About the Author

Craig Nicholson

         Craig Nicholson is a writer, inspirational speaker and professional pilot. His interests include his family, sports, photography, aviation and personal growth.

         He was born in Johannesburg, South Africa. After graduating from High School, he spent 12 years in the South African Air Force as a pilot and flying instructor. He also got interested in photography, research and writing. In the 1980s he self-published "Helping Perspectives", a booklet of inspirational poetry, and "Freedom for South Africans", a booklet on the current political situation in South Africa under apartheid. In it he proposed some non-racial solutions which would foster fairness, security and freedom for all South Africans.

         In 1987 he resigned from the Air Force with the rank of Major and as a Flight Commander on 17 Squadron to pursue a civilian flying career. A year later he immigrated to Canada and later became a Canadian citizen. He working in various areas including sales, management and flying helicopters. He flew in the oil patch, in the Arctic, as an Air Ambulance/EMS pilot and for a scheduled helicopter airline service.

         He is happily married with a family. In 2009 he started documenting his survival experience to develop this One-Stop Survival Preparedness Guide.

        Craig started learning about survival as a young Wolf Cub and then as a Scout in the Boy Scout movement. It is a great organization, full of fun indoor and outdoor activities, including cooking and surviving in nature.

        When he joined the South African Air Force as a pupil pilot, one of the first subjects he was taught was survival. Between the airplane and jet phases of their pilot training, they did the practical phase of survival. This included sea and land survival. The sea survival phase included basic liferaft drills. The land survival phase included being dropped off in a remote part of the Harkerville forest near Knysna on the coast of South Africa’s beautiful Garden Route. They had to survive there for a week, having being dropped off with little more that an old parachute, a survival knife, a water bottle and a tin mug. This was a very challenging but enjoyable week, were he gained valuable survival experience.

        Years later, after moving on to helicopters, he did underwater escape training in the frigid waters of Cape Town harbour. This involved being strapped into a metal contraption that simulated a helicopter cockpit. They then plunged it under the water and turned it upside down, simulating a helicopter ditching in the sea and rolling over. They were only allowed to release the safety belts once it was upside down and stopped moving.

        He has since done this type of training many more times in various places, including in western and eastern Canada. He has also done winter survival courses many times, and remains current in both types of training.

        If you are interested in inviting him as a guest speaker on any of the subjects covered on this website, please contact him via the Contact page.