Flightsuits and Survival Suits
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: Bedfordshire
Try
www.silvermans.co.uk
You can get RAF issue Nomex suits for £65.
Do I have to add, "don't work there, no affiliation"
...on a similar note and not so much "off topic" can we discuss why when the subject of helmets & flight suits come up, you always get the usual respopnses of..
"...you'll scare the PAX..."
"...you'll look a tw@t..."
etc. etc.
I can maybe agree that if you wear military versions in a civilian environment, then yes you do look a bit of a "Top Gun" wannabee, but what's wrong with civilian versions.
One thing I do agree with, if not in a shirt/tie/VIP scenario, is the wearing of a helmet if it's your choice. It's nothing to do with looking
it's to do with safety. Like a previous poster commented, you're in the heli for a large part of your year, your PAX might only be in it 1/2 an hour. Statistically you are more likely to benefit from it than you PAX.
Also in the unlikely event of some form of strike on the cockpit the helmet could prevent serious injury. Additionally in an accident the helmet could prevent you from being knocked unconscious and maybe enable you to fly the helicopter to a safe landing. Likewise if you did crash you may be the only conscious person on board as you had a helmet, therefore you could be the only person available to pull people from the wreckage.
I see the pilots safety as the passengers safety.
Whenever I flew in a heli as a passenger, I just took it as being part of the kit a pilot was required to wear, I also thought a smartly presented flight suit looked professional and appropriate for the role of a professional pilot.
www.silvermans.co.uk
You can get RAF issue Nomex suits for £65.
Do I have to add, "don't work there, no affiliation"
...on a similar note and not so much "off topic" can we discuss why when the subject of helmets & flight suits come up, you always get the usual respopnses of..
"...you'll scare the PAX..."
"...you'll look a tw@t..."
etc. etc.
I can maybe agree that if you wear military versions in a civilian environment, then yes you do look a bit of a "Top Gun" wannabee, but what's wrong with civilian versions.
One thing I do agree with, if not in a shirt/tie/VIP scenario, is the wearing of a helmet if it's your choice. It's nothing to do with looking
it's to do with safety. Like a previous poster commented, you're in the heli for a large part of your year, your PAX might only be in it 1/2 an hour. Statistically you are more likely to benefit from it than you PAX. Also in the unlikely event of some form of strike on the cockpit the helmet could prevent serious injury. Additionally in an accident the helmet could prevent you from being knocked unconscious and maybe enable you to fly the helicopter to a safe landing. Likewise if you did crash you may be the only conscious person on board as you had a helmet, therefore you could be the only person available to pull people from the wreckage.
I see the pilots safety as the passengers safety.
Whenever I flew in a heli as a passenger, I just took it as being part of the kit a pilot was required to wear, I also thought a smartly presented flight suit looked professional and appropriate for the role of a professional pilot.
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: Thirsk, North Yorks
Flying suits
Anybody have any good UK companies that sell quality nomex flying suits.
I see RSH have stopped selling them and other companies seem to be few and far between.
Thanks in advance!
I see RSH have stopped selling them and other companies seem to be few and far between.
Thanks in advance!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: UK
Try Derby Unitex. They seem to supply quite a few HEMS, Police ASU and firearms units as well as general industry. Cosalt Ballyclare are the daddies of the flying suit industry but normally deal in large scale orders (MoD etc).
I don't have a number to hand but I'll dig one out when I get back to work if a google doesn't come up with the goods.
GC
I don't have a number to hand but I'll dig one out when I get back to work if a google doesn't come up with the goods.
GC
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 22
Likes: 0
From: UK
Ok. I take it back. Google is the Daddy. Try these....
www.cosalt-ballyclare.com
www.derbyunitex.co.uk
Good luck,
GC
www.cosalt-ballyclare.com
www.derbyunitex.co.uk
Good luck,
GC
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Belgium
Try these:
http://www.xinteractiveclothing.com/index.htm (UK style and US style)
http://www.aureusinternational.com/ (US style)
http://www.xinteractiveclothing.com/index.htm (UK style and US style)
http://www.aureusinternational.com/ (US style)
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
Likes: 1,072
From: Downeast
Check for flight suits in the USA and avoid those ugly plastic thighed deals....just not chic old boy...plastic says it all.
flightsuits.com I think is the web site.
flightsuits.com I think is the web site.
