New pilot - new pilot case - necessary?
 

People,

I am soon to be let loose to the airlines after finishing my training.

To date i have used one of those big pilot cases to carry my headset, charts, plates, maps, torches, pencils, porno's, tissues, sandwiches etc. My current one is knackered. Do i need a new one for the job? Or can i go for something thinner and sleeker? What do you guys carry in the case when you fly the 737? Surely not the big bulky Pooley's serodrome guide and a bulky DC headset!

Advice please.

You need room for your ray ban aviators and thats about it!

THE BIGGER THE BAG, THE SMALER THE AIRPLANE !

That should give you something to work on. Happy landings!
:ok:

tom24,

It's been a while since my 737 days, but IIRC the space outboard of the seats for flight kit storage is pretty narrow. Better do some checking to avoid getting a bag too wide for the space.

Congrats on the new job.

I bought the below case from www.scottleather.com. Very happy with it, nice thick leather .. i am pretty sure this scott case will last for most of my flying career :ok:

http://www.scottleather.com/content/...ight_jumbo.jpg

Reminds me of one Captain in the halcyon days of Orion who always reported for duty with his (light weight) headset and licence under his hat - he never carried a flight bag!

That said, many years ago I decided to invest in a Jeppesen Flight case - not the cheapest but it's still going strong after 20 years plus use.

Mate, I got myself one of these from Boeing http://www.boeingstore.com/catalog/i...ntId=55&id=310

But even now I wonder why I bother taking it to work. All you need is somewhere to carry your sunnies and licence. What else would you need any way? I think you will get some kudos for turning up with a smaller bag than everyone else.

For the guys who don't carry flight kits, I take it all your Jeps, airplane manual,, FOM, etc. are onboard the airplane ? We were each issued a set of those and required to carry them.

I bought a cheap vinyl case from Pooleys which seems to handle most of the punishment I throw at it. I need a proper sized case to carry dc headset, kneeboard, pens, torch and spare pants/toothbrush/deodorant in case of unscheduled nightstop. Any spare room is taken up with food or newspaper, or scarf and gloves if it's cold (like today..brrr). I don't think it matters what size of bag you have as long as it fits where it's supposed to (ooh er). I've seen crew going to the aircraft with their headset and shades in a Tesco bag, which I think is probably a reverse-pose and therefore a tad wanky.

If you really insist on having something capable of carrying enough junk to give a pack mule a hernia, then go for a pull along trolley type case , or something with a shoulder strap. Nothing less cool than wandering around leant over at 40 degrees trying to balance out the weight of your flight bag. ;)

Hey Tom,
apart from your personal docs, sunglasses, a calculator and a couple of pens, you will need to have a bag big enough to carry the paperwork for the day. Weather, notams, plogs, etc.
All this can be carried in a Marks and Spencer plastic bag (or any other reputable store) although your street cred may well suffer.
Depending who you fly for, the most important items you will be taking in your bag will be your face feed for the day plus a magazine/newspaper. This will fill any spare space!
I would suggest getting one from Argos rather than splashing out too much of your hard earned. 737 size too!
Best of luck!

Get something small and cheap which doesn't say "pilot". If possible, one that expands to take an EOK (Emergency Overnight Kit) ie. toothbrush, aftershave and packet of three (although lady pilots have to take a bigger bag as they have to fit in a manhole cover).

Re: New pilot - new pilot case - necessary?
 

That's a good un haven't heard that phrase (packet of three) for years.

Re: New pilot - new pilot case - necessary?
 

Depends on who's 737's you're going to be flying, if it's one of the lo-co's that doesnt feed you then you'll need room for your grub for the day.

Re: New pilot - new pilot case - necessary?
 

I bought myself the ubiquitous normal sized pilots case and very quickly found it to be too large and un-necessary...in many cases it neither fitted in the cockpit or under a seat if positioning...

I found a half depth pilots case which of the same design except 'half depth' it was more than adequate even for those extra duty free 200 cigies and/or a bottle of booze. I always carry a stout carrier/shopping bag in it which is more than adequate if work suddenly burdens you with a new manual or 3 inches of other reading to take home. And of course when empty is far lighter than its full depth compatriate.

At work I still use a similar case today (in a dark brown leather) which are much more available as they appear ideal for laptops which were never around in my original days...but I still have a sby normal pilots case for those odd occasions I am carrying manuals or large items and it sits gathering dust dont think I've used it in 3 years.

I have also seen 'soft' pilots cases which look quite good.

PS. doesn't it look awful when they plaster their cases with the 'I fly a...' stickers...and they call reggie spotters nerds?! :)

Re: New pilot - new pilot case - necessary?
 

what case? of course, this depends on your needs.

gotta carry your jepp/lido/atlas? have to walk long distances? risk of unplanned overnights? room next to your seat ?

i bought a standard size black leather flight kit. but as it has the whole teleskopic trolley handle mechanic inside, there's less volume left. but enough. some people say a pilot pulling his case is a little gay, but after 10 mins of walking everybody is convinced that carrying sucks. especially with two jepp binders inside.

inside i got: spare shirt, winter pullover, sunnies, FOOD, envelope of flight papers, licence etc and still a little room.