Both Canada and Alaska require pilots to carry survival gear. Always carry survival gear when flying over rugged and desolate terrain. The items suggested in Figure are both weather and terrain dependent. The pilot also needs to consider how much storage space the helicopter has and how the equipment being carried affects the overall weight and balance of the helicopter.
| EMERGENCY EQUIPMENT AND SURVIVAL GEAR |
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| Food cannot be subject to deterioration due to heat or cold. There should be at least 10,000 calories for each person on board, and it should be stored in a sealed waterproof container. It should have been inspected by the pilot or his representative within the previous 6 months, and bear a label verifying the amount and satisfactory condition of the contents. |
| A supply of water |
| Cooking utensils |
| Matches in a waterproof container |
| A portable compass |
| An ax weighing at least 2.5 pounds with a handle not less than 28 inches in length |
| A flexible saw blade or equivalent cutting tool |
| 30 feet of snare wire and instructions for use |
| Fishing equipment, including still-fishing bait and gill net with not more than a two-inch mesh |
| Mosquito nets or netting and insect repellent sufficient to meet the needs of all persons aboard, when operating in areas where insects are likely to be hazardous |
| A signaling mirror |
| At least three pyrotechnic distress signals |
| A sharp, quality jackknife or hunting knife |
| A suitable survival instruction manual |
| Flashlight with spare bulbs and batteries |
| Portable emergency locator transmitter (ELT) with spare batteries |
| Stove with fuel or a self-contained means of providing heat for cooking |
| Tent(s) to accommodate everyone on board |
Additional items for winter operations:
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Emergency equipment and survival gear