Pistol Packing Pilots?

[klmmarine]

Having worked in Alaska I know that most places are very remote and wild. I was just wondering if pilots flying up there were packing, or if firearms were equipment usually carried on the aircraft when working?

Edited April 27, 2007 by klmmarine

[Gunner]

Having worked in Alaska I know that the most places are very remote and wild. I was just wondering if pilots flying up there were packing, or if firearms were equipment usually carried on the aircraft when working?

 

 

I go up to Alaska quite often with my father as he goes there for work and I tag along. Most of the pilots I know carry firearms. Usually not on themselves but in the survival kit.

 

Most of the stuff I have seen has been pretty big caliber...

[fatnlazy]

I'm almost always packing, on my person or in my flight bag, no matter where I am or what I'm doing.

[arotrhd]

Just don't get caught in Canada with any heat onboard during a ferry flight to AK...

 

Most of my pals up in the last frontier like the .44 Mags though.

 

 

-WATCH FOR THE WIRES-

[Marc D]

Having worked in Alaska I know that the most places are very remote and wild. I was just wondering if pilots flying up there were packing, or if firearms were equipment usually carried on the aircraft when working?

 

I haven't flown in Alaska, but I seem to remember that state law requires a gun on Alaskan back country flights. I don't know maybe an old wives tale.

 

Marc D.

[Marc D]

Having worked in Alaska I know that the most places are very remote and wild. I was just wondering if pilots flying up there were packing, or if firearms were equipment usually carried on the aircraft when working?

 

Here you go.

 

Alaskan Survival Kit Regulations

Alaska state law (AS 02.35.110. Emergency Rations and Equipment) was modified a while back to reduce the equipment required to be carried. The current regulations require that no airman may make a flight inside the state with an aircraft unless emergency equipment is carried as follows:

 

1. The minimum equipment to be carried during summer months is as follows: (for all single engine and for multiengine aircraft licensed to carry 15 passengers or less)

 

(A) rations for each occupant sufficient to sustain life for one week;

 

( one axe or hatchet;

 

© one first aid kit;

 

(D) an assortment of tackle such as hooks, flies, lines, and sinkers;

 

(E) one knife;

 

(F) fire starter;

 

(G) one mosquito headnet for each occupant;

 

(H) two small signaling devices such as colored smoke bombs, railroad fuses, or Very pistol shells, in sealed metal containers;

 

2. In addition to the above, the following must be carried as minimum equipment from October 15 to April 1 of each year:

 

(A) one pair of snowshoes

 

( one sleeping bag

 

© one wool blanket for each occupant over four

 

As you can see, the Alaskan regulations are minimal and do not address much in the way of specifics or quality. The old regulations were similarly minimal, but required double the food, a gill net and a firearm and specified matches instead of a generic "firestarter." The old requirements were as follows:

 

1. The minimum equipment to be carried during summer months is as follows: (for all single engine and for multiengine aircraft licensed to carry 15 passengers or less)

 

a. food for each occupant sufficient to sustain life for two weeks

 

b. one axe or hatchet

 

c. one first aid kit

 

d. one pistol, revolver, shotgun or rifle and ammunition for same

 

e. one small gill net and an assortment of tackle such as hooks, flies, lines, sinkers, etc.

 

f. one knife

 

g. two small boxes of matches

 

h. one mosquito headnet for each occupant

 

i. two small signalling devices such as colored smoke bombs, railroad fuses or very pistol shells, in sealed metal containers

 

2. In addition to the above, the following must be carried as minimum equipment from October 15 to April 1 of each year:

 

a. one pair of snowshoes

 

b. one sleeping bag

 

c. one wool blanket for each occupant over four

[Autorotator]

Nice. Good job on the research Marc! That's pretty interesting. I never thought you would be required to carry a firearm. So it looks like they changed it so you don't have to carry a firearm. I think I probably still would if my employer allowed it, just in case.

[gmsemel]

They change it a few years back, because pistols are a big no no in Canada these days. I aways carried a rifle and while most would think of bears and such, I most of the time had a .22 I liked the browning Auto because it was light and you could break it down, barrel and forend came apart so you didn't need much space for it, allong with a couple of boxes of ammo and the whole thing was around 5 lbs. You well see a lot more small game rabbits and grouse easier to collect. I never found handguns to be that useful for me, most are heavy and recoil to much. With handguns you really need to shoot all the time, but I do know a few guys that can shoot them and shoot them very well. I just never put the time into it./ If you can find a Savage Model 24 its perfect, especially if you can find one in .22 RF or Hornet with a 410 or 20 ga underbarrel. Those are great Airplane and helicopter guns. Most employers in Alaska will require it. In Anchorage Great Northern Guns is a good place to look. I use to UPS mine to were I was going to be a couple of weeks before I was due. I would not fly out in the bush, with out one. I never had a problem going thru Canada with a rifle or two.

Edited April 30, 2007 by gmsemel