Survival kit on plane trips

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.
(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)
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Yep, not much use for a PSK on and airliner. Not many survival situations come up in transit. Believe me, If the plane crashes, and you somehow beat the statistics and live, your PSK will be the last thing on your mind. Just put your stuff in your baggage and check it. NO muss no fuss. :)
 
aproy1101 said:
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?
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when i fly, which isn't often, and under protest as it's the only way in any reasonable time to see my dad 3000 miles away...

o i print out the current TSA list; that way i can argue about what they try to "take", like my knitting needles, or other items.

o "take" - they are not allowed to take/confiscate ANYTHING from you unless they are also going to arrest you, or it's outright illegal to posses anyway - though some items in theory by TRYING to get them on a plane, even by accident might land you in trouble (and then they'll probably try to arrest you anyway).

the term you want is "voluntary surrender" :jerkit: . they might imply, strongly you have to give it up, and you might think they're taking it, not so. "that's not allowed, you'll have to leave it" is totally correct. you do not however have to give it to them - chances are they'll keep it for personal use, or if it's actually logged... sell it on ebay, or then take it "legally" ;) want to buy SAKs by the pound? ebay. airport sales.

o #1 carry-on : a self addressed stamped padded envelope, lots of postage... to secure you items into should someone want to "take" them. mail them home, send them ahead [1], whatever. barring that, just plain leave the line if they let you, and throw give it to someone outside security, even a stranger. it's ... the higher ground.

[1] sending ahead - left from tsa checked luggage is out of control. things go missing. a lot. i'm told a lot of knife shows have suffered because guys could no longer trust that their very expensive knives would make it - so they either send it ahead via a secure shipping service, insured, extra expenses, require someone to receive the package, etc... so, if you know you're going somewhere for a time, send it ahead. trust nothing to checked that isn't insured (home/apt insurance, do they even OFFER flight insurance?).
one possible thing: if your item can be taken apart, to make it look broken, less attractive, do it. put pieces in different places. pockets, tote bag, shoes. whatever. easy grabs are what these guys look for. *cough* officially of course, there is no theft :P

you can also ask the TSA guy to lock your luggage at check in, after they look at it for you. they won't let you touch it. i also ask them to thread a colored zip tie through the latch for me. the know exactly why i ask, and they've done it for me. if that zip tie is missing, know someone has been in there. you could also use safety tape perhaps, but they get cranky at anything you check, that they can see into, or open. expect everything to get rifled, touched, and played with if they like. they wear rubber gloves for a reason ;P

as for flashlights, well, it is required by the FAA and other regs, iirc that flashlights are mandatory on flights. required to be easily accessible, so taking them is wrong, checking them is wrong too. i've never had a problem, and if i did, i would take names, and kick ass (later), and mail my flashlight home. don't be too surprised that the mall ninja min wage guard guy doesn't know exactly what your flashlight, or knife, or other pretty item is. chances are they know EXACTLY what is valuable, and what is not.

before the 9/11 incident, i used to fly with nice knives and whatnot. had a guard try to take mine, claimed it was dangerous and too long. you could tell he just wanted it for himself. a VERY official looking guy in a swanky hat comes over, asks what the problem is, and the guard says "dangerous weapon sir". i pass it over to hat guy, he looks at it and says "very nice, i carry one myself, let him on the plane". bwa hah hah.

fly safe, but personally, boycott it if you can.

bladite
 
I like the smoke hood. One thing that you can do (that most people don't know about) is to wear cotton clothes. Synthetics melt and cause horrific burns, and there's almost always fire. Doesn't hurt to wear a good heavy cotton jacket on takeoff and landing. Easy protection, nothing to offend the TSA.

Can you say Carharrt?
 
Kinda what I was scared of Bladite. Thanks for the 411. For a silly thread this has had lots of good 411.
 
Thats a neat idea with the envelope . I hope one day to travel and hunt . There is a lot of things I like around me that sometimes other folks don,t .
 
I usually carry a photon microlight, a compass, and a magnesium firestarter on a carribeener with me on my plane trips, and often have a DMT pocket diamond stone in my laptop case. Nothing against any of that on the TSA website, which I check from time to time.
Also, I wear a hat, wouldn't want to get my close to bald head sunburned in a SHTF situation. :eek:

I usually have a handfull if knives in my checked luggage, stuck into my shaving kit, couldn't leave home without them...