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Here, There and Everywhere!!
Also try Matthew at http://www.sisleyclothing.com.au/
He is specially making me a pair of nomex flight trousers at the mo and have been very pleased with their service. They will ship to anywhere in the world.
I know its not UK but still worth a look.
R22
He is specially making me a pair of nomex flight trousers at the mo and have been very pleased with their service. They will ship to anywhere in the world.
I know its not UK but still worth a look.
R22
Joined: May 2002
Aviation Qualifications: ATP+Mil
Posts: 18,633
Likes: 1,072
From: Downeast
Ginger Spinner,
Once had a pair of Nomex burned off me while inflight. Hydraulic fed fire caused by some rather high speed FOD came my way. Six weeks waiting for the burns to heal. The places where the baggy pockets doubled or tripled the fabric had the lesser burns and the single thickness areas especially the area where the fabric pulls tight over the leg above the knee received the most damage.
Nomex has the characteristic of not melting like other man made fibers. That prevents the melting fabric from sticking to the skin and causing very serious problems after the fire.
I would suggest clean unstarched natural fiber clothing provides as much protection as does the Nomex. A nice leather jacket over a 100% cotton shirt and 100% cotton undershirt will work fine. Same thing for the trousers, 100% cotton or wool material would work fine.
Anything nylon, polyester, or other similar materials to include panty hose for the Ladies are killers during fires.
Nomex flight suits only work in flash or short duration exposure to fires. If you find yourself in a hot fire for any length of time nomex burns off like natural materials.
Given a Choice of a single safety device, I would rank them this way:
1- Helmet
2-Leather or Nomex/Leather Gloves
3-Above the ankle solid leather boots
4-Nomex flight suit
The helmet gives you a better chance to survive the crash, the gloves will guard your hands so you might be able to use them later, the boots do the same for your feet, and lastly the flight suit keeps grease off your clothes.
Once had a pair of Nomex burned off me while inflight. Hydraulic fed fire caused by some rather high speed FOD came my way. Six weeks waiting for the burns to heal. The places where the baggy pockets doubled or tripled the fabric had the lesser burns and the single thickness areas especially the area where the fabric pulls tight over the leg above the knee received the most damage.
Nomex has the characteristic of not melting like other man made fibers. That prevents the melting fabric from sticking to the skin and causing very serious problems after the fire.
I would suggest clean unstarched natural fiber clothing provides as much protection as does the Nomex. A nice leather jacket over a 100% cotton shirt and 100% cotton undershirt will work fine. Same thing for the trousers, 100% cotton or wool material would work fine.
Anything nylon, polyester, or other similar materials to include panty hose for the Ladies are killers during fires.
Nomex flight suits only work in flash or short duration exposure to fires. If you find yourself in a hot fire for any length of time nomex burns off like natural materials.
Given a Choice of a single safety device, I would rank them this way:
1- Helmet
2-Leather or Nomex/Leather Gloves
3-Above the ankle solid leather boots
4-Nomex flight suit
The helmet gives you a better chance to survive the crash, the gloves will guard your hands so you might be able to use them later, the boots do the same for your feet, and lastly the flight suit keeps grease off your clothes.
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 900
Likes: 26
From: The Wild West... and Oz
As stated, it is important to wear something under a nomex suit to create a thermal barrier between your skin and the nomex. I wear Icebreaker under-clothes under my flight suit. They are made from natual merino wool which keeps you warm in winter, and they are quite cool in summer.
