In the days of old, sailors would nail pieces of drifting wood, canvas, rope or pieces of wood cut from islands in the middle of nowhere to their damaged ships. With techniques pioneered by British pilots and aircrewmen during World War II, Oceanykan airmen have mastered the trade of airborne repairs, even in the midst of combat. Most multi crew aircraft carry at least a rivet gun, fire extinguisher, duct tape and spare material like canvas. This is enough for a banged-up plane to make it back to base safely. Crews which spend the vast majority of their time in the air may additionally carry all sorts of things: welding equipment, duralumin sheets, engine parts, etc. This gives local air crews high survivability against each other and outsiders. Oceanyka's best air crews are said to be able to rebuild a blown-up engine in the air.