I ran across this, it is minimum equipment for Flying in Alaska:

AS 02.35.110. Emergency Rations and Equipment.

(a) An airman may not make a flight inside the state with an aircraft unless emergency equipment is carried as follows:


(1) the following minimum equipment must be carried during the summer months:


(A) rations for each occupant sufficient to sustain life for one week;


(B) one axe or hatchet;


(C) one first aid kit;


(D) an assortment of tackle such as hooks, flies, lines, and sinkers;


(E) one knife;


(F) fire starter;


(G) one mosquito headnet for each occupant;


(H) two small signaling devices such as colored smoke bombs, railroad fuses, or Very pistol shells, in sealed metal containers;


(2) in addition to the equipment required under (1) of this subsection, the following must be carried as minimum equipment from October 15 to April 1 of each year:


(A) one pair of snowshoes;


(B) one sleeping bag;


(C) one wool blanket or equivalent for each occupant over four.


(b) However, operators of multi-engine aircraft licensed to carry more than 15 passengers need carry only the food, mosquito nets, and signalling equipment at all times other than the period from October 15 to April 1 of each year, when two sleeping bags, and one blanket for every two passengers shall also be carried. All of the above requirements as to emergency rations and equipment are considered to be minimum requirements which are to remain in full force and effect, except as further safety measures may be from time to time imposed by the department.

Those regulations previously specified that you also had to carry a gun. The politicians removed that requirement in the aftermath of 9/11. Presumably, the bears and bull moose became docile on that date.

Bears and bull moose are the least of a downed flyers worries in AK.

All I can suggest is to build up your survival kit, then fly out to a remote strip somewhere and park, then live off that pack for a couple of days. Doesn't take long to figure out the strengths and weaknesses. And... Bring a good book. Boredom makes you stupid when it comes to decision making.

Gump

Impossible. No one but the Feds can possibly regulate any aspect of flying whatsoever. Therefore that list cannot exist

In Canada it used to be the law that aircraft flying north of the identified "sparcely settled" line had to carry a fishing gill net as part of the mandatory survival gear. My dad had gone on a fishing trip to Sutton Lake near Hudsons Bay and had a net in the plane. When he landed back at his home base some game wardens were waiting for him. They were looking for too many fish, but they found his net (unused in original sealed package) and charged him for having an illegal gill net. He took the case to court and the law got changed and he even got back his gill net, which was still illegal to possess.

I usually carry a lot of survival gear in the back of the C180 and it helps shift some of the weight rearward which helps when flying solo with full tanks.

I believe that statute does exist (or did), whether or not anyone can enforce it would be a question for the state Attorney General's office, one would think.

Regardless of "legal" issues, they did forget to mention the most important piece of Alaska survival gear...a paid - up credit card.

gb

You mean to tell me that a fishing net is illegal in Canada? If so I would have been in deep shit!! I have carried my military issue fishing net in my survival gear bag ever since I got out of the Air Force. It was issues to me when I was in AF Special Ops and its still in the original package.....possesion of it in Canada is against the law? What a bunch of BS!! Just hope I don't ever get caught with it I guess.

I carry an axe/hatchet as your list dictates but I also carry a folding saw which I much prefer over using an axe. Less likely to whack myself with a saw.

WW

Someone once told me that the gun was required so you'd have a way to end it all when you ran out of mosquito repellent.

WWhunter wrote:You mean to tell me that a fishing net is illegal in Canada? If so I would have been in deep shit!! I have carried my military issue fishing net in my survival gear bag ever since I got out of the Air Force. It was issues to me when I was in AF Special Ops and its still in the original package.....possesion of it in Canada is against the law? What a bunch of BS!! Just hope I don't ever get caught with it I guess.

WW

Each province has their own fishing laws, but as far as I know only commercial fishermen and Natives are allowed to have nets. My dad was given the net by a friend from Finland where net fishing is legal.

Is net fishing allowed anywhere in the US?

gbflyer wrote:The most important piece of Alaska survival gear...a paid - up credit card.

And that, my fellow backwoods flyers, is the most accurate survival advice I have read so far. No matter where you happen to land.

Gump

Even better is a maxed-out credit card. That way they will definitely come find you!

Is net fishing allowed anywhere in the US?[/quote]

nofate,
I know it is allowed in Florida when I was living there. Had these big cast nets that were weighted around the edge....they were thrown by hand out into the water and then retrieved by pulling on the string attached to it. This string would "close" up the net as it was retrieved. As for other states I really don't know, but I sure don't think having one in possesion is a crime anyplace. Actually I would risk the fine over the chance it helped my survival it if came to it. But then I guess I've been called an outlaw on occasion so whats a guy to do/
WW

The Orion plastic flare pistols probally don't weigh much but when you get the case and everything else you are taking up space. Has anyone tried shooting 12 gauge flares out of their shotgun? I have read that you can do it but not if the gun has a full choke. I guess a full choke will stop the flare and burn up your barrel. I hear they are pretty dirty too. I plan to keep a 12 guage in the plane whenever I am going into the boonies so I thought a pack of flares would be good to haul along. Just wondering if anyone here had actual experience doing this?

