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SIGNALLING
If youhaveaLocatorbeacon, operate it asdescribed in ‘EMERGENCY
ACTIVATIONOFDISTRESSBEACONS (onpage373)’.
Collectwood, grass, etcandbuildseveral signallingfires–preferably in the formof
a triangle.Useoil from theengineand tyres tomakeblacksmoke.Unless there is
amplefirewood in thearea, donot lightfiresuntil youhearor seesearchaircraft, or
until desperate.Becareful tohaveafirebreakbetween thefiresandyour aircraft.
Try tohave thefiresdownwind from theaircraft.
Conserveyourbatteries if theaircraft radio isundamaged.Afteroneattempt to
contact anairwaysoperationsunit, donotuseyour transmitteruntil youhearor
seesearchaircraft.Maintaina listeningwatch, assearchaircraftmaybroadcast
informationor instruction in thehope that youcan receive.Makeanoteof, andcall
on theoverlyingcontrolledairspace frequency.Watch for contrails.
Makesignalson thegroundusing the ‘SearchandRescueGroundSignals
illustrated’ in thissectionand in theEMERGSection.
Aircraftmayflyover yournotified routeon thefirstor secondnight. Light thefires
assoonasyouhear them, and ifpossiblekeep themburningall night.
If youdonothaveaheliographor amirror, try to removesomebrightmetal fittings
fromyour aircraft for signalling–anyflashseenby theaircraftwill be investigated.
hints
5 – forced land i ngs