Good pointer about the synthetic clothes, too. I had read that the Marines are banning their personell from wearing stuff like Underarmor due to the melting to the skin problems.
 
I have never had a problem with flashlights as I usually have a Fenix L1P and Surefire E2 with me. I have never even had a TSA agent even look twice at them. I did try to take a Leatherman Juice packed in a Altoids tin, they caught that in a heartbeat. While looking they found a lighter in my PSK, and took that from me, but left the P38, tweezers, needles, etc. I was able to mail the Leatherman back, but they would not give me the lighter back, since you are not allowed to mail lighters. I have had to mail other things back and never had a problem with that. Some airports even have a mail station with padded envelopes right outside the security gate.

Ready
 
Ready said:
I have never had a problem with flashlights as I usually have a Fenix L1P and Surefire E2 with me. I have never even had a TSA agent even look twice at them. I did try to take a Leatherman Juice packed in a Altoids tin, they caught that in a heartbeat. While looking they found a lighter in my PSK, and took that from me, but left the P38, tweezers, needles, etc. I was able to mail the Leatherman back, but they would not give me the lighter back, since you are not allowed to mail lighters. I have had to mail other things back and never had a problem with that. Some airports even have a mail station with padded envelopes right outside the security gate.

Ready
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Great information. Thanks.
 
I used to do a lot of flying. I don’t anymore unless I absolutely, positively have to get somewhere and there is no other way. Not afraid of flying, simply think that 90% of the security measures are BS and an infringement on my rights. I don’t visit places like NY were it is essentially illegal to defend yourself and I don’t fly for the same reason. That said I do carry what you might call a survival kit as a carryon. I view is as a minimum set of basic necessities in an essentially hostile environment. Here is a list that I developed over the years in no particular order:
>Bottle of saline solution – for contacts and to keep sinuses hydrated. Carried in toilet kit.
>Always bring your own water – Airplane holding tanks are ripe for infections.
>I also always bring my on food – power bars etc.
>Good supply of individual Handi wipe – Do you watch Monk? Carried in toilet kit.
>Small bottle of Purel cleaner – Same reason. Wash often and thoroughly. In toilet kit.
>Foldable N-95 face mask – Prevent contamination via air born pathagens or smoke/dust.
>Good set of ear plugs
>Smoke / dust goggles
>Sun glasses
>Flashlight – usually a Mini-mag with extra batteries and bulb.
>Second LED- Photon II or other.
>Small AM/FM/NOAA Weather radio – make sure it uses the same batteries as flashlight. If traveling overseas substitute SW band for Weather band.
>Nitril Gloves – Protection from pathogens – usually carried in small FAK.
>Good pair of Kevlar lined Leather gloves – Valeco makes a good inexpensive pair.
>Smoke hood – currently don’t have one but will add one if I fly again.
>FAK modified to abide by TSA idiot regs.
>Quantity of Fast acting Tylenol
>Bottle of Antihistomines – helps keep sinuses open and helps you sleep in flight.
>Any personal meds.
>Diamond stone for sharpening.
>Long lasting candle.
>Length of Jute twine – you can always use string and it makes good tinder
>Sparking rod
>Metal cup
>Oral rehydration powders – Gatoraid etc.
>Notebook and pen – Make the pen a stout metal one. Good as expedient weapon.
>Duct Tape
>Needle nose pliers
> Multi – screwdriver
>Add a pair of electricians sissors now that TSA has opened that up. They are with in the legal length and attached with a screw so can be taken apart to make two survival cutting tools.
>Whistle
>Signal mirror
>Toilet kit
>Sewing kit – Again TSA modified.
>Compass
>Binoculars
>GPS
>Water Purification tabs
>Documents folder
>Change of clothes
>Boonie hat, rain/wind jacket and sweater/bandana.
All this goes into a small roll / duffle bag that I stuff under my seat, not in the overhead bin.
I carry a plain stout wooden crooked cane. Very effective weapon if you know how to use it. I have a bad leg and used that and the cane as an excuse to pre-board. I make no excuse. I feel if the government / airlines are going to strip me of any and all means of controlling my personal safety I will take advantage of any opportunity to better my situation. I always try to sit over the wing by the exit door. I always wear long pants and shirt and good walking shoes. Clothes are either cotton or wool. I will carry moccasins to go through security then change shoes on the plane. I also usually wear a belt with no metal hardware just to ease my path through security.
I never drink alcohol before or during a flight. It dehydrates you and dulls your reactions. I only ever drink from my canteen or water bottle and try to over drink. I try to sleep as much as possible during a flight, therefore I hate sitting next to talkative people or near kids. I bring my own food, usually high protein.
Understand that you are in a potentially dangerous and hostile environment. Never let your guard down. This goes as much in the terminals as on the planes. On boarding I will note every exit and the direction and distance from my seat. Also note where the FAK is. After take off I will go to the head as an excuse to count the seats between me and the other exits. This is memorized. Statistics show that if you are not killed on impact and often this is the case then the majority of people die from inhaling toxic fumes while trying to find the exit. By memorizing the distance and number of seats to an exit, with a smoke hood or staying low, even in total darkness you have chance of getting out. At least you how far in which direction you need to go. I will usually close my eyes and envision moving to the exits in total darkness and in a mob of people. I keep my bag under my set. If told by a FA to bend over and KMAGB prior to a crash I will slip the strap over my shoulder, pull on the smoke hood, gloves and take out the flashlight. No FA is going to make me take the time to remove the bag before exiting.
I like a compass as you can tell when a plane changes direction at a time or place that is odd. I have done this and had several minutes foreknowledge of a change of route before the pilot decided to let the peons know. Any foreknowledge is good IMO!
Just one other thing. I have never done this but it has been suggested that you carry a vibrator and or other sexually oriented but legal items and place them in the top of your carry on. This is strickly for the purpose of embarrassing security staff. If they are poorly trained, and dispite what the government would have your believe most are, they may focus on those items and be less disposed to search deeply or question other items in your bag. I worked for a number of years with a major security company and trained airport security personnel before they were taken over by the government. This is something I saw work and later trained for. YMMV. Don’t do anything stupid or illegal and don’t fly if you don’t have to. JM2CW.
OldSalt.
 
