99s Fly!

News from the Mat-Su Valley 99s

October 7, 2022

by Stef Goza, Chapter Chair

We had over 20 attendees to our program on survival kits on September 13, 2022. A huge thank you to our presenters and to our hosts for the meeting space!

There is a wealth of info out there on this subject and we are in no way experts, but here are a few key takeaways:

1. Know how to use everything in your pack and verify it will do the job you need it to.
2. Review and update your pack at regular intervals. Check expiration dates. Make sure items are in good working condition.
3. If you do find yourself in a situation, give your Will to Survive a boost by remembering the STOP Acronym: Sit, Think, Observe, Plan.
4. Practice your skills regularly. Much like the emergency procedures we practice in our aircraft, test yourself on basic survival tasks. Start that fire when it’s pouring down rain, build a shelter with items around you, etc.
5. Have essential items on your person. Survival vests, pants with cargo pockets etc can be helpful. Have your kit accessible and not buried in the far reaches of your tail section.

Some References

• This one lists the minimum requirements per the State of Alaska: https://dot.alaska.gov/stwdav/akfly.shtml
• https://www.aopa.org/-/media/Files/AOPA/Home/Go-Flying/International-pdf-files/Best-Practices-for-Alaska-Aviation-Survival-and-Rescue-Gear.pdf
• https://www.faa.gov/pilots/training/airman_education/media/camisurvivalmanual.pdf