Emergency Preparedness for Amateur Pilots
As an amateur pilot, I recognize the tremendous dangers inherent to my hobby. It’s not uncommon for mechanical problems to force pilots to bring their planes in for a crash landing. Luckily, I’ve never had to deal with such a catastrophic problem. I’m always paying careful attention to sounds of the engine and to my various instrument panels. Still, it pays to be careful.
In addition to the standard emergency kit I keep inside the cockpit, I also travel with a handheld GPS. That way, if I should have to land in a densely wooded area or some other place far away from civilization, I can bring up the coordinates and find a way to get help. Technology has improved our lives in many ways, but a GPS mapping device might actually be capable of saving lives in certain instances.