Survival Gear Contest GRAND Prize Winner

Aviation Survival Kit – Jason Moody

Recently Lightspeed Aviation hosted a Survival Gear Contest, asking to see pilot’s aviation survival preparedness kit and had each submission scored by our panel of Celebrity Judges with extensive experience, background, and knowledge in survival and survival preparedness. With numerous well-thought entries, our panel had their work cut out for them! Please join us in congratulating our GRAND PRIZE Winner: Jason Moody. Enjoy Jason’s submission below.

Jason received high marks from our judge panel on accessibility, water purification, and his selection of vest. One judge commented, “Amazing survival preparedness!”

My personal survival kit is fitted into a FlyKandy pilots jacket. Originally designed for paramotor flyers, it is perfect for general aviation use with a total of 10 large pockets. This enables a survival kit to be with me at all times when needing to exit the aircraft in a hurry.

My Lightspeed DeLaurentis flight bag carries additional back up supplies, and some equipment that would be nice to have, but not essential.

The UK isn’t blessed with the millions of square miles of wilderness that some other countries enjoy. So realistically, even with poor weather, I would expect to receive help within a 48 hour timeframe. To this end the kit is designed primarily to equip me with emergency medical supplies, and the ability to provide shelter and warmth.

Items such as emergency fishing kits haven’t been catered for as in the time frame I plan for, food won’t be a major issue.

Medical Module

The medical module contains both traumatic injury treatments, and kit to treat non life threatening scrapes and cuts. Pain relief, anti histamine and diarrhea tablets complete the first aid kit.

Vacuum packed to protect the contents from moisture the first aid kit is located primarily in the two large chest pockets, along with additional kit in the flight bag.

Contents Trauma;
Israeli Pressure Bandages X2
Celox Rapid hemostatic gauze and granules
Ratcheting Medical Tourniquet

Contents First Aid;
Suture Strips
Selection Of Gauze
Selection Of Bandages
Adhesive Bandage Wrap
Sterile Plasters
Insect Bite Patches
Small Scalpel
Antiseptic Wipes
Nitrile Gloves
Burn Gel Packs
Vetbond Tissue Glue

Fire Module

In line with common recommendations the fire module contains a number of different methods of starting fires without having to rely on something like a string bow, which I feel would be time wasting if fire is urgently required.

The fire module is in the right hand internal chest pocket with additional kit in the flight bag.

Contents Flight Jacket;
Matchcap XL Match Safe. With stormproof matches and tinder strips
Happy Swede Magnesium block with ferrocerium rod and striker
Ultra Fine Wire Wool Tinder

Contents Flight Bag;
Vacuum Packed Stormproof Matches and Tinder Strips
Ultra Fine Wire Wool And 9v Battery
Vials Of Potassium Permanganate And Glycerin (exothermic chemical reaction creates a rapid fire)

Water Module

Although in the time frame I expect rescuing in, food isn’t regarded as a major problem. Water could be. Dehydration can set in relatively quickly so I have a number of purification options, ranging from chemical to filtration.

The water module is in the left hand internal chest pocket with additional kit in the flighbag.

Contents Flight Jacket;
Sawyer Squeeze Micro Water Filter And Straw
Collapsible 1litre water pouch
Chlorine Dioxide Tablets

Contents Flight Bag;
Chlorine Dioxide Tablets
Collapsible 1litre water pouch
Vial Of Potassium Permanganate (small quantity acts as a water sterilising agent)

Communications Module

Current research shows that the ELT devices in aircraft are not the most reliable of devices. Arranging prompt rescue could be a life saving measure.

Devices to alert search and rescue, and to also provide signaling to rescuers is distributed between the flight jacket and bag.

In the jacket these are located in the top left sleeve pocket

Contents Flight Jacket;
Garmin In Reach Satellite Terminal
Greatland Laser Flare
Small Signalling Mirror
Rescue Whistle
Bright Orange Bandana
Led Lenser Flashlight
Micro LED flashlight and strobe

Contents Flight Bag;
Rescue Whistle
Smith And Wesson Flashlight
Yeusa Hand Held Transceiver

Shelter And Tools Module

My final module contains emergency shelter and warmth, along with tools for shelter building. The emergency candles can also be used with the ponchos to create a Palmer Furnace.

The 2 front bottom pockets contain the bulk of these, with some additional items in the flight bag and
lower sleeve pockets.

Contents Flight Jacket;
Bothy Bag 2 Man Emergency Shelter
2 Emergency Mylar Ponchos
2 Emergency Mylar Beanie Hats
6 Chemical Hand Warmers
3 Emergency Candles 5 hours each.
Fellkniven F1 Knife
Leatherman Wave
50 Metres Of 550 Paracord
10 Metres Gorilla Tape
Spare Flashlight Batteries
5 Metres Stainless Wire
Mechanix Gloves

Contents Flight Bag;
3 Emergency Candles 7 hours each
Orange Bandana
Mini Solid Fuel Stove
Smith And Wesson Flashlight
Yeusa Hand Held Transceiver

Additional Kit

There are also some high energy food bars, powdered coffee rations and honey energy drinks contained in various additional pockets.

A final item is a vacuum sealed copy of the FAA survival guide.

What Wouldn’t I do Without
I feel the single most important item in the kit, is my Fellkniven F1 Swedish survival knife. It can be used for extracting myself or passengers from a damaged aircraft. Building a shelter, building a fire. All essential activities that would be far more difficult without it.

Additional Preparation
I feel the best additional preparation that is possible, is education. We spend a large amount of time training for engine failures, EFATO, etc. But few people take the time to learn what to do in the event of an off airport landing. I suppose it is the ‘can’t happen to me’ mindset.

I have it on my list once the covid restrictions are lifted, to take both a wilderness medical course and an outdoor survival training course.