They have the added benefit of going days without washing, and not starting to stink! There are different layers available and I use several when the temp really drops down in winter.
www.icebreaker.com
They have the added benefit of going days without washing, and not starting to stink! There are different layers available and I use several when the temp really drops down in winter.
www.icebreaker.com
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 731
Likes: 0
From: Surrey, England
Flying suits from either Nomex or Proban
Guys,
There's a company called Jays Racewear that supply motor racing suits and flying suits.
They can be reached at http://www.jaysracewear.co.uk
Take a look.
Broomstick.
There's a company called Jays Racewear that supply motor racing suits and flying suits.
They can be reached at http://www.jaysracewear.co.uk
Take a look.
Broomstick.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: uk
Flying suits
Had multifabs suit did not wear well, had a darby unitex suit not impressed.
Now I have a back up RSH suit which I hate the collar on but I think an aviation supplier has taken on the supply (TA?).
I have recently been to Jays and what they have supplied seems very good they have supplied the MOD display teams for sometime REDS/BLUES....
They offer a range off Mods for heli pilots vented under arms, not sure about the zipped cuffs to the elbow.
Supplied in four weeks and good price
Take care with the self measurement.
I dont work for them but the best I have seen in 12 years non military supplied.
Now I have a back up RSH suit which I hate the collar on but I think an aviation supplier has taken on the supply (TA?).
I have recently been to Jays and what they have supplied seems very good they have supplied the MOD display teams for sometime REDS/BLUES....
They offer a range off Mods for heli pilots vented under arms, not sure about the zipped cuffs to the elbow.
Supplied in four weeks and good price
Take care with the self measurement.
I dont work for them but the best I have seen in 12 years non military supplied.
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 494
Likes: 0
From: Belgium
In the UK
http://www.xinteractiveclothing.com/index.htm
US
http://www.aureusinternational.com/
Aureus also supplies to the military.
http://www.xinteractiveclothing.com/index.htm
US
http://www.aureusinternational.com/
Aureus also supplies to the military.
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: houston
transportation suits?
Can anyone advise if they know of a standard approval in the US for helicopter transportation suits? I am interested in the basic approval for the Nomex suit and testing standards. I am also interested if there is an approval with regards to an integrated immersion/dry suit for Offshore over the water transportation. Canada approved suits for Offshore oil market have dual Canadian Transport and SOLAS(Safety of Life At Sea) for these types of suits but I cannot find if there is a US equivalent. Have called around with no luck.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 52
Likes: 0
From: USA
No US transportation or immersion suit requirement for aviation. The Department of Interior has a requirement in their aviation guide (http://www.oas.gov/hqtrain/forms/refguide.PDF), and the parts of the CFR that govern marine operations have requirements for immersion and abandonment suits.
Use in the commercial market is driven by company standards. We're looking at the updated Transport Canada regs for our upcoming suit purchase. Previous use has been leased suits from a North Sea provider.
Use in the commercial market is driven by company standards. We're looking at the updated Transport Canada regs for our upcoming suit purchase. Previous use has been leased suits from a North Sea provider.
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
From: houston
Thanks
We have been considering the Viking dual approved transportation/immersion suit. I believe it is the first dual approved CT and Solas suit of its kind where the built-in life vest can be set for manual in the helicopter and then automatic while on the rig. I read a lot about it in the offshore trade magazines. Need a suit for Offshore Alaska. Looked like the best choice.
Thank you for the info.
Thank you for the info.
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Canada
check out
www.massif.com
excellent nomex clothing, use it for winter heli-skiing and summer work. Elements jacket is a great all-purpose jacket and is pretty well waterproof - bib overalls work in conjunction for winter work. Lots of options for layering - also it all stretches, great after too big a meal.
They have a new flightsuit line - haven't tried it yet. A bit costly, but the quality is worth it.
www.massif.com
excellent nomex clothing, use it for winter heli-skiing and summer work. Elements jacket is a great all-purpose jacket and is pretty well waterproof - bib overalls work in conjunction for winter work. Lots of options for layering - also it all stretches, great after too big a meal.
They have a new flightsuit line - haven't tried it yet. A bit costly, but the quality is worth it.