of those in my vest. Those take up just one small pocket and odds are they’re better then an ELT. Course In Reach or SPOT won’t work if you’re dead, which makes items in your vest not helpful either. (Tracking though, would narrow the search down some).
I want some hard candy in a pocket too. Bear country? Yep, fire power. (Kinda bulky but hey).
And some fish hooks and line just in case it’s looks like “a long haul”.
 
Fire starter (lighter and waterproof matches), handheld radio w/fully charged battery in zip lock bag, bug hood and a tinfoil blanket. Other than my pilots licence/booklet and a whistle, not much else stuffed in the pockets or the old Mustang trout fishing vest isn't going to float me to shore. I always have a lock blade in my pocket. If I can actually swim / walk back to the airplane there's survival rations, hatchet, skinning knife, flare gun, fishing rod/tackle and rifle in the plane.
 
I choose my jacket outer layer based on the performance as a piece of clothing since that jacket is probably the most important piece of "survival gear" on me. That has nothing to do with pockets. Dress like you'll have to walk home. That's 75% of the survival gear package right there. Assuming you have communicated your position, and that's the other 25%.

Personally? When I winter fly I dress the same as I would to go snowmachining. My reason has to do with surviving being wet, injured, and out in the cold. Been there, done that. And I have walked home, too. More than once. ;)
 
RoddyM said:
Garmin Mini InReach with tracking subscription. Or SPOT Gen 3. In that order. I’d want one of those in my vest. Those take up just one small pocket and odds are they’re better then an ELT. Course In Reach or SPOT won’t work if you’re dead, which makes items in your vest not helpful either. (Tracking though, would narrow the search down some).
I want some hard candy in a pocket too. Bear country? Yep, fire power. (Kinda bulky but hey).
And some fish hooks and line just in case it’s looks like “a long haul”.
Click to expand...

My InReach resides on top of the glare shield, attached with Velcro. With it there, it can see satellites and transmit track points. Can they do the same in a jacket pocket? I’ve always assumed they need a view of the sky.

That provides tracking to the scene of the “arrival. Just prior to touch, I punch the “on” button on my 406 ELT. Park the plane, and if I’m awake, I can use the InReach to communicate. If not, the combination of InReach track and 406 ELT should do the job.

MTV
 
And, yes, I’ve gone through this very scenario.

230FF282-1137-49A1-9E35-CF30950717FA.jpeg

MTV
 

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