Sunglasses

[vaqueroaero]

The time has come to buy some new shades. However someone told me not to buy ones with polarised lenses as it can make seeing some cloud types difficult as polarised lenses cut out glare from water. Is this really a problem or just an old wives tale?

[Irlandés]

For what it's worth, some human factors books advise against flying with polaroids due to the possible interference effects with perspex (or whatever cockpit 'windows' are made of).

If they make clouds disappear on the other hand, that would be a boon to VFR pilots! ;)

Irlandés

[Flying Lawyer]

vaqueroaero
Sunglasses question indeed! There's no need to show off just because you live in the best climate in the world. Spare some thought for most of the rest of us facing a few months when it would be wonderful to have the problem! :D

I've always understood (can't remember from where) that polaroids should be avoided because of the problem if the cockpit windshield is also polarised. I've never experienced it, but have noticed most specialist 'aviator' sunglasses are not polarised.
Unlikely to be a problem in civvy helicopters I suspect.

Hope all is well in glorious Southern California. :)

Tudor Owen

[ATPMBA]

Last year I purchased a pair of prescription sunglasses and one the questions they asked was if I fly. I was told to avoid flying with polarized lenses. The main reason is that you cannot see certain cockpit displays correctly (glass cockpits). Not yet a problem in the S300C. The polarization somehow interferes or cuts out the light from the display. Before my new sunglasses I used a pair of cheap polarized clip-ons and I noticed I couldn’t read the LCD at auto gas pumps.
:cool:

[vaqueroaero]

Flying Lawyer - It may be the best climate in the world, but lately things have really gone 'tango uniform'! Three and a half inches of rain in 2 days, 30 knot winds and that damn marine layer bringing visibility down to 1/16 of a mile. May as well move back to England! Other than that can't complain. Flying 100 hours per month and keeping busy! Drop me a line when you're next heading this way.

[quixote]

'Blue blockers' (brown tint) make wires stand out well.

[Huron Topp]

What FL refers to is known as cross-polarization. What happens is if you are looking out a polarized window, while wearing polarized sunglasses, at certain angles ALL light is blocked. In other words, total black. Most airliners use this method on the pax windows. The outer is fixed, while the inner can be rotated to block out the sunlight etc.

[john du'pruyting]

I think the problem with polarised glasses is that you can see all the stress lines in perspex. My physics teacher used to tell the class that structural bridge engineers used to build initial models of their bridges in perspex and then inspect them using polarised lenses. This would enable them to check for any unforseen points of stress in the structure. He might have been spinning us but I had it!

[ShyTorque]

It's certainly true about polarised lenses being a big problem with glass cockpit displays. I had to stop using mine, even more annoyingly resulting in my sitting on them shortly afterwards.

I have tried quite a few different types since then and noticed that expensive doesn't necessarily mean better. I now use a cheapy pair with amber coloured lenses that cut through haze and glare a treat.

"All that matters is that we look good, Jim." :cool:

[Irlandés]

Shytorque,
be careful with the 'cheapy' ones and make sure the glass is top quality even if the make isn't. The problem with cheap sunglasses is that they may be effective in reducing visible light which you notice but not in filtering UV's which you don't. So the eye thinking there are lower levels of light opens up the iris only to be bombarded by too many UV rays. Not good.

Irlandés

[ShyTorque]

Irlandes,

Thanks, good advice.

Although they were quite "cheap" to buy, my glasses have quite pale lenses that are certified to filter out harmful UV. I am pretty certain that they are OK.

Glad someone looks out for me ;)

[helmet fire]

I have flown with polarised lenses and experienced no problems. In fact I preferred it.

The only criteria I use is colour definition. The lense has to allow at least "true colour" sensitivity to ensure that your eye remains sensitive to cockpit warning/caution and advisory lights. Dark helmet visors are specifically designed for this - another good reason for wearing a helmet. I would stay well clear of any colour tinted lense such as most of the Bolle range. I am a fan of the Ray Ban G15 lense which was originally designed with aviation (and colour definition) criteria in mind, although a polarised version is very difficult to find these days.

Besides, I keep wearing the Ray Bans in the hope that Kelly McGillis will cross polarise with me!!

:D :D

[The Pitched Link]

Hey, that's the great thing about this site, interesting stuff always comes up. I was wearing polarized lenses but just had a pair of perscription G15 types made because I noticed that I could'nt read my GPS without turning my head sideways. When I was buying them the sales girl asked what I did for a living and quickly said " Oh, your a pilot, well then you don't want polarized!". I was kind of shocked because I didn't think it was a big thing. I wonder how many other displays I haven't seen in the last little while.

[Dick Mitten]

Recently bought new shades. Things I was concerned about:

1. 100% UV Protection.

2. Colour = Amber. Since I'm a simple VFR driver in northern BC, Canada, I need something good in low contract (flat light) conditions. Grey lenses diminish contrast in these conditions by 'hiding' the grey shadows. Our eyes are very responsive to yellow light, but yellow lenses are too intense on a bright day (duh)! Amber is a good compromise. I find that in low contrast conditions shadow edges are easier to detect with my shades on than without. Brown lenses are pretty good, too.

