Flare Gun

[6930]

I’m curious if anyone keeps a flare gun in their plane as part of a survival kit. Any known legal issues? I have one I am thinking of keeping in the plane.

Thanks.

Mike

[6898]

not sure the legal part of it ?

[a64pilot]

We carried pen flares in our survival vest in the Military, but for a GA airplane I think a PLB would be much more useful.

Coming off of living and cruising aboard a sailboat, forget the flare guns, they are nearly worthless, if you want flares, get SOLAS flares, they are much, much brighter and being parachute flares they stay up and lit for a long time, they of course aren’t cheap

[6930]

Thanks, Gentlemen.

Jeff, on further looking I did find on the AOPA site that flare guns are not considered weapons and are subject to federal DOT regulations for hazardous materials. I didn’t drill down deeper than that, but am thinking it probably is okay as long as I don’t go walking around some FBO with a flare gun strapped to my hip .

I keep one on my boat in Florida....started thinking that it kind of makes sense to keep one in the plane too. Plenty of opportunity in my travels to go down in remote areas where a crash site would be hard to find.

A SOLAS style parachute type flare would probably be better, but I’m thinking that anything is better than nothing. ADSB out and my ELT should help too.

Mike

[4004]

Early Bonanzas were equipped with a cluster of 3 built into the fuselage just aft of the baggage compartment - may have been an optional item but my first Bo, a straight 35 Bo, had the fixture but flares removed - about 60 years ago.

[6643]

Cessna Part number 52-3-37 "1-1/2 Minute Flare Installation Kit" (includes three 1-1/2 minute flares) Page 120 of the IPC.

[8102]

The optional flare installation was for lighting up the runway at night when runway lights were rare at smaller airfields. The flares were designed to be dropped from the bottom of the aircraft not shot into the air for use in a emergency.

Gregg

[meloosifah]

Not the bottom - out the side. My 140 was originally equipped (still have all the paperwork) but patches were made and the flares removed prior to my purchase. But, yes, they are runway lights.