Best Gear for Pilots | 13 Pilot Essentials You Need in Your Flight Bag
What pilot essentials belong in your flight bag?
Pilot flight bag essentials start with your pilot certificate and FAA medical, which you need to fly legally. Add a headset, an iPad with ForeFlight or charts, a kneeboard, water, a fuel tester, a flashlight and a multi-tool.
The pilot essentials start with what you can't legally fly without: your pilot certificate and FAA medical. After that, carry a headset with spare batteries, an iPad with ForeFlight or current sectional charts, and a kneeboard with pen and paper. Round out the bag with snacks and water, a charging cord and backup battery, non-polarized sunglasses, a fuel tester with a screwdriver, a flashlight and a multi-tool.
In this post I’m going to share the best pilot gear I carry with me on nearly every flight.
Over the years the gear I carry in my flight bag has evolved and today, the items below are the things I consider pilot essentials.
Once you’ve picked out the best flight bag you can find, it’s time to stock it with all the essential pilot gear you’ll need to fly.
Every pilot has their own method for what gear they take with them while flying, but there are a few pieces of private pilot gear you should always take with you when you fly.
Whether you’re an experienced pilot or a brand new student pilot, there’s gear here you’ll use on every single flight. Plus some pilot gear you may not use regularly, but will definitely want just in case.
Here are the top thirteen pilot bag essentials!
1. Pilot Certificate & Medical
A pilot certificate and FAA medical must be with you on every flight, because you cannot legally fly without them. Keep both in a wallet or headset bag so they never leave your kit.
When it comes to gear for pilots, this one’s a no-brainer because you can’t legally fly without these.
Make sure your pilot certificate and FAA medical are always in your flight bag. It’s a good habit to develop to always check and make sure you have them with you.
As an airline pilot, I keep my certificate and medical in a wallet that comes with me on every flight.
However, when I was a flight instructor I kept them in my headset bag since I never stepped on a plane without my headset.
2. Headset (with extra batteries if necessary)
This one should be a no-brainer on our aviation accessories list as well, but always make sure you’ve got your pilot headset with you before heading to the airport.
Nothing will ruin your planned flight faster than opening your bag and realizing you’ve forgotten it.
I’ve gone through a number of different headsets over the years. My current headset is the Bose A20 (though if I was buying now I’d just get the new A30). I’ve also flown with a few different David Clark headsets that all performed well enough during my flight training and early flight instructor days.
If you want to dig into headsets more you can take a look at my list of the best pilot headsets to help you pick one.
As a student, you’ll generally be able to borrow one from the flight school if necessary.
The A20 is one of the best aviation headsets on the market. It's comfortable to wear for those long flights, has excellent active noise reduction, and incredibly clear audio.
[Check out our review of the Bose A20 headset]
3. iPad with ForeFlight and/or Sectional Charts
An iPad loaded with appropriate sectional charts and approach plates is a must-have pilot tool.
ForeFlight allows you increased situational awareness in the cockpit, and many pilots swear by it. It’s arguably the most popular electronic charts option on the market.
I’ve used ForeFlight for years and have trained hundreds of students on how to use it.
If you fly with ForeFlight (or any other EFB), it can also be a good idea to keep a set of sectional charts as a backup in case anything ever happens with your iPad.
Make sure you keep your sectional charts up to date.
And if you don’t know what iPad you should get as a new pilot, check out my article on iPads for pilots.
A tablet is a must-have in the cockpit in 2021. If you're not sure which one to go with the Apple iPad is easily the most popular tablet on the market. The 2021 iPad is a great option. Some people also like the iPad Mini and if you really want cutting edge go with the iPad Air.
4. Kneeboard with Pen and Paper
A kneeboard with pen and paper lets a pilot write down ATC instructions and frequencies quickly. Most kneeboards also hold an iPad along with a pen and small notepad.
This next one might seem “old school”, but every pilot should have pen and paper nearby to write down instructions and frequencies. With a kneeboard, you can have your pens and paper handy, and ready to go.
Plus, most kneeboards are built to hold your iPad along with a pen and small notepad. Check out our post on the best pilot kneeboards if you need help picking one out.
Not using an iPad? Check out this simple kneeboard.
5. Snacks & Water
Snacks and water belong in a flight bag because hunger and dehydration can distract a pilot in flight. Energy bars weigh almost nothing, and a reusable water bottle filled before each flight prevents dehydration.
You may be surprised to see snacks and water on a list of essential gear for pilots but they can come in handy in the times you least expect.
A couple of energy bars weigh next to nothing and take up very little space, and they can save you from being preoccupied with unexpected hunger in flight.
Trust me and just throw a couple in your flight bag.
And if you’re a flight instructor this is absolutely an essential among these pilot supplies. On busy summer days I would often have back-to-back flights all day long so these “emergency” snacks were actually my lunch and sometimes dinner.
Worst case scenario you don’t eat them and they’re already in there for your next flight.
Water is a no-brainer: dehydration can cause you serious physical and mental issues, and it’s not something you want to experience while 4,000 or 30,000 feet in the air. Drink plenty of water. Pick up a good reusable water bottle and get in the habit of filling it up before each flight.
