Things You’ll Find in a Pilot’s Flight Bag

When taking a flight, have you ever wondered what it was the pilots were carrying in that black bag? Or maybe you wondered why some pilots look like they are packing for a week-long trip while others just board the plane with nothing but a cupboard? Well, let’s unravel the mystery and look through the X-Ray machine to find out what’s inside.

It might surprise you to know that pilots aren’t actually required to bring much with them on board an airplane. A good pilot, however, is always learning. Books and other sorts of learning materials frequently accompany pilots and trainees for the transit at 30,000 feet.

Pilot’s Flight Bag Contents

Not only will pilots carry personal belongings and study material, but if you opened up any pilot’s flight bag, you might see items like these:

• Checklists: All airplanes have pre-flight checklists, and you can bet you’ll find several in that flight bag.
• Headset: The ability to hear while having ear protection is essential in the cockpit. A good headset is a must for every pilot.
• iPad or Tablet: Most of us bring an iPad to enjoy a movie or to have something for the kids to do. But in cockpits, it’s common to see electronic flight logs instead of physical charts. There are fantastic apps that can help with all aspects of flight planning.
• GPS Units: These units can integrate seamlessly with iPad apps to display aircraft position on a map.
• Charts: Many pilots still carry paper charts as a backup in the event of an iPad malfunction. Charts offer important information about airspace, terrain, and airports.
• Sunglasses: Even if it’s a cloudy day, pilots don’t fly without them. A flight might take the plane above the cloud layer and in the path of bright sunlight.
• GoPro: These cameras are popular among the extreme sports crowd, but they can be very helpful for pilots as well. They can easily be mounted to record the flight and shared on video streaming sites like YouTube.

So besides all of that, what is a pilot actually required to have with them during a flight? A pilot certificate, photo ID and, in some cases, an aviation medical certificate. For more information, please contact Salt Lake City’s premier flight school, Elevate Aviation.