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Welcome to the world
of flying. Like
any vocation or hobby, flying can bring with it lots of fun new gadgets
and gear. You're likely to encounter and use all of these items at
some point in your flying career. |
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Logbook
Pilots keep a record of their flying experience in a logbook. The
logbook is the pilot's primary means of showing what type of flying
experiences they've had. For each flight the pilot typically records
the date, type of aircraft and registration number, point of departure,
destination, duration of the flight, number of landings, operating
conditions (i.e., night or instrument weather), and their role (i.e.,
pilot in command, copilot, instructor, student pilot receiving instruction).
Pilots are required to log any flight time that is needed to meet
FAA minimum levels of proficiency and currency.
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Headsets and
intercoms
Aircraft engines and propellers make a certain amount of noise.
To protect your hearing and carry on a conversation in the cockpit
with your instructor, copilot, or passengers, pilots use a headset
with a boom microphone connected to an intercom. Today, most aircraft
have built-in intercoms that use standardized headphone and microphone
jacks. The best headsets use active noise cancellation technologies
to eliminate most engine and propeller noise. When you're ready
to buy your own, you can learn more by using our online buyers'
guide.
Buyers'
guide for headsets
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E6Bs (manual
and electronic)
Pilots are required to use mathematics at about an eighth grade level
to calculate such things as how much fuel they'll need to complete
a flight, how fast they'll be traveling over the ground given the
effect of winds aloft on their airplane, and what compass heading
they'll use to maintain the desired ground track. The traditional
mechanical E6B or "wiz-wheel" as it's often know is really a simplified
adaptation of a slide rule that never needs batteries and works
every time. Modern E6Bs are electronic and work just like a handheld
calculator, making your aeronautical calculations fast and easy.
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Plotters and pens
Pilots love charts. But what good is a map if you can't mark it up
with your planned route of flight? Plotters are made of clear plastic
and feature a special aviation ruler that lets you draw straight
lines or measure distances. They also include a basic protractor for
measuring course angles and bearings. Plotters come in all shapes
and sizes; some even fold up to fit in your shirt pocket. Pens are
used to drawn the lines on the map. Some include both a black felt
tip marker on one end and a yellow highlighter on the other to help
you see the route you've drawn once you're looking at the map in flight. |
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Forms
Pilots use a variety of basic forms to help them plan a flight,
record weather information, calculate their aircraft's weight and
balance, or file a flight plan with air traffic control. You can
see some of these forms by visiting our online
library.
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Handheld GPS
Handheld Global Positioning System receivers featuring detailed
moving map displays can show you where you are, where you've been,
where you're going, and the airspace and terrain features around
you. Many also include route planning tools and detailed information
about airports and navigational aids. Use our online buyers' guide
to learn more.
Buyers'
guide to handheld GPS
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Handheld radios
Many pilots like to carry a portable backup radio when flying. You
can buy a transceiver that not only receives but also transmits
on all the civilian aviation communications frequencies. Most handhelds
also receive signals from aviation navigational aids, hence the
name NAV/COM. Transceivers, or even less expensive aviation-band
receivers, allow students to listen to aviation radio transmissions,
which often helps them to learn the terminology more quickly.
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Flight bags
If you end up buying even just some of the gadgets and gear shown
on this page, you'll need a flight bag in which to carry it all. New
pilots often buy the biggest and best flight bag they can find. After
all, don't you need all this stuff with you when you fly? More experienced
pilots often shed gadgets and gear until they have the time-tested
basics needed for any flight and no more. That's often when they buy
a much smaller flight bag that doesn't require a luggage cart to carry
it from their car to the airplane. |
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Seat cushions
Some airplanes have better forward visibility than others, and some
pilots are more petite or shorter than others. If you find you need
a bit of a boost to see over the instrument panel of your basic
training aircraft, your flight school may supply you with a simple
seat cushion that does the job. Or you can buy your own and take
it with you from aircraft to aircraft. More modern trainers, and
larger aircraft, generally offer seats that include a height adjustment
capability.
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Flashlights
Aviation flashlights come in an endless array of sizes, shapes, and
capabilities. Some provide red light to protect your night vision.
Some clip to the visor of your hat, your headset, or your breast pocket
while some use a headband like a modern camping light. Some use traditional
incandescent or halogen bulbs, but the latest generation uses multicolored
LEDs that stretch battery life to almost 100 hours. Whatever kind
you pick, it's always wise to have one or more flashlights when flying
at night. |
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Fuel strainers
Pilot drain a sample of fuel from each fuel
tank and the aircraft's fuel system before every flight, to verify
the type of fuel being used and look for water or other contamination.
Fuel strainers perform this task with protrusions that open the
fuel tank drains found on most types of aircraft, collecting the
fuel in a clear container. Most fuel strainers also feature a combination
flat blade and Philips screwdriver at one end. Most flight schools
will supply you with a basic fuel strainer when you rent their aircraft.
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Sick
sacks
Hey, it happens; some new pilots (or passengers) get a little airsick
as their body adapts to the new sensations of flight. This is especially
true if the air is very turbulent. As the U.S. Air Force puts it,
"If an upset stomach is anticipated, remove bag from this container
and keep ready for use. Do not be embarrassed by this precaution as
even veteran travelers are subject to occasional motion sickness." |
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Sunglasses
How can you really call yourself a pilot if you don't have a nice
set of cool pilot shades? Whether they're used to make spotting
other aircraft through the summer haze easier, or just used for
a nice afternoon of hanger flying at the local airport's picnic
bench, your pilot sunglasses will let everyone within sight know
that you are an accomplished pilot. They also provide important protection
from UV radiation.
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View
limiting devices
By using the aircraft's instruments, pilots can learn how to fly without
having to look out of the windows of the aircraft — a necessary
skill to fly safely in clouds. To help you develop and practice these
instrument flying skills, your instructor will use a "view limiting
device" that works like a sophisticated set of horse blinders to block
your view of the outside world while allowing you to see just the
instrument panel. These range from large plastic hoods to simple safety
glasses with a limited viewing angle. |
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Checklists
Virtually every task you can perform with an aircraft can be guided by the safe and effective use of a printed or electronic checklist. Use of a checklist helps ensure that no key task is omitted, and that all required tasks are performed in the proper sequence. The most routine checklists used are the preflight aircraft inspection checklist, the engine start checklist, the pre-takeoff checklist, the pre-landing checklist, and the engine/aircraft shutdown checklist. You'll find all your aircraft's approved checklists in the Pilot's Operating Handbook, or as standalone products sold at many pilot supply stores.
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Pilot's
operating handbooks
Almost every aircraft in use today includes some form of Pilot's Operating
Handbook, or POH for short. The POH describes all of the aircraft's
basic characteristics and capabilities; standard and emergency operating
procedures; equipment configuration; weight and balance information;
and a description of its systems, instrumentation, navigation, and
radio equipment. Technically, there is only one legal POH for each
unique aircraft serial number. It is updated throughout the life of
the aircraft with changes to standard and emergency operating procedures
that are issued by the manufacturer, as well as to reflect changes
to the aircraft's equipment configuration and weight and balance information. |
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