3. Photochromic. Want 'em dark on a bright day, bright on a dark day. Wanna be able to wear 'em in low light conditions to take advantage of the amber/heightened contrast effect.

4. Polarized. Lots of water up here in the summer, with lots of glare. Don't seem to have any problems reading the GPS, comm, or clock displays. These are the only LCDs on board. I have noticed the 'gas pump effect', though. Weird... No problems with the plastic bubble.

5. Glass lenses. Not as safe in an impact, but WAY more scratch resistant. Polarized plastic lenses are also very hard to find.

So there's my two cents worth. Looks like you're getting plenty of information. Great forum, eh?

Enjoy your new shades!!

[the coyote]

I've found Serengeti (Vermillion KN6444 model) to be excellent, and provide surprisingly good definition and depth in grey weather also. Mildy photochromatic, 100% UVA, 98.5% UVB, glass lens. They've been good at replacing them for me free of charge downstream if you break the frames etc. I think around US$80-$100 but about AUS$300 here!

[B Sousa]

You folks have it all wrong. It does not matter what you can see, it matters if you look good...............Vaurnets.

[GLSNightPilot]

A few things I've discovered over the years:

1. UV protection isn't that big a deal for flying. The windows filter out most of it anyway. However, almost all sunglasses block UV adequately these days, even for outside use.

2. Photochromatic lenses don't work well in the cockpit. They require UV radiation to darken, & there isn't enough UV making it through the windshield to darken them. I've never seen them get anywhere near dark enough in the cockpit.

3. Polarized lenses work OK in older cockpits in light ships. They do block the LED displays. We had a couple of 407 gauges changed because the pilot wrote them up as inop, then discovered that they worked fine when he took off his polarized sunglasses. They can also be a problem with heated windshields, because of the interference caused by the fine closely spaced wires in the windshield. You can't see through the windshield with polarized glasses.

4. Brown lenses work better for me, because they increase the contrast. Yellow (shooting) lenses work great for low-light conditions, like fog & haze on a very cloudy day.

5. If you're in the US, & willing to order through the mail, Hidalgo Supply Co in Wimberly, TX is the best place to get glasses, either plain sunglasses or prescription lenses. Great prices, great service. No website, but they do have an email address, I just can't remember it right now. [email protected] comes to mind, but that's just a guess.

[rightpedalRIGHTPEDAL]

Oakley Flames, man!!!!!
They look so cool, and with my bleached hair and pukka beads, I've got the total surfer thing happening. The babes ask me out, instead of me them!!
And with the mirror lenses, you don't have to be too careful where you're looking when ensuring everyone is belted up!:cool: :D :D

(Pervy pilot)

[Lu Zuckerman]

I’ll go along with Dick Mitten on amber lenses. When I was on flight crew back in the early 50s I was issued amber sunglasses. They were fantastic when flying in hazy conditions and they provided excellent definition of shadows on snow. They also worked well under bright conditions without intensifying the ambient light. I still wear amber sunglasses (prescription ground) under all conditions especially when driving. I also wear them when driving at night as they do not cut down the ambient light but they do cut down on the glare of approaching headlights.

My suggestion is that you get amber sunglasses with UV A and B protection and have the lenses made with an anti reflective coating. Most opticians can dye plastic lenses to any shade of amber that suits you. I just had two pairs made for $130 US and they tossed in the frames for free.

[Dick Mitten]

LCDs and polarized glasses can certainly be a problem depending on the screen's orientation. Was looking at a laptop yesterday while wearing my shades (we were outside downloading data etc etc) and thought of our discussion. Could see the LCD images just fine. Turned my head and... Voila! Gone gone gone. 'Looks' like LCDs are polarized. Don't know if they are, but it was just like the 'cross-polarization' effect.

Polarized lenses can also be a problem with glass windows, 'cuz they are usually polarized also. The dreaded 'cross-polarization' effect can render the outside world unseeable. Ouch!

In my very limited experience with photochromic lenses they've been fine for flying. Perhaps not all lexan is UV resistant? Perhaps my pupils are sufficient to block the pale, northern winter sun... At any rate, since it's an iffy thing, it's probably a good idea to steer clear of the photochromic lens aisle.

I'd prefer plastic lenses for their impact resistance, but in my hands they scratch too easily. Generally I'm not hard on equipment, but plastic lenses are a definite exception. Call it a curse... Also, can't seem to find polarized, photochromic, plastic lenses. ;)

Why is amber a good lens colour? I've heard that the edge-sensing receptors of our retinas (can't remember if that's the rods or the cones) are most responsive to yellow light. Cut back on the other freqs of visible light, bath the retina in yellow, see the shadow edges and other contrast related phenomena more clearly.

Vaqueroaero: Please let us know what you get and they work!

Lu: Nice to have your opinion. Welcome back!

Stan: Thanks for the counter-opinions. Makes for better discussion.

[Q max]

Shades are for 'looking' like a pilot.

Wear them on the ground to look like a pilot and pull chicks - but don't let them interfere with Mk1 eyeball phenomenal (underestimated) performance.