General Aviation
Accident Prevention Program
U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Aviation Administration
Tips On Winter Flying
FAA - P - 8740-24
AFS - 800 0879
After a crash landing, it is best to leave the aircraft as soon as
possible. Take time to analyze the situation and help others. Take
care of any injuries first. Stay away from the aircraft until all gasoline
fumes are gone. Sit down and think. Keep in mind that survival is
80% mental, 10% equipment, and 10% skills. Since mental factors are the number
one problem, establish a goal to conquer regardless of the consequences. Don't
have "give - up - itis" or a "do - nothing -
attitude." Don't run off without taking time to think out each
problem. Don't imagine things that are not there. There are basic
fears in each of us. They are:
- Fear of the unknown
- Fear of darkness
- Fear of discomfort
- Fear of being alone
- Fear of animals
- Fear of death
- Fear of punishment
- Fear of personal guilt
Your MIND is the best tool for survival. USE IT!
- The number one enemy is yourself.
- The number two enemy is injuries.
- The number three enemy is temperature.
- The number four enemy is disease.
Whether to stay with the aircraft or start out on foot may be a major
decision. Did you file a flight plan? If you did, it may be best to
let them find you. Is your emergency locator transmitter
operating? Do you have a survival kit? Don't fight a
storm. Stay put and find shelter. Most storms are of short
duration. What do you have in the aircraft that can be used to aid in
survival?
- The compass will keep you going in one direction.
- Gasoline will help make a fire.
- Oil can be used for smoke signals.
- Seat upholstery may be used to wrap around feet or hands.
- Wiring may be used for tie strings.
- The battery may be used to ignite fuel.
Use whatever is available to protect the body from the loss of heat. Don't
waste body heat by eating snow. Make a fire; heat water before
drinking. You can conserve energy to last three weeks if you have water and
stay dry. Body heat can escape 240 times faster from wet clothing than from dry
clothing. It is best to eat small amounts of sugary foods to replace the energy
lost through body heat. A good survival kit is well worth its
weight. The following would be a useful kit; however, you can assemble an
inexpensive survival kit of your own.
- First you need a metal container with a lid. This container can be used to
heat water, make tea, use as a digging tool or polished as a signal mirror.
- Boy Scout knife.
- Small candle.
- Penny box of matches (wrapped in plastic).
- Leaf bag (pull over head, cut hole for face).
- Garbage bag (step in, pull up and tuck in pants or tie around waist). You now
have body protection from heat loss.
- Sugar cubes (wrap in plastic, 6 to 12 cubes).
- Plastic tape.
The above is only a sample of what can be done. Use your own innovation and
remember survival depends upon you.
Wind Chill - Without the wind blowing, the body (normally covered) can withstand a
greater degree of cold. But let the wind blow, even a slight breeze, and the
body heat loss can become critical. Of course, body heat is a product of
energy. The chart below will give you an idea as to what to expect in
equivalent temperatures. It also points a need for protective clothing or
shelter.
To use the chart, find the estimated or actual wind speed in the left - hand column
and the actual temperature in degrees F. in the top row. The
equivalent temperature is found where these two intersect. For example, with a
wind speed of 10 mph and a temperature of -10°F, the equivalent temperature is
-33°F. This lies within the zone of increasing danger of frostbite, and
protective measures should be taken. It is emphasized that the wind chill chart
is of value in predicting frostbite only to exposed flesh. Outdoorsmen can
easily be caught out in 30° temperature. Winds of 30 mph will produce an
equivalent wind chill temperature of -2 degrees