Survival is a clock. Your job is to slow it down. Air to breathe, float to stay up, light to be found, and a ping that brings help. This guide stacks those layers so pilots and crews can buy minutes that matter.
Breathe and Buy Time: Build the “I’m Okay, Find Me Fast” Kit
Start with air and buoyancy so you stabilize first. Add daylight and night signals that get eyes on you. Finish with satellite alerting and quick messages so the right people start moving. Below are proven pieces, how they fit together, and loadouts you can copy.
What each layer buys you
- Breathe Short-term air in a ditching, splash, or flooded cabin so you can unstrap and exit.
- Float A life vest that keeps your airway out of the water while you signal and think.
- Signal Day and night visual signals that cut the search into minutes.
- Alert A PLB or sat messenger that calls the cavalry and shares your position.
The essentials (and who they serve)
Gives you a short supply of breathable air in water or smoke so you can unbuckle, orient, and exit.
Who it serves Overwater, floatplane, and utility crews around dams, bridges, and coastal ops.
Inflatable flotation that keeps your head up while you signal and conserve heat.
Who it serves Any overwater leg, river corridors, winter crossings with ice risk.
406/121.5 distress with GPS. No monthly plan. LED/IR strobe aids night pickup.
Who it serves Solo pilots, backcountry, coastal, anyone beyond cell coverage.
Two way text, tracking, weather, and SOS beyond cell coverage. Complements a PLB.
Who it serves Crews who want status checks with dispatch or family during long legs.
Reusable night signal that avoids hazmat storage. Pair with your vest or raft.
Who it serves Night ops where pyro is limited or not practical.
Orange smoke for day, red flare at night. Big attention when seconds count.
Who it serves Pilots who can carry pyro under local rules and want maximum pop.
Ditching drill, cold bay
Crew dons vests and clips eVDSD. A short EBS breath calms the scramble through a jammed belt. Everyone surfaces with air to spare and gear still attached.
Backcountry creek crossing
PLB sends position. Day/Night flare pops orange smoke as the ship crests the ridge, then the light pattern takes over at dusk.
Fast how-tos that pay off under stress
Stage a vest that actually helps
- Fit and adjust on land. Waist tight enough to stop ride-up when inflated.
- Clip a ResQFlare Pro to a D-ring and a whistle to the zipper pull.
- Keep your PLB on-body, not in a bag.
Make a two-device alert plan
- PLB for SOS without a plan. Messenger (e.g., Bivy Stick) for text and tracking.
- Preload contacts and canned messages for weather and ETAs.
- Do a monthly function check and battery status review.
Loadouts you can copy
- Overwater pilot Life vest with whistle and eVDSD plus PLB on-body and Bivy Stick for updates.
- Utility near water EBS staged at chest, compact vest, Day/Night flare for fast visual.
- Backcountry pair Two PLBs or PLB plus messenger, one streamer, one eVDSD, and a flare in the hip pocket.
FAQ
EBS and vests
Is an emergency breathing system only for helicopters
It’s used on rotor and fixed wing when there’s water, spray, or a risk of submersion. The goal is one calm breath to unclip and exit.
How should a vest fit
Snug at the waist with room to breathe. Test for ride-up by lifting at the shoulders. Keep signaling tools on the vest, not in pockets that can flood.
Signals
Electronic flare or pyrotechnic
Electronic is reusable and easy to store. Pyro is intense and short. Many carry both: reusable for routine night visibility and pyro for the big “here I am” moment.
Why carry a streamer if I have a beacon
The beacon gets teams moving. The streamer and flare help them see you fast when they arrive.
Alerts
Do I need both a PLB and a messenger
PLB gives a no-plan SOS that’s worldwide. A messenger adds two-way text, tracking, and weather. Together they cover both the mayday and the updates.
Where do I carry the PLB
On your body, clipped to vest or belt. Not in a bag that can sink or drift away.
Last updated: October 7, 2025
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