There are many flight panel controls and levers that are essential to operating an airplane. These controls are virtually unknown to an ordinary passenger with no flying experience and may only be operated by a certified, licensed pilot who understands the function of each operation. There are also pieces of equipment in the cockpit that are designed to be part of the uniform of each person operating the plane and are essential in their own right.
Aviation Headsets are fitted to each pilot and are the vehicle for ground instruction and direction from the navigation experts. Likewise, a Helicopter Helmet is a necessary accessory to a pilot of that type of airplane and is designed for that particular mode of transportation. These two distinct kinds of pilot protection must be chosen with care and for the individual they are going to be assigned to. A few guidelines should be kept in mind when choosing either of these pieces of equipment:
o Ease of cleaning so the piece of equipment is easily kept in perfectly ready to go condition is a practical thing to think about when choosing a personal item like those listed above. It is best to maintain all gear in pristine condition so that little thought is paid to “suiting up” when getting ready for a flight. It is always best to spend a little time at the end of a journey getting ready for the next one so that you can start refreshed and with little preparation to complete.
o Lightweight equipment is also a great thing to think about to make sure of maximum comfort during a trip. Wearing something that is heavy and cumbersome is not only uncomfortable but it also creates stress and fatigue in a pilot. It pays to search for something that does not feel awkward or burdensome when you are wearing it.
o Buying needed equipment from a fully licensed and approved company is a vital consideration when purchasing gear for an airplane. There can be many imitation pieces of equipment that can look to be of as good a quality as the real thing but in effect are not at all as protective. Anything purchased should carry a guarantee that it is up to prescribed government standards and that it provides the highest degree of protection to its user. This is particular important when providing head protection gear.
o When purchasing earpieces, it is very important to be sure that excellent sound quality is available through external noise reduction capabilities of the instrument. The tremendously loud sound of the airplane engines themselves can be a serious handicap to instructions given to the pilot and they need to be controlled by being cancelled out through earpiece engineering processes. Proper fit of the earpiece to the ear is a small but necessary part of the ability of the earphone to adjust to the pilot’s hearing requirements. A loose fit allows unnecessary noise to filter in and affect the pilot’s capability to hear and distracts him from the tasks at hand. Therefore, even a small adjustment when fitting the earpiece to the ear is important.
