My flight bag contains…
Headset
My personal headset is a Bose X, with active noise reduction (ANR). Some pilots dislike ANR because they have the impression to loose contact with the engine. Personally I feel it as an important comfort factor, particularly for long flight. I also carry a David Clark (passive) headset for my first passenger, and my very first FlightCom for the second passenger.
Handheld Radio
My homebase if a controlled airport, and as an IFR pilot I would not loose contact with ATC in case of complete electrical failure, so I never fly without my handheld VHF. To make it usable in flight in a noisy cockpit, I also cary a headset adapter.
Portable GPS
My Garmin 96C has two roles: backup in case of electrical failure when flying IFR and main GPS when flying non-equipped planes VFR outisde my comfort zone. As it is not my main source for navigation, I update the database only when major changes occur in my area.
Flashlight
I don’t fly a lot by night, but a flashlight is part of mandatory equipment for IFR, even by day. Depending the type of plane, it is just needed to have a flashlight for pre-flight inspection. For actual night flying, I carry two flashlights.
Maps and charts
I switched to electronical charting services three years ago (except for Switzerland), and have no regret. No more time spent in updating my european coverage, but still a lot of paper thrown away because I print a lot, in case of unexpected diversion.
Fuel tester
My bag contains two fuel testers: one with a pin, one with no pin. I gave up on plastic / removeable pins as they are two fragile. I invested in a fuel tester with a metallic pin, which last much longer.
Kneeboard
My collection of kneeboards ranges from mini-A5 to folding A4. Anything bigger than the mini-A5 would not fit in a DA40 cockpit, and folding A4 is just perfect for IFR in a Saratoga.
Logbook
The paper version of my logbook is always in my bag, as I’m an “airport stamps” collector. I started it in basic training, and never stopped it.
Show me your bag… I’ll tell you who you are
I shall have put that in first place, but I have three flight bags of different sizes, for VFR solo, VFR with passengers and camera, and IFR.
Do you have other items in your flight bag(s) ?
2 Comments, Comment or Ping
Pat
I have much less things, being only a “sunday plane pilot”.
Here’s what’s in mine:
-VFR and VAC charts (paper ones)
-PDA + bluetooth GPS + battery extender for long flights
-extra pen and pencil, adhesive tape, velcro tape
-mini A5 kneeboard
-paper logbook
-aviation ruler (”rapporteur-règle” in french)
-a few documents (copies of important aircraft manual pages of the aircrafts I fly).
-carbon monoxyde detector
I don’t take my portable VHF in flight. Maybe I should take it…
I have 2 headsets: AvCom AC200. Cheap and fine for the kind of flights I do. Maybe a bit heavy for long flights.
Dec 28th, 2007
Axel
A nasal spray. It can be of immense help.
For some reason I keep forgetting to bring a flashlight with me which have created some interesting situations, but I have always lucked out and managed to get hold of one somehow.
I am really impressed by your blog. Both contentwise and by how often you update it. I enjoy reading your posts every time I visit.
Keep up the good work!
Jan 4th, 2008
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