Survival kit on plane trips

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Knifemaker
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I am building a few kits of various size for various situations. Two for our cars. One pretty substantial bug out bag. A couple of small ones for day trips. Anyway I was wondering if there was any way to carry a survival kit of any kind on a plane. All I can come up with that wouldn't be suspiscous is a credit card and cash. Would they have a problem with fishing hooks, snare wire, tinder and firesteel, etc. I assume so. So what would you pack in a survival kit for airline travel?
 
There will be problem with knives, SAK, nailclippers. I think there may be some problem with the fishing kit if you are putting it in your hand carriered luagge.
 
You're right, you can't get away with much as carry on. I always carry a multi-tool, and blades in my checked baggage (be sure they're WELL secured). For carry on, I always have water, energy bar, first aid kit with Urgent QR quick clot powder (as an EW Instructor, you live with this stuff on you), a decent mini HO flashlight, and a smoke escape hood. I'm going to add a small multi-bit screw driver, and small pliers too, now that they're allowed by TSA.
 
Bladewolf said:
For carry on, I always have water, energy bar, first aid kit with Urgent QR quick clot powder (as an EW Instructor, you live with this stuff on you), a decent mini HO flashlight, and a smoke escape hood. I'm going to add a small multi-bit screw driver, and small pliers too, now that they're allowed by TSA.
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The flashlight is one specific item I was wondering about. You have flown with one and it wasn't confiscated. I've paid too much for my SF L2 to have it taken by some min wage dufus who has no idea what it is. Where do you get the QC powder? What is a smoke escape hood? Where available? Is there a list of allowed tools somewhere?
 
Is the idea of the kit just to have it with you for when you land or to have if you crash? Either way your pretty screwd I would think. If you crash and survive with your gear in your luggage what are the chances of finding it in tact? If you have it on you what does it matter if your dead from the crash? I'd go for the shoot and forget the other stuff. lol Thats just me. But I don't fly.
 
The problem I see when flying the larger commercial airliners is that if you are to abandon ship.......you are NOT allowed to carry anything with you when you jump out..

Bags, shoes or anything loose gets left behind in the craft.....

So anything used for "survival" should be in your pockets.

Matches and lighters are banned.......so I carry a small magnifying glass (not optimal, but at least it doesn't get confiscated).....fire is essential.

I also carry a small credit card size "diamond" hone.......knives or anthing pointy are again banned.........hopefully IF I survive a crash.....I maybe able to use parts of the wreckage (ie metal aircraft pieces) as an improvised knife, provided I have something to sharpen it with.

I also carry a lot of rope (paracord, hootchie cord, even dental floss) in my pockets.....

Oh.......and I wear perscription glasses......so I have a spare Combat Mag Glasses.....hopefully it will survive the crash.
 
bishop85gt said:
Is the idea of the kit just to have it with you for when you land or to have if you crash? Either way your pretty screwd I would think. If you crash and survive with your gear in your luggage what are the chances of finding it in tact? If you have it on you what does it matter if your dead from the crash?
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This question is the point of the thread. My idea is somehting on your person. I don't believe you'll be able to get to your carry on. My experience getting off of planes is that carryons in those bins STINK!!! What a mess. I don't assume you'd be able to find your luggage or carryon, but I think it would be good to stuff it with useful things anyway. So you're basically stuck with whatever you have on your person. How is your survival kit important if you don't survive the crash? I don't understand your final question.
 
Have flown back and forth to Puerto Rico frequently to visit my son, while he was in boarding school, post 9-11. No problems with my carry on, including mini-flashlights. To be on the safe side though, I carry one of my more inexpensive ones like Princeton Tec's. Here's the TSA Prohibeted link:

http://www.tsa.gov/public/interapp/editorial/editorial_1012.xml

Smoke escape hoods are disposable pullover hoods with air filters incorporated into the face of the hood. They are used for escape from toxic smoke environments, although I would probably use mine in a biohazard scenario as well. They are very easy to use compared to respirators, and are good with facial hair (me) and glasses (me). Run a search and you will find a lot of companies sell them, you can get a decent one for around $30.00.

Quick clot powder is now marketed under a couple of brand names, at least one of which should be available in any large pharmacy. I get mine from

http://www2.mooremedical.com/index.cfm?PG=CTL&CS=HOM&FN=ProductDetail&PID=12551
 
rayfloro said:
The problem I see when flying the larger commercial airliners is that if you are to abandon ship.......you are NOT allowed to carry anything with you when you jump out..
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I would love to see some flight attendant reading me the rules about what I can/cant jump out of a plane with. This idea is nuts.

"Sorry, sir, but you'll have to leave your bag. You're not allo...."

I pushed that FA off the plane for running her mouth.LOL

That said I don't think you'll be able to get to your carryon in an emergency, so it may be a moot point.
 
