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During a landout in a glider, you may find yourself in a hostile environment lasting for several hours to several days. While most US pilots think of the desert or Rocky Mountain areas as the likely place for an extended stay to occur, it can just as easily happens closer to home. In April 2007 a very experienced ridge soaring pilot went down along the forested Alleghany Mountains in Pennsylvania. He was injured and was forced to spend a night in freezing wet weather when rescuers were unable to quickly locate him.

So what might you want to have in your landout kit to help yourself? Years ago when I started flying cross country I asked myself the same question. All of my subsequent landouts have been non-events with quick retrieves but as a former Boy Scout I wanted to “be prepared” so I started a list and gathered supplies.  Let's explore a list of

Must-Haves

  • Carry Case – What will you use to store your landout kit items? One suggestion is a small zippered cloth money bag that you can find at office supply stores. Something that will stand up to some wear and tear. Add something smaller to hang on your parachute such as a “SMAK PAK”. Some pilots wear a vest with many pockets such as used by fishermen.
  • Water and Food – You should always carry some during any flight no matter how short.
  • Communications – A cell phone is a basic necessary item. An important addition is an emergency location device such as a PLB, SPOT or InReach. Be sure to carry a charger/cable that connects to your ship’s battery.
  • Note Paper – You should leave a detailed note if you decide to leave your glider. THAT BEING SAID it is universally felt that it is always better to JUST STAY PUT.
  • Clothing – It might have been sunny and warm when you took off but be prepared for colder weather. "Jersey" style work gloves are surprisingly warm and pack small.
  • Space (or sleeping bag) Blanket - Small and light made of mylar.
  • Chemical hand warmers - Take several along.
  • Tie Down Kit – Some string/wire, three garbage bags, and the rocks/dirt you find laying around will make a simple tie-down kit. The garbage bags can double as a poncho or ground cloth.
  • Bugs – The bug repellant in towelette form might be handy.
  • Flashlight - LED type with spare batteries.
  • First Aid – A small travel kit with the essentials.
  • Knife – Multi-knife like Swiss Army, Leatherman, SOG, Gerber, etc.
  • Signal Mirror and Whistle.
  • Spare Reading Eyeglasses.
  • Wing Tape – Lots of possible uses for this item that we all have.
  • Your Parachute – Has lots of material and rope to use in a pinch.

Optional Items

To be considered for more extreme situations;
  • More Water and Food – More water is better. Food should be high energy that won’t easily spoil (Tootsie Rolls, Twizzlers, etc).
  • Better First Aid Kit
  • Firestarter – Matches (waterproof) or flint type.
  • Miniature “Sardine Can” Survival Kit – It's amazing what they can pack into these.
  • Air Band Radio – Yaesu makes a very compact model.
  • Compass.
  • Water Purification Tablets or Straw
  • Cable Saw - Very compact and does a great job at cutting firewood.
I am sure everyone will have many opinions, ideas, and additions to this list. Please let me know.

One closing thought about a landout versus a bailout. Few if any of the above-mentioned items, even stored deep within your pockets, are likely to survive a bailout unless they are securely inside of a tough container (SMAK PAK) which is securely attached to your parachute or within zippered pockets. See my website for more information about bailout kits and emergency location devices.
 
John Derosa  John DeRosa is the current president of the Sky Soaring Glider Club located northwest of Chicago and the past president of the Chicagoland Glider Council. He is moderately successful flying his ASW-27B. John can be reached at [email protected] and at http://aviation.derosaweb.net.