Operations and Forced Landings In Remote Areas
Because of the difficulties of communication in remote areas, Ops, or someone responsible, must know where you are. If you have to make a forced landing, you must ensure that the Company is notified together with the appropriate ATC, so that overdue action is not set in motion unnecessarily. In the Sparsely Settled Area of Canada you must be able to communicate with a ground station from any point along your route, which possibly means using SSB HF (5680 KHz), unless within 25 nm of your base or an airport.
When leaving passengers in an isolated position, you need to make sure of a couple of things. Firstly, everyone understands the time (and date) of pickup, the location and the method of backup transportation. Also, keep a record of the names, all relevant grid references, etc.
Keep in mind the recovery problems should the engines fail to start after a shutdown; always position as close as possible to a track or road to save trouble later (engineers like being near a pub as well, if you can manage it). The track or road will also help as a line feature to make your way back with if you wander off and get lost.
Don’t let your fuel get too low – it’s usually delivered to accurate GPS co-ordinates, which may be on top of a frozen lake so the drums will sink in Spring and not be there when you want them. Either that or Ops may have written them down wrongly. My point is that the added stress of looking for fuel that isn’t there when you’re short anyway is not what you need.
Assuming your passengers don’t carry too much baggage, you should be able to carry a few home comforts, such as a tent, a stove that runs on aircraft fuel, high-calorie food and a sleeping bag rated for the temperatures you expect to meet. Keep it out of the aircraft when refuelling, so you don’t get left with nothing if it catches fire.
If you're forced down, the same principles of passenger preparation for landing apply as for ditching (see above). Having arrived on the ground, the first task (if necessary) is to assist survivors and apply First Aid, after turning on the ELT or SARBE if you have one, and the second to provide shelter (once the ELT is on, leave it on, as that will make best use of the batteries). The absence of food and water should not become a problem for some time if everyone's had their breakfast
– even in the Arctic, in Summer, there's plenty of water around, but you would still be wise to boil it first, for at least 5 minutes, as cold does not kill germs. Try not to eat or drink at all for the first few hours, and divide whatever you have into equal parts. When you do eat, go slowly and eat small amounts of food. It’s generally best to avoid mushrooms, as well.
Consider using the aircraft for shelter if it hasn't burned away, and has actually stopped bouncing. In the Arctic, move the wreckage if you can to the highest point around, so you can be seen more easily. Maybe take the cowls off and use them as reflectors. Don't wander too far away from it, and ensure that everyone stays within sight of each other. Use remaining fuel for light and heat as necessary (fuel must be warm before it will light) and maintain a positive mental attitude.