Veeduber wrote:
(For those of you who haven't done this sort of thing, see the Canadian regs
for required survival gear.)


Survival Equipment List

Alaskan Survival Kit Regulations

Alaska state law requires that no airman may make a flight inside the
state with an aircraft unless emergency equipment is carried as follows:
1. The minimum equipment to be carried during summer months is as
follows: (for all single engine and for multiengine aircraft licensed to
carry 15 passengers
or less)
a. food for each occupant sufficient to sustain life for two weeks
b. one axe or hatchet
c. one first aid kit
d. one pistol, revolver, shotgun or rifle and ammunition for same.
e. one small gill net and an assortment of tackle such as hooks, flies,
lines, sinkers, etc.
f. one knife
g. two small boxes of matches
h. one mosquito headnet for each occupant
i. two small signaling devices such as colored smoke bombs, railroad
fuses or very pistol shells, in sealed metal containers
2. In addition to the above, the following must be carried as minimum
equipment from October 15 to April 1 of each year:
a. one pair of snowshoes
b. one sleeping bag
c. one wool blanket for each occupant over four
Canadian Survival Kit Regulations
Canada used to have pretty stringent regulations regarding required
survival gear. They recently revised the regulations. The current
version of the regulation follows, with the
former version, a fairly good guide for what may be considered acceptable.
Survival Equipment - Flights over Land
602.61 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall operate an
aircraft over land unless there is carried on board survival equipment,
sufficient for the survival on the ground of each person on board, given
the geographical area, the season of the year and anticipated seasonal
climatic variations, that provides the means for:
(a) starting a fire;
(b) providing shelter;
(c) providing or purifying water; and
(d) visually signalling distress.
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply in respect of
(a) a balloon, a glider, a hang glider, a gyroplane or an ultra-light
aeroplane;
(b) an aircraft that is operated within 25 nautical miles of the
aerodrome of departure and that has the capability of radiocommunication
with surface-based radio
station for the duration of the flight;
(c) a multi-engined aircraft this is operated south of 66 30' north latitude
(i) in IFR flight within controlled airspace, or
(ii) along designated air routes;
(d) an aircraft that is operated by an air operator, where the aircraft
is equipped with equipment specified in the air operator's company
operations manual, but not
with the equipment required by subsection (1); or
(e) an aircraft that is operated in a geographical area where and at a
time of year when the survival of the persons on board is not jeopardized.
You should be aware that hand guns and fully automatic weapons are not
legal to be carried or worn in Canada. (They may seize your airplane!).
Canada has new firearm regulations! Please visit their web site at:
http://www.ccra-adrc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/.../rc4227-e.html
Old Canadian Regulations (no longer in force)
Emergency Equipment for Flights in Sparsely Settled Areas (most of the
area north of 52 degrees North latitude is designated as "Sparsely Settled")
1.Food having a caloric value of at least 10,000 calories per person
carried, not subject to deterioration by heat or cold and stored in a
sealed waterproof
container bearing a tag or label on which the operator of the aircraft
or his representative has certified the amount and satisfactory
condition of the food in the container following an inspection made not
more than 6 months prior to the flight.
2.Cooking utensils.
3.Matches in a waterproof container.
4.A stove and a supply of fuel or a self-contained means of providing
heat for cooking when operating north of the tree line.
5.A portable compass.
6.An axe of at least 2 1/2 pounds or 1 kilogram weight with a handle of
not less than 28 inches or 70 centimeters in length. (typically referred
to as a "Hudson Bay" axe)
7.A flexible saw blade or equivalent cutting tool.
8.Snare wire of at least 30 feet or 9 meters and instructions for its use.
9.Fishing equipment including still fishing bait and a gill net of not
more than a 2 inch or 3 centimeter mesh.
10.Mosquito nets or netting and insect repellant sufficient to meet the
needs of all persons carried when operating in an area where insects are
likely to be hazardous.
11.Tents or engine and wing covers of a suitable design, coloured or
having panels coloured in international orange or other high visibility
colour, sufficient to accommodate all persons when operating north of
the tree line.
12.Winter sleeping bags sufficient in quantity to accommodate all
persons carried when operating in an area where the mean daily
temperature is likely to be
7 degrees C (approx. 45 degrees F) or less.
13.Two pairs of snow shoes when operating in areas where the ground snow
cover is likely to be 12 inches or 30 centimeters of more.
14.A signalling mirror.
15.At least 3 pyrotechnical distress signals.
16.A sharp jack-knife or hunting knife of good quality.
17.A suitable survival instruction manual.
18.Conspicuity panel.
The following are suggested as useful additional equipment:
1.Spare Axe Handle
2.Honing stone or file
3.Ice chisel
4.Snow knife or snow saw
5.Snow shovel
6.Flashlight with spare bulbs and batteries
7.Pack sack