# Survive an airplane crash in the Arctic! **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 15, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survive-an-airplane-crash-in-the-arctic/762940 "2016-08-15T18:55:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survive-an-airplane-crash-in-the-arctic/762940/1 "2016-08-15T18:55:49Z")
Inspired by this thread, which I unsuccessfully tried to hijack 🙂 : [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=800300](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=800300) What special survival supplies (if any) do planes the fly the polar route carry in the event of a crash in the frozen North? Also, would a rescue be possible even if the plane came down something like intact, and with survivors? Please hold cannibal jokes until later in the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survive-an-airplane-crash-in-the-arctic/762940/2 "2016-08-15T20:10:44Z")
As I understand it, there are no special provisions. The airliners that fly the Arctic Circle don’t have any special thermal clothing for hypothermia or carry any special provisions different than airliners that don’t fly in the Arctic Circle. So if an airplane ditched in Alaska, the passengers and crew might be frozen dead before long. (At least, I had asked this exact same question elsewhere, and that’s what I was told.) ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survive-an-airplane-crash-in-the-arctic/762940/3 "2016-08-15T20:11:29Z")
> [@](#): > > The FAA requires a minimum of two cold-weather antiexposure suits on board North Polar flights so that outside coordination at a diversion airport can be accomplished safely. > > – snip – > [@](#): > > [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] > > The FAA _Guidance for Polar Operations_ from the Flight Standards Service (AFS-1) requires airlines to define a sufficient set of alternate airports, such that one or more can be reasonably expected to be available in varying weather conditions. > > – snip – > [/FONT] > [FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Because of the extended flight duration and the prevalence of very cold air masses on the polar routes, the potential exists for fuel temperatures to approach the freezing point. However, current airplane systems and operating procedures provide confidence that fuel will continue to flow unobstructed to the engines in all plausible cold-weather conditions likely to be experienced on polar routes. > > – snip – > > [/FONT][/FONT][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In addition to the general requirements for long-range operations, communication and navigation considerations unique to the polar region must be addressed in airlines’ polar operations to ensure that flight crews have the information needed to conduct safe and efficient flights.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT] [http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero\_16/polar\_story.html](http://www.boeing.com/commercial/aeromagazine/aero_16/polar_story.html) IAMNAP But it looks like icebergs, polar bears (north) and penguins (south) are not addressed. If a plane crashes up north, it’s frozen treats for the bears. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survive-an-airplane-crash-in-the-arctic/762940/4 "2016-08-16T02:04:23Z")
So a couple of suits for the crew to get out and talk to the refueler but nothing specifically for passenger survival. Bugger. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2016, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/survive-an-airplane-crash-in-the-arctic/762940/5 "2016-08-16T02:27:12Z")
[In a 1991 crash north of Thule 5 out of the 18 who survived the crash froze to death.](http://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/05/world/after-a-plane-crash-30-deadly-hours-in-the-arctic.html) They had some sleeping bags and tents but it took 30 hours for help to arrive. There’s probably been Soviet and Russian air crashes north of the Arctic Circle.