Three Things to Look For in a Flight Bag

From the first flight lesson, every pilot needs a flight bag dedicated to carrying the gear necessary to make a safe and successful flight. The choices are wide and the feature sets are varied. When your logbook starts filling up and you need something to bring it all with you in the cockpit, here are a few options for your next flight bag.

If you’re the pilot who carries around two of your favorite headsets, you need a bag that not only protects that important cargo, but also organizes everything else, such as charts, devices, chargers, your logbook, and Pilot Operating Handbooks. The Bush Pilot Bag from Flight Outfitters was designed specifically for pilots with features like the orange interior to making it easier to find gear in a dark cockpit. The canvas bag has leather accents and a “pass-through” strap to slide over roll-a-board luggage handles.

For the airplane owner who leaves their headsets in the airplane but needs to carry everything else with style, the Gann Leather Flight Bag from Lightspeed delivers classic appearance in a functional design. Made from full-grain, oiled South American espresso brown cowhide with contrasting black leather pocket flaps, the maker leaves this bag uncoated for authentic look and wear so it becomes more supple with age, taking on a rich patina. Features like an internal, zippered iPad pocket and large transceiver pocket make this bag worth the premium price.

You’ve seen airline pilots dragging similar bags like Alpine Swiss’ Legal Size Lawyer’s case through airports, most filled with paper charts. Today, many pilots fly with electronic flight bags, but the styling of this type of airline pilot flight bag is unmistakable. The internal sleeve holds up to a 17-inch laptop inside a main compartment with dividers to hold everything for your next flight or business trip. At a very affordable price, pilots will appreciate the hard-sided frame and riveted attachments. A plus is that it’s also TSA-approved as a carry-on bag, for those times when your airplane won’t make it home. As you walk up the airliner’s aisle, people will think you’re part of the crew with this bag.