# Presentation: 141715

## Aircrew Survivability

- Rick de Castro

## 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

## 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

## 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
- Don’t let a fire get through
- Wear the right stuff

## Materials

- Don’t 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

##  Nomex

- Nomex is used by most folks for flight clothing
- Wear the flight suit correctly
- Sleeves down, Collars UP
- Zippers closed
- Don’t let flame get through!
- Keep it clean
- Oil, Grease, Aviation Fuel on Nomex isn’t good

## 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

## 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 you’re wearing it, you always have it with you
- Make sure you’re not so bulky that you can’t exit  or fly the aircraft

## What to carry?

- First Aid
- 4x4’s
- 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

## 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

## Low Priority Items

- Lots of food
- Map and Compass of the area
- You’re not going anywhere
- Fishing or Snare materials
- At least in So. Cal
- Firearms

## Each Aircraft is Different

- 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

## 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 don’t like what you see, turn it off

## 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 don’t want to be under the aircraft if it starts to move again

## After the Crash

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

## 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

## How to use Signal Mirrors

## Time to Spare?

- Ground - Air Signals for Survivors
- Handout
- Shelter
- Check a good survival book, like the Air Force or Army versions
- Food
- Don’t bother
- DON’T LEAVE THE AIRCRAFT

## Questions?