Like all winter back country travlers pilots who fly over snow covered areas should carry an emergency shovel. A shovel is used for making emergecy snow shelters, digging down to earth before making a fire or digging out a stuck airplane. A survival shovel like all survival gear should be versatile. This amazing piece of equipment fits the bill. It is the lightest, most efficient easiest to pack shovel on the market but can also be used as a emergency splint, deadman anchor in snow or sand, or glissading platform for getting down a snow covered mountain.