Chapter 11
Helicopter Emergencies
If you are lost, there are some good common sense procedures to follow. If you are nowhere near or cannot see a town or city, the first thing you should do is climb.
An increase in altitude increases radio and navigation reception range, and also increases radar coverage. If you are flying near a town or city, you may be able to read the name of the town on a water tower or even land to ask directions.
If your helicopter has a navigational radio, such as a VOR or ADF receiver, you can possibly determine your position by plotting your azimuth from two or more navigational facilities. If GPS is installed, or you have a portable aviation GPS on board, you can use it to determine your position and the location of the nearest airport.
Communicate with any available facility using frequencies shown on the sectional chart. If you are able to communicate with a controller, you may be offered radar vectors. Other facilities may offer direction finding (DF) assistance. To use this procedure, the controller will request you to hold down your transmit button for a few seconds and then release it. The controller may ask you to change directions a few times and repeat the transmit procedure. This gives the controller enough information to plot your position and then give you vectors to a suitable landing sight. If your situation becomes threatening, you can transmit your problems on the emergency frequency 121.5 MHZ and set your transponder to 7700. Most facilities, and even airliners, monitor the emergency frequency.
Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear
Both Canada and Alaska require pilots to carry survival gear. However, it is good common sense that any time you are flying over rugged and desolated terrain, consider carrying survival gear. Depending on the size and storage capacity of your helicopter, the following are some suggested items:
- Food that is not subject to deterioration due to heat or cold. There should be at least 10,000 calories for each person on board, and it should be stored in a sealed waterproof container. It should have been inspected by the pilot or his representative within the previous six months, and bear a label verifying the amount and satisfactory condition of the contents.
- A supply of water.
- Cooking utensils.
- Matches in a waterproof container.
- A portable compass.
- An ax at least 2.5 pounds with a handle not less than 28 inches in length.
- A flexible saw blade or equivalent cutting tool.
- 30 feet of snare wire and instructions for use.
- Fishing equipment, including still-fishing bait and gill net with not more than a two inch mesh.
- Mosquito nets or netting and insect repellent sufficient to meet the needs of all persons aboard, when operating in areas where insects are likely to be hazardous.
- A signaling mirror.
- At least three pyrotechnic distress signals.
- A sharp, quality jackknife or hunting knife.
- A suitable survival instruction manual.
- Flashlight with spare bulbs and batteries.
- Portable ELT with spare batteries.
- Additional items when there are no trees: Stove with fuel or a self-contained means of providing heat for cooking.
- Tent(s) to accommodate everyone on board.
- Additional items for winter operations: Winter sleeping bags for all persons when the temperature is expected to be below 7°C.
- Two pairs of snow shoes.
- Spare ax handle.
- Honing stone or file.
- Ice chisel.
- Snow knife or saw knife.