Your list may be over doing it! We are going on a holiday, not going to war or some Island where there are totally no civilisation.
 
Acwire_2125 wrote:
<Your list may be over doing it! We are going on a holiday, not going to war or some Island where there are totally no civilisation.>
LOL, you may be right, but in actuality most of this stuff are things that I have discovered have a very practical purpose whether you are going to war or on holiday, whether your plane crashes or touches down like a feather.
Look at the items.
1. I always carry a walking cane with me when I travel either around the city or across the world. I suffered Polio as a kid and have a weak leg that tires easily and I find the cane an aid to walking. It is just an added bonus that it is an excellent CQ self defense weapon that is legal to carry on planes.
2. The toilet kit. I always carry on when I travel, either to war or vacation. I like to keep my teeth cleaned and face shaved
3. Sewing kit. Can’t count the times I have had to sew a button on while on a trip. Also a good way to make friends and influence people to loan out a needle and thread to a lady in need.
4. Bottle saline solution. I wear contacts, so it is a necessary part of my toilet kit. If it serves to hydrate your sinuses dried out by airplane AC or wash smoke/dust out of your eyes that’s just an added bonus. Most of my kit is dual use which, IIANM, is a prime goal with any survival gear.
5. Bringing your own water is just good sense IMO. Airplane holding tanks may go a long time between flushing and refilling. Most of the time they are topped off and not regularly cleaned. Doesn’t take much to get a bacterial farm going. Plus do you want to chance the quantity and type of disinfectant some boob of an attendant may use . Yes you can purchase bottles water in flight at what $1.50 per .5L bottle? Mine costs $0.50 at the grocery store, so I’ll bring 3 to your one.
6. Food. Guess that is a matter of personal choice. I don’t like airplane food and have been on flights where they ran out before I was served. I believe I can purchase and bring on board better, more nutritionally food and be sure to have some. If the plane does crash in a wilderness, I just might have a couple of extra power bars to see me through should I survive.
7. Handi-wipes and Purel. Call Me Monk, I just don’t trust the level of sanitation anyplace that caters to a large number of strangers over time. You can wipe down an Airplane lavatory or john seat with the toughest biological disinfectant known to man and 3 min. later some 12 year old kid with a highly infectious flu or other bug can sneeze, spit or throwup all over it. Call me paranoid, but , when traveling I always carry a couple of disinfectant wipe in my pocket. I will wipe down a toilet seat before use and also a lavatory and door knob. I havn’t gotten a disease in 20 years from air or touch born agents.
8. N-95 mask- don’t use it much, but if someone sat next to me coughing and sneezing and I couldn’t move a good distance away, I would certainly put it on, as much to make a point as to protect my self. Who knows what plague he may be carrying?
9. Ear plugs – I ‘ve used them several times to drown out insessent talkers and loud mouth kids. If you hate to be talked to on a plane and the person won’t take the hint, just pull them out, look them in the eye and stick them in.
10. Dust goggles – last time I used them was in Lubbock Texas. Upon exiting the terminal into the middle of dust storm. They have other uses and don’t take up much space.
11. Sunglasses – I consider them more than a luxury anywhere the sunshines.
12. Flashlight – I consider it more that a luxury anywhere the sun does not shine.
13. FAK – I always carry a small FAK anytime I travel. I consider it just common sense. Nitril gloves, pain killer (Tylenol) and other med are part of that kit.
14. Leather gloves – YMMV – They don’t take much space and if you do need them, there is not much you can substitute to replace them .
15. Other items, diamond hone, candle, sparking rod, metal cup, rehydration powders, notebook and pen, duct tape, pliers, screwdriver, whistle, compass, purification tabs are all thinks that I normally carry in my PSK/BOB that is with me all the time, either in my truck , at work or at home. They are all legal to carry on a plane and could come in handy. Use your own judgment.
16. The signal mirror is part of my toilet kit. I use it mostly for putting in my contacts.
17. At war or on vacation I have always like to have a good pair of small compact binoculars.
18. GPS. If you have one, I would think that they would come in very handy, whether trying to navigate through the woods or to the Cistine chaple.
19. Change of clothes. To me it just makes good sense to have a change available. You can become stranded in a lay over, wet or dirty through a number of unforeseen and unfortunate incidents.
20. On vacation or not, I suggest a hat, a wind/rain jacket and a sweater and bandana

