Hi-Vis Vests & red-beam torches?

[1972]

Anyone know where I can get hold of a Hi-Vis vest (that meets Australian airport standards), pref. with a zip front? Anyone recommend a small, red-beam torch that's not too expensive also? Thanks in advance. '72.

[Mark 1]

Don't know about Hi-vis vests in your part of the world, but lots of places stock them in the UK as their H&S requirements are widespread. Try building equipment suppliers and the like.
One torch that I recommend is a Petzl LED head torch with flip-down red lense and adjustable brightness. Should be available from good hiking/camping shops.

p.s. Isn't red light for night flying a bit of an OWT?

[18greens]

What about any normal torch and scribble on the end with red chinagraph.

[1972]

18, I had thought of painting my spare bulb red on my existing torch, just thought there might be something better out there.

Mark 1; cheers for the reply & advice - had been to workwear/camping stores but didn't know whether what they supplied comply with Aus. airport standards. Incidentally, what does OWT mean? (Or am I just being a dumbass)?!

[Mark 1]

OWT + old wive's tale

i.e. Red lights only help preserve night vision as they are dimmer than white lights.

[rats404]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_vision

might be of interest regarding red light and night vision.

[Mark 1]

In fact quite a complex subject.
Have a look at http://www.brooks.af.mil/web/af/courses/amp/AMP_Online/amp_Eye_lectures/UNV7.doc
especially the paragraph on cockpit illumination.

I favour a dim white light.

[Genghis the Engineer]

In this day and age,

(1) eBay

(2) eBay

G

[Pronto]

So far as torches are concerned, the Mini-Maglite wins for me. While they’re not the cheapest on the market, they’re robust and reliable. What you loose in the initial purchase cost may well be saved over time with fewer replacements being required. I’ve had mine for well over ten years and, apart from replacing batteries and two bulbs, have had no trouble with it. You can buy a separate filter kit which allows you to put a red filter on it. One tip I had a few years ago from an RAF officer was not to bother with the rubber filter carrier, but to unscrew the front of the torch, remove the plain lens and replace it with the red filter. It doesn’t add bulk to the torch then.

So far as reflective vests are concerned, you may be better off either asking the Australian regulator (CASA?) or approaching a nearby airport for guidance as to what’s acceptable in Australia. In the UK (in fact, in the EU as a whole) there is an EU wide standard. In the UK this is incorporated into a British Standard (BS EN471:1994 High Visibility Warning Clothing). This is available from the British Standards Institute (doubtless at high cost) but a useful summary is available at http://www.streetworks.fsnet.co.uk/en471.htm. This website seems to be aimed at the road maintenance industry. On every GA aerodrome I’ve visited in the UK, where high visibility clothing is a requirement, then vests meeting the requirements of BS EN471: 1994 Class Two have been satisfactory. I’ve never seen an orange vest in use on an aerodrome. Most people use yellow vests. The Health and Safety Executive also produce an information sheet on high visibility clothing for airport workers. For those who are interested, this is at http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/apis1.htm.

P

[A Sayers]

My own is home made with a red LED built into the shell of a cheap pen torch. Never changed the bulb, rarely a battery.