How to Choose a Flight Bag

How to Choose a Flight Bag

We know that there are many different options to choosing a flight bag. A lot of people ask us for flight bag recommendations and our answer is always the same: it’s a personal decision. Sure we can recommend one or another depending on the type of flying you do, or based on the amount of equipment you would like to carry. But ultimately YOU are the one that is going to be using it. There are many different considerations to buying a flight bag:

Type of Use

Are you an airline pilot or strictly flying general aviation aircraft? Are you an instructor or a pilot that also may be a student? These questions should help guide you in choosing the right bag for you. For example, if you’re an airline pilot, you probably have to carry a flight bag in addition to luggage for your trips. Are you going to want to carry around a giant flight bag? Probably not. If you’re an instructor, are you going to carry around everything you would need as if you’re PIC? Definitely not. You would probably only carry a kneeboard, checklist, headset, and maybe a transceiver. Student pilots or pilots that may still be in training are going to have a lot of pilot supplies to carry around. They will eventually want to upgrade their bag to something smaller when they get their next rating or license but when they’re just learning they will have a lot to carry.

Size Requirements

Another thing to take into consideration is the size of the flight bag. Cockpits tend not to have a lot of room in them so you want to make sure your flight bag isn’t too big for the available space. During training flights, students may be able to use the backseat for their flight bag which allows them to reach items quickly and efficiently. If they’re a rated pilot taking passengers then they may not have that option. Airline cockpits also have size requirements as far as flight bags and luggage go. Most luggage you would get from a pilot website like ours would only carry items that fit within those size requirements.

Versatility

It is also important to think about what you are carrying in your flight bag. For example, all pilots need a headset. As a flight instructor or airline pilot, you may have a separate bag for your headset. Student pilots or pilots in training may want a padded spot in their bag specific to their headset. Instructors or rated pilots carrying transceivers may want a special pocket for that. Some flight bags have special padded pockets for iPads or tablets. Certain flight bags also give you the option of removable sections inside the flight bag so you can create your own compartments. You will have to seriously consider what you are going to be putting in your bag and if it can hold everything you need. The purchase of a flight bag should not be taken lightly because it will hold your most important materials. There are many options; you just have to choose which one is right for you!

Any way that you go, marvgolden.com has a great selection of flight bags to choose from!