The DHS has a website with a list of prohibited items. "Strike anywhere" matches are prohibited in carry-on or checked luggage as are butane lighters. There is no prohibition of fire steels. Arguably, there is no prohibition of a "normal" amount of strike-on-the-box matches.
 
Ive carried on FAK, strike anywhere matches in a small keyring spy capsule (I think it gets confused for a key fob in the x ray as Ive done this 8 times now with no problems) flashlights (inova X5, PEAK LED, Photon) space blanket, dust mask, food,

The security guards usually want to play with the flashlights make sure they arent pipe bombs or something stupid, thats the only problem I've had

I dont see what the problem with butane lighters is, I've carried them on a few times when security has missed them with no ill effects
 
I personally don't see reason to have carry-on survival kit on a plane.
Because if air plane get's fucked up, you will most likely die.
And even if you survive, help will most likely come in hours.
(Except, of course, if you happen to crash in middle of pacific, but then there is John Locke)

Of course this applies only to most western airlines, if flying with Air Somalia or something similar, i would probably take as much survival items as i can carry..

And it's always good to have atleast somekind of knife & psk in baggage.
Only survival items that i see worth having on carry-on are warm clothes and personal oxygen supply, but even those are not helping if pilots are dead..
(Greece, Cypriot air crash Aug 14,2005)
 
aproy1101 said:
This question is the point of the thread. My idea is somehting on your person. I don't believe you'll be able to get to your carry on. My experience getting off of planes is that carryons in those bins STINK!!! What a mess. I don't assume you'd be able to find your luggage or carryon, but I think it would be good to stuff it with useful things anyway. So you're basically stuck with whatever you have on your person. How is your survival kit important if you don't survive the crash? I don't understand your final question.
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My last question was more of a statement. How many people survive a crash? What was in there pockets really didn't matter much. Just seems like a silly thing to prepare for. I'm not being nasty or tryin to start a fight just being real here. A crash is a crash from whatever hight your going to die or be to FUBAR to the point you can't do anything anyway. I live near a few small airports and I have seen more than my fair share of small plane crashes. My ex wife took pictures for the local paper. In I'd say ten crashes there were no survivors. And they were mostly "I almost made it crashes" to boot. Lets call them really hard landings. So I just think this thread is silly. Sorry if I offended anyone.
 
Tuk said:
I personally don't see reason to have carry-on survival kit on a plane.
Because if air plane get's fucked up, you will most likely die.
And even if you survive, help will most likely come in hours.
Click to expand...
That was what I was talking about.


Tuk said:
Only survival items that i see worth having on carry-on are warm clothes and personal oxygen supply, but even those are not helping if pilots are dead..
(Greece, Cypriot air crash Aug 14,2005)
Click to expand...
That would be another good point.
 
I don't understand taking part in a thread that you think is silly. Making light of a thread that was started with serious intentions is TROLLING? Just stay out, and thanks in advance for your self control.

Have there never been survivors of plane crashes? Survival kits are made for worst case scenarios. No one has to use a survival kit to survive because everything is hunky dory. Its about preparedness, efficient use of limited resources, and adaptability. Maybe you think this whole forum is "silly."

A serious thank you to all the people who gave real responses to this thread.
 
aproy1101 said:
I don't understand taking part in a thread that you think is silly. Making light of a thread that was started with serious intentions is TROLLING? Just stay out, and thanks in advance for your self control.

Have there never been survivors of plane crashes? Survival kits are made for worst case scenarios. No one has to use a survival kit to survive because everything is hunky dory. Its about preparedness, efficient use of limited resources, and adaptability. Maybe you think this whole forum is "silly."

A serious thank you to all the people who gave real responses to this thread.
Click to expand...
Like I said I was not tryin to start anything. just making some points is all. as for thinking this whole forum is silly well my friend I have my own forum and a few from here are members. I take this very serious. I did say I was sorry if I offended anyone. You must have missed that.
 
Sorry if I flamed you. Trying to learn from this thread is all. Doesn't take much for one to turn into a string of John Locke comments. See above. I perfectly understand that the odds of surviving are poor. Lets say you did survive. What would you be allowed to bring onto the plane that would be useful. There have been several great suggestions. Thanks.
 
Does quick clot work on the same principal as a styptic pencil ? Is it a lot better ? Can you just pour it on ? Smoke escape hood ? Good idea . No-one at airlines looks askance at someone prepared in such a manner ?
Wow I have seen some pretty sturdy mini screwdrivers . Whats the maximum length permitted ? Are Nail files still taboo ? If not a good diamond coated one is an adequate sharpener .
 
As mentioned earlier, what may, or may not be allowed off the plane in an emergency is one thing. In a real emergency, if you even have time to grab a carry on bag is another.

For that reason, the altoids tin way of thinking may be more appropriate. It's easier to keep the tin on your person if the SHTF.

While not necessary for emergencies, the travel pillow might be good to help relieve the neck ache one gets when trying to sleep in non-first class accomodations.

http://www.sitincomfort.com/trpiponebotr.html
 
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