Notice Title
Add some other nice-to-have gear from this list of the useful gifts for pilots.
6. Charging Cords and a Backup Battery
A charging cord and backup battery are essential for pilots who fly with an iPad, especially on long cross-country flights. Choose a battery strong enough to recharge the iPad several times.
If you’re flying with an iPad, a charging cord and backup battery is essential. Particularly on those long cross-country flights.
It’s a good idea to pick up a battery that’s strong enough to charge your iPad a few times, just in case.
It also helps when you need to charge your phone mid-flight. Some modern airplanes, like our Piper Archers have USB chargers built in which is a really nice feature.
7. Non-polarized sunglasses
Non-polarized sunglasses protect a pilot's vision from glare without reducing visibility through windscreens or instruments with anti-glare filters. The author now flies with Flying Eyes sunglasses, which fit comfortably under a headset.
Flying in Texas has taught me that sunglasses aren’t just nice things to have so you can look cool in the cockpit.
They are pilot necessities, without which your vision can be severely impaired when flying certain headings throughout the day.
Get a pair of good non-polarized glasses that won’t reduce visibility through windscreens or instruments with anti-glare filters.
For a long time I flew with a pair of Ray Bans like the ones below. But now I fly with sunglasses made by Flying Eyes. They’re easily the most comfortable sunglasses I’ve ever owned and are barely noticeable even with a headset on.
If you need help choosing check out my post on the best pilot sunglasses.
8. Fuel Tester with Screwdriver
A fuel tester with a screwdriver lets a pilot check fuel quality before every flight. The tool takes up little space and matters because fuel can differ from one airport to the next.
A fuel tester and screwdriver is must have gear for pilots. It hardly takes up any space in your flight bag, but makes all the difference!
With a fuel tester and 4-way screwdriver, or reversible screwdriver attachment, you can check the quality of your fuel before you fly.
Besides the obvious reason, checking fuel is also important because you may get different fuel from other airports. And you want to make sure you have quality fuel to get you where you want to go.
9. Flashlight
A good flashlight belongs in every flight bag, even for pilots who rarely fly at night. You may get stuck at a remote airport and have to fly home in the dark.
This is one pilot accessory you don’t want to skip. Whether or not you go night flying frequently, you want to be sure you have a good flashlight.
You never know when you might get stuck at a remote airport and have to fly back in the dark. You can check out our guide on the best flashlights for pilots to help you find a good one. But the one below is easily my top pick.
10. Multi-Tool
A multi-tool gives pilots pliers, a knife and a screwdriver in one compact item for unexpected problems. The Leatherman Wave Plus is one reliable, durable example to keep in a flight bag.
Multi-tools are essential gear for pilots as they provide a wide range of functionalities that may come in handy during a flight.
Carrying a multi-tool on you or in your flight bag ensures that you’re always prepared for any unexpected situation that may require a set of pliers, a knife, or a screwdriver.
Unfortunately, many pilots overlook the importance of carrying this versatile tool in their bag, which can be a costly mistake.
In my experience very few pilots carry them but that’s based simply on the number of times another pilot has asked to borrow mine.
One excellent example of a reliable multi-tool for pilots is the Leatherman Wave Plus. This well-built tool offers exceptional versatility and durability, giving it a top spot on the list of pilot accessories.
More Gear for Pilots
Now that we’ve gone over my pilot equipment list, here are a few other great items to keep in your bag or on the plane but not necessarily “essentials” in my view.
Extra Tools
Extra tools, such as a small toolbox kept in your own plane, help in the cockpit and on emergency maintenance stops. They are not must-have student pilot gear but suit pilots who fly backcountry.
Extra tools can be a huge help in the cockpit and very handy on emergency maintenance stops. Many of these items are things you’ll collect as your aviation career goes on, so I wouldn’t consider this as must have student pilot gear.
While a multi-tool is a great thing to always keep on you, a small toolbox full of tools could be a great item to keep in your own plane. This is especially true if you do much backcountry flying.
Survival Gear
Survival gear for a flight bag should include at least a basic first aid kit. Pilots who fly over water should consider a water-activated light or beacon, and high-altitude pilots should consider a pulse oximeter.
How much or how little survival gear to keep in your flight bag is up to you, but it’s a good idea to at least bring some basic items like a first aid kit.
Nobody wants to think of the possibility of needing survival items, but to be a truly safe pilot you have to plan for the unthinkable.
If you commonly fly over bodies of water, consider getting a water-activated emergency light or beacon.
If you fly at high altitudes, look into getting a pulse oximeter.
There are countless survival items designed specifically for pilots that have saved lives.
Do yourself a big favor and research some of these items. Decide which are necessary for you, keep them with you, and hope you never have to use them.
The Best Gear for Pilots
And there you have it! Our top ten flight bag essentials! Now it’s important to remember, just like no two pilots are the same, no two flight bags are the same!
Just getting started on your journey to becoming a pilot? Check out our guide on how to become a pilot and be sure to pick up the best private pilot books to help you prep for the knowledge and practical exams.
And if you’re headed out on an extra-long trip be sure to bring along one of these top aviation books every pilot should read.
What other pilot gear do you consider an essential for your flight bag?
