Interesting response/blast.
Here was the quote from my comment in part, which apparently generated that: "Not too much jungle survival in this country--but
as you suggest, the basics of survival are pretty consistent, regardless of where you wind up." Boy, that really sounds like a major condemnation of his assertions, eh? Oh well.
So, you want to know who I am? I worked for 34 years for the USFWS, about 29 of that as a Wildlife Biologist/Pilot in Alaska. In that capacity, I flew various natural resource missions throughout Alaska a total of a little over 11,000 hours of working flight time. In the process, I got stuck out more than a couple times, but was fortunate enough to have some stuff with me, and survived quite nicely. My first three years in AK were in Cold Bay. Look it up...it's out there, and anywhere you stop out there is the boonies. I got interested in brown bears out there, mostly cause they came to check out the town every night.... I then moved to Kodiak for eight years where I worked on brown bear projects largely, as well as doing law enforcement work (we had some 350 commercial operators on that area), and whatever else needed to be done. Eventually, I opted to dry out and moved to Fairbanks-where I spent 19 years working the area north of Fairbanks, in the Upper Yukon Valley, working on black bears, moose, subsistence issues, law enforcement work, etc.
Having worked for the federal government for 34 years plus military time, and hitting an age where sitting in an airplane for seven hours at a crack isn't exactly my cup of tea, I learned of a teaching position at the University of Minnesota, Crookston, in the Natural Resouce Department. I retired from federal service and moved here in 12/05. I left Alaska regretfully, for a new career, not because I couldn't work
there any more. I know about air taxi work, and I'd been out there fighting weather, etc, and I didn't feel like going back into more of the same after retirement. Nobody forced me to leave, though there were no doubt a few who were glad to see me leave, since I made them look bad. When you have full time pilots flying less than half the amount of flight time that a "dual function" pilot is....
As to checkrides, I took at least two and often three or four checkrides a year when working for FWS--generally a wheel ride and a float ride annually, and those often included a ski check, low level check, off field landing check, etc, depending on the sequence. I never had a re-check or a failure of a ride. There were a few of those rides that weren't pretty, mind you....like the time I got major stuck 16 miles south of FAI with Bill Babcock as a check airman in a 185 on wheel skis during my annual ski check. Took us a few hours to get un-stuck, but we did, and when we got back to town, Bill asked me when my next checkride was, and I told him "June on floats". He said "I'll bring my swim trunks"
.
While working for FWS in Alaska, I had the opportunity to fly pretty much every airplane they operated, though I regretfully was never checked out in the Goose before they were sent to museums. I flew pretty much equal quantities in Super Cubs, Huskys, C-185, 206, Beavers, and somewhat less but substantial time in Maules, Scouts, C-180s and Founds. I've owned a 90 hp J-3 on floats/wheels, a PA-12, a PA-18, a C-180 and a C-170, which I still own. All these, except the PA-12 (which I owned while in CDB) went from wheels or skis to floats as appropriate.
For a number of years, I worked with the Alaskan Aviation Safety Foundation, trying to bring good quality safety programs to Alaskans, and working to keep safety and functionality a prime consideration in rule making in Alaska. I don't want to think how many hours I worked with various groups during the design and formulation of the eastern Alaska MOA complex to try to provide civil aviators with a means to get around that proposed monstrosity, while at the same time offering the AF the ability to train in the airspace.
So, Bill, I guess I might suggest that there are always folks around who have some sour grapes to offer.
There are many, many folks around who have far more flying experience than I do. There are lots of people who are far more knowledgeable with regards to survival than I am. Nevertheless, I flew pretty much all over the state of Alaska (with the exception of Southeast Alaska, where I've never been) conducting a variety of tasks ranging from personnel transport to low level survey to radio telemetry and LE work for almost thirty years. And, in my free time, I used my personal airplanes to access the Alaska wilderness for recreation... I've slept out at -45 F in the wilderness, and that wasn't because of training nor was it intended. I've spent a couple days hiding from weather in a Beaver on the west side of Kodiak Island, when I never should have been out there anyway, and I've tent camped in many parts of Alaska--intentionally. Does that make me an expert? Not necessarily. But, now you know who I am, so take what I write here for what its' worth.
So, why not just sort out your tiger stripe camo underwear and consider that maybe--just maybe someone else MIGHT have something worthwhile to contribute to a conversation on the internet?
MTV
I have a dry bag backpack in the back with everything I would need to live comfortably (except beer) and I have the same vest GBflyer posted on my body which has everything that might keep me alive for a few hours or a few days depending on how badly I am injured or how bad the weather is. Stuff like a few swallows of clean water, a headnet, painkillers and antibiotics, things to stuff in or seal a gaping wound. Signaling devices. Extra eyeglasses. My PLB. Plus like I said before I dress for the crash.
