[pct-l] Emergency helicopter signalling

[ned at pacificcrestcustombuilders.com]

I discovered a two year old description from a former helicopter crew chief regarding how best to signal a helicopter. Good info for the class of '09.



 "Yea, one was a Z-Rest and there was a full length and a 3/4  self 
inflating Thermorest.  All are bright colored relative to the natural 
forest colors.  Now having been an Army Helicopter Crew Chief for many 
years I know how hard it can be to find something from the air, even 
with 3 pair of eyes focused directly on the target.  Headlamp strobes 
are useless, even at night unless its really dark, you are in a 
clearing, and the air crew are wearing night vision goggles.  Strobes 
have a very limited visibility range from the ground to the air, even at 
sea.  Hold the mattress or pad in front of you hanging down to the 
ground.  Raise it up chest high and level with the ground so that the 
bright colored side of the pad is making a 90 degree arc from facing the 
horizon to facing the sky while you are facing the aircraft.  Don't go 
above your head.  That extra 3 feet will not do anything for you, and 
you won't be able to see through it.  Side to side motion is too small 
to be seen, even with day glow orange.  One complete up and down motion 
should take 2 seconds.  This creates an orange regular strobe effect to 
the aircrew and is much more easily recognized than either stationary or 
6 foot movement.  Adrenalin will make it hard to do this small slow 
motion but it is the best.  You'll want to jump, holler, wave your hands 
etc.  All useless except for personal emotional release.  So do it 
anyway if it makes you feel better.  When they do see you, you will know 
it, either by 'wagging the tail' 'rocking the wings' or a landing 
light.  Ours wagged the tail.  The same motion along with a whistle 
attracted the hiking crews attention from 1/2 mile."   C


 
 Mtnned