You can take my comments about a hostile environment for what you think it is worth. Personally, I see the world in general as a hostile place. Read somewhere that there are more things with teeth, claws, stings and stickers in the world than there are warm and fuzzy. A corollary to Murphy’s Law warns us that the Universe is Hostile.
My attitude is to hope for the best and plan for the worst. Don’t they say that then you won’t be disappointed.
Later
OldSalt.
 
Quick clot; there is stuff called Hemcon and something else- I forget- apparently it works well, but is damned expensive like US $100 per 'bandage' I'm not up to speed with all of that stuff right now, but my understanding is that Hemcon is a granular powder- correct me if Im wrong anyone...
 
OldSalt ? I see your personal reasoning for most of what you bring . Why do you need saline solution to keep sinuses open ? Is it just due to cabin pressure ? Does it serve any other purpose . I guess what you need is a personal choice . I wouldn,t bring everything you bring . There are a couple of things you mentioned I will add to my kit .
 
aproy1101 said:
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.

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.
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I agree. I'll be taking it off w/ me if anyone survives the crash. I have mine in a Kelty mid sized pack w/ hydration. And it fits under the seat in front of me. Even the smaller planes. So it'll be coming w/ me.

In mine, I've got:
water proof coat even in the summer, it's nice to have a coat at nite
heavy duty space blanket w/ built in hood
first aid kit that I added to. I've also got the CQ blood clot stuff in it
katadyn water filter I use it for South America etc
parachute material hammock incase I get stuck in an airport
extra rope and paracord
Inova x5 & minimag light w/ led upgrade extra batteries for both
2 bandanas
I stole an airline blanket and stuffed in there too :o

There may be more that I can't think of right now, but it sails thru TSA every time. And I fly over 50k per year.
 
Have anyone tried to bring a wire saw up a plane?? Because it is not in the "not allowed list" so can we bring one up??
 
Kevin the grey said:
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 .
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I think that 7" is the maximum length for screwdrivers and pliers. You can check out TSA website for the list.
 
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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Sheep bleating........... :mad:
Ummm WHO is gonna stop me ?
 
The only things I'd take are immediate use items like flashlights and signaling devices such as a Signal Mirror and whistle. One suggestion would be to take a Doug Ritter PSP and remove the scalpel blade, fishing kit and sewing needle, and take the rest with you. Lots of good stuff is left:Spark-Lite™ Firestarter, 4 Spark-Lite™ Tinder-Quik, Fox-40® Rescue Howler™ Survival Whistle, Rescue Flash™ Signal Mirror, 20mm Survival Compass, Fresnel Lens Magnifier. Do safety pins qualify? I'd probably ditch those too. The idea isn't to set up camp, it's to attract attention and get rescued. Airport security didn't look twice at my flashlight.
 
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