Below is not directed necessarily at OP, but to any inexperienced pilot drawn to the idea of exploring remote areas in their plane. Also, I may echo what’s already been written. If so, maybe it’s worth something?
It’s been an interesting [frustrating] development with the explosion of backcountry flying’s popularity and the subsequent “experts” rising up in places like YouTube. Some of these guys have little actual time functioning comfortably on the ground in the kinds of areas we’re discussing.
There’s frequently focus on what best equipment to have, as if one can buy their way to competence and safety and preparedness. Often that equipment is packed into massive kits or vests, with the promise that the bearer can handle most conceivable emergencies if they just get this or that.
It isn’t so. Preconfigured mindset and applicable knowledge/experience are what contribute the most to remote area safety and determining the outcome of a emergency situation (is it an an emergency?). Yes - Having appropriate proven, tested equipment is great when coupled with that know-how.
Many here have spent years in the bush, grown up or worked in it, and carry the knowledge of how to not just survive adversity or challenge or systems failure, but to thrive. Big difference. Additionally, it’s usually instilled early on how to minimize the likelihood of an emergency. Most of us coming out of the military or gov agencies had to scramble through training designed to stave off or smooth the edges of those unplanned “events,” but most anyone can figure it out with some mentors and humility and patience, coupled with the discipline to perhaps learn some new ways to approach flying and self reliance.
General prep, in no particular order: Take some wilderness first aid and travel courses so you know what’s appropriate to carry and what isn’t, and how to use it; learn to fix your plane and carry some tools to do so (and learn what you shouldn’t attempt to fix in the field...); understand the difference b/t an emergency and an inconvenience (most “events” are inconveniences); understand how SAR works and why; know how to establish a safe camp with apex predators about (mosquitoes and white sox included here, FYI); understand and be equipped to deal with the challenges of heat, cold, hunger, thirst, injuries, wildlife, etc.; ensure your craft is well-maintained; keep responsible parties briefed on your plans and have a way to notify/modify when plans change; don’t take unnecessary risks.
And finally - know how to fly the plane, and don’t take your own word for it. If USFW, DOD, seasoned backcountry charter ops, or other remote area outfits require regional and environment-specific check rides for even the most experienced pilots, why buck the trend?!
My personal process is to acknowledge I’m probably pretty crappy at something in the beginning and I always seek out pilots better than me to show me what I’m doing wrong, in the environment in which I’m intending to travel. Let THEM tell you if you’re good.
Final thought: If a pilot isn’t comfortable and competent traveling on the ground in the area they’re intensively flying over to explore, why are they even there? That machine is going to do what machines eventually do and it’s going to end up on the ground in an unplanned “event” at some point. Know it and be prepared to deal with it without expecting somebody else to step in and do it in our stead, because even with today’s amazing comm devices, it may be a while...
Bring a book.
It’s been an interesting [frustrating] development with the explosion of backcountry flying’s popularity and the subsequent “experts” rising up in places like YouTube. Some of these guys have little actual time functioning comfortably on the ground in the kinds of areas we’re discussing.
There’s frequently focus on what best equipment to have, as if one can buy their way to competence and safety and preparedness. Often that equipment is packed into massive kits or vests, with the promise that the bearer can handle most conceivable emergencies if they just get this or that.
It isn’t so. Preconfigured mindset and applicable knowledge/experience are what contribute the most to remote area safety and determining the outcome of a emergency situation (is it an an emergency?). Yes - Having appropriate proven, tested equipment is great when coupled with that know-how.
Many here have spent years in the bush, grown up or worked in it, and carry the knowledge of how to not just survive adversity or challenge or systems failure, but to thrive. Big difference. Additionally, it’s usually instilled early on how to minimize the likelihood of an emergency. Most of us coming out of the military or gov agencies had to scramble through training designed to stave off or smooth the edges of those unplanned “events,” but most anyone can figure it out with some mentors and humility and patience, coupled with the discipline to perhaps learn some new ways to approach flying and self reliance.
General prep, in no particular order: Take some wilderness first aid and travel courses so you know what’s appropriate to carry and what isn’t, and how to use it; learn to fix your plane and carry some tools to do so (and learn what you shouldn’t attempt to fix in the field...); understand the difference b/t an emergency and an inconvenience (most “events” are inconveniences); understand how SAR works and why; know how to establish a safe camp with apex predators about (mosquitoes and white sox included here, FYI); understand and be equipped to deal with the challenges of heat, cold, hunger, thirst, injuries, wildlife, etc.; ensure your craft is well-maintained; keep responsible parties briefed on your plans and have a way to notify/modify when plans change; don’t take unnecessary risks.
And finally - know how to fly the plane, and don’t take your own word for it. If USFW, DOD, seasoned backcountry charter ops, or other remote area outfits require regional and environment-specific check rides for even the most experienced pilots, why buck the trend?!
My personal process is to acknowledge I’m probably pretty crappy at something in the beginning and I always seek out pilots better than me to show me what I’m doing wrong, in the environment in which I’m intending to travel. Let THEM tell you if you’re good.
Final thought: If a pilot isn’t comfortable and competent traveling on the ground in the area they’re intensively flying over to explore, why are they even there? That machine is going to do what machines eventually do and it’s going to end up on the ground in an unplanned “event” at some point. Know it and be prepared to deal with it without expecting somebody else to step in and do it in our stead, because even with today’s amazing comm devices, it may be a while...
Bring a book.
