What can I do to help Search & Rescue find me if I go down?

1. What can I do to help Search & Rescue find me if I go down? Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

2. Agenda • Why airplanes crash • What you can do • How Civil Air Patrol searches • About CAP Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

3. Why Airplanes Crash • > 80% are pilot error • VFR into IMC • Fuel exhaustion • Spatial disorientation and hypoxia • Exceeding aircraft or pilot capabilities: terrain, weight, get-there-itis • Mechanical failure is relatively rare Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

4. Your Tasks • Don’t crash  • If you crash, survive the crash! • Get the search started • Make it easy for us to find you • Stay with the plane! • Survive until we find you Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

5. Starting the Search • IFR & drop off radar – immediate, sometimes… • MAYDAY – immediate • Squawk 7700 – immediate (trick: back 2, back 3) • “Reported Missing” – immediate • ELT – after 2 satellite passes (2-6 hours) or high-flyers report or local repeaters *only until 2009* • VFR flight plan – close time + 30 min + ALNOT (ramp check, ~1 hr) • VFR flight following – not! • No flight plan – whenever reported missing  Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

6. Clues… Narrow the search area • Flight plan – not “direct” unless at 18,000. Give mountain pass names. List fuel stops. Give Local and Destination Contacts. • Turn on your transponder • Mayday call – give location • Position Reports • Modify flight plan in the air if you change route or fuel stops Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

7. Stay with the plane • Sit. Hug a tree. SIT. STAY! • Turn on the ELT • Use the plane – shelter, tires & fuel for fire, metal for signal mirror… • Easier to find the plane than you • Increases your survival chance Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

8. Finding You • Cell phone  • Turn on your ELT – leave it on! • Hand-held radio or a/c radios • Visual clues • Signal mirror • Hunter orange clothes • Un-natural shapes in snow or on ground • Streamers – bright colors, movement • Build a fire – smoke and fire both visible Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

9. Survive until we find you • Take a Survival Course! • Always carry a survival kit • Take a First Aid course – medical “golden hour” • Dress for the weather (not shorts in March) • 3 / 3 / 3 Rule – shelter, water, food • Tarps, garbage bags, wool clothes • Fire starter, knife, water • Signal mirror, whistle, hand-held radio • NOT a compass – stay put. Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

10. How CAP searches • CAP works under the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center – AFRCC • Your Tax $$ - victim is not billed Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

11. Mayday, IFR, ELT • Position known within 5-30 miles • Concentrate heavily on that area • 2-3 aircraft, ground teams Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

12. Clues… Unclosed or No Flight Plan • Last Known Position (fuel stops!) • Fly route search – direct or over passes? • Radar data? • Weather data, did they get a weather briefing? • Interviews: • Anyone seen or heard plane • Flying buddies -- pilot habits • Grid search for 10-14 days Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

13. Obligatory Preaching • Check 121.5 after landing – call FSS • 98% false alarms! • Check your ELT and change your batteries • Upgrade to 406 ELT • File a flight plan – better to forget to close it than not have one • Do position reports (and Pireps ) • Mountain flying training to predict downdrafts • Within weight & balance • Within your limits (IMSAFE, ACES) • Join CAP  Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

14. What is CAP? • Volunteer Auxiliary of the US Air Force • Search for Missing Aircraft, and others on request • Aerospace Education • Cadet Program • Need Dedicated People • Best Kept Secret Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?

15. Ask Yourself on Every Flight If I crash: • Would anyone know where to look for me? •  Do I have on-board what it takes to survive and get found? Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal?