JJ:

From time to time, I have flown searches for the CAP in
Alaska. One thing that downed pilots have to remember is
that finding crashes from the air in remote areas is not as
easy as it might sound. TM..BTDT.

Anything the pilot can do on the ground to attract attention
significantly increases the chances that you will be found
sooner.

Smoky fires are great. Something in that glider will burn
with lots of smoke. Busted gear doors, whatever. Look around
and see what suitable bits of fiberglass or tire are handy.

Small signal mirrors work great as well when the sun is out
and can be highly directional. MG pilots may have them for
checking prop retraction. Other pilots should consider
carrying one. They are small and light.

Pete
Anchorage

JJ Sinclair wrote:

During daylight hours, make smoke from a small fire. During the summer, in the
California woods, you are likely to have a Forest Service spotter plane on you
in a heart beat. Don't start a forest fire, just a very small *smoke* producer.
What most of us accomplish whenever we try to light a camp fire------------Just
smoke, no flame.
JJ Sinclair

--

Peter D. Brown
http://home.gci.net/~pdb/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/akmtnsoaring/