Jaerl wrote:The Orion plastic flare pistols probally don't weigh much but when you get the case and everything else you are taking up space. Has anyone tried shooting 12 gauge flares out of their shotgun? I have read that you can do it but not if the gun has a full choke. I guess a full choke will stop the flare and burn up your barrel. I hear they are pretty dirty too. I plan to keep a 12 guage in the plane whenever I am going into the boonies so I thought a pack of flares would be good to haul along. Just wondering if anyone here had actual experience doing this?

The skyblazer II aerial flares are light and small (about the size of a short cigar), don't require a separate launcher and you can put them in your vest so when you bail out with nothing but what you have on your body you will have something to signal with.

http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... sNum=11401

I have a friend who is a retired bush pilot, that happens to be native, here in N-W Ontario. He uses a gill net to catch fish under the ice, as Indians are immune from the game laws. I asked him out of curiousity, where he buys the nets from, he said the Ontario Goverment furnishes them the nets for free. This is the same goverment that has pared down the limits of fish and instututed size slot limits to keep the lakes productive. Bureaucracy at work. Steve

I was night flying last full moon, and some friends happened to have a bonfire going up one of the broad valleys around here. It was unmistakeable and unmissable even from 10 miles away and 1,000 agl.

Besides fire, I carry one of those laser signals. My guess is that from the air a laser beam would make it clear that a person was on the ground, but it wouldn't be as quick to pinpoint the person and fly to them as the bonfire was. I should try that on the next good night with a friend on the ground.

Daytime is another story, and the daytimes can last for weeks or months up here. Maybe that's where your flares and signal mirror come into play. Or the crank oil onto the fire to generate smoke.

Hello Backcountry Pilots:

My packing list for a three week Alaska airplane trip and caribou/wolf hunt.

2010 Alaska Trip Packing List:

1-Cooler w/wheels
1-Plastic ice bottle
1- Digital camera w/extra battery
1- Four- man mountain tent
1- Package parachute cord
1- Small green cot
1- Sleeping pad
1-Sleeping bag
1- Camo pillow
1-Collapsible chair?
1-Propane Stove
3-Large propane cylinders
1-Buck saw?
1-Lightweight grate?
6- Lighters
12- Fire starter tabs
1-Water purifier kit
1-Five Gallon Collapsible water jug
1- Water bottle w/purifier
1-Solar Shower?
1-Cooking kit w/ coffee pot and spatula
1- Paper plates & bowls
1-Small dish soap & green pad
1-Insulated coffee cup
1- Collapstabe wine glass
1- Roll aluminum foil
1-Tarp (in airplane) green 10x14 ft,
1- Tarp (white) dining fly
1- Dish Soap
1-Roll blue shop towels
1-Bath towel
1- Bar soap (small)
1- Pair extra reading & sun glasses
2- Pair camo pants
1- Pair Gators
4- Camo shirts
4- T-shirts
1-Pair camo gloves
8- Pair Socks wool
8- Pair underwear
3- Pair under-armor
2- Camo hunting coats (pullover & camo fleece)
1-Fleece black jacket
1- Set gortex rain gear
1- Pair hunting boots
1- Pair waders
1- Pair camp shoes
2- Hats (ball cap & stocking cap)

1- Iridium Satellite phone w/12 volt charger
1- Cell phone w/12-volt charger
1- Sectional Charts and publications
4- Yellow tie-down straps
1- Fanny pack w/ knives ext.
6- White trash compactor bags
1- Game saw
5- Game bags
6- Packs of unscented wet wipes
1- Plastic food box
2-mosquito nets (head)
2- Packages “Off-Deet”
1-Fishing pole & gear
1- Electronic Predator call?
1- First aid kit
1- Sewing kit
1-Shaving kit & meds.
1- Tools for airplane: end wrenches, assorted sockets, cotter pins, tire patch kit,
“can-fix a flat”, pull ties, JB weld & safety wire
2- Quarts oil 15w50 Aeroshell
2- Rolls duct tape (white & red)
1- Three foot grounding cable
3- Five gallon gas cans
1-Funnel
1-Flashlight/digital scale
1-US Passport
1-Canadian gun permit
1-Proof of aircraft insurance
1-US Birth Certificate
1- Emergency phone & contact list
1- Alaska Hunting/Fishing- Caribou & Wolf tags
1- Spotting Scope w/ camera tripod
1-300 Weatherby Mag. w/soft case
2-Boxes ammunition, 40 rounds 165 & 180
1-Gun oil & bore snake
1- Laser range finder
2-Head lamps w/extra batteries
1-Cabalas frame pack
$500 Cash
1- Shopping list for Fairbanks

Food & Booze:

GumpAir wrote:

gbflyer wrote:The most important piece of Alaska survival gear...a paid - up credit card.

And that, my fellow backwoods flyers, is the most accurate survival advice I have read so far. No matter where you happen to land.

Gump

Man, not anywhere I ever flew in the boonies....Cash is king in much of the world. I used to carry $500 in cash for unplanned gas stops. Used much of it more than once, getting around weather.

MTV

James, what's the brand & model of tent you have? Looks nice & sturdy. How easy is it to set up?

ASW.

MTV, You are right. NW Alaska would not take credit cards, but had no problem with my personal checks.