Safety clothing while training?
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Safety clothing while training?
Hi everyone,
I have just started my PPL(H) training and just wondered what you all thought about wearing protective clothing and head gear.
I notice Robinson sell a very reasonable priced Nomex suit and HSL sell reconditioned helmets.
I'm one of these people who have got insurance to cover my insurance and with that in mind I really would like to be fully prepared in the event of an accident BUT I do realise that probably 50% would find it laughable if someone turned up in protective gear while training yet the other 50% may think it a good idea, so is there any etiquette when it comes to safety?
All comments, for or against, would be greatly appreciated.
K77.
I have just started my PPL(H) training and just wondered what you all thought about wearing protective clothing and head gear.
I notice Robinson sell a very reasonable priced Nomex suit and HSL sell reconditioned helmets.
I'm one of these people who have got insurance to cover my insurance and with that in mind I really would like to be fully prepared in the event of an accident BUT I do realise that probably 50% would find it laughable if someone turned up in protective gear while training yet the other 50% may think it a good idea, so is there any etiquette when it comes to safety?
All comments, for or against, would be greatly appreciated.
K77.
Some people wear protective suits, some not. Do what you feel safe with. Personally I wouldn't bother for PPL training. I have heard of an instructor in the UK who wore a helmet for his flying. Can't imagne what the students thought if they didnt have one on.
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Flight Suit: I think is a good idea - 1] Stops your clothes from getting gunged up which they inevitably will do over time. 2] If there is a 'flash fire' as a result of a prang or other and you are in the vicinity, then there is a high likelihood you will die from shrivelled lungs as you gasp in shock and inhale the high temperature. So do not worry too much about it being fire retardant. However, it should not be man made material because of the static potential which is why wearing simply yer everyday clothes is not a pretty good idea unless they are all natural fibre.
Gloves: Again personal choice but I like them preventing me getting my hands all mucky. Makes the sandwiches taste odd and there is the odd chance of picking up some carcinogenic grease as you fiddle with bits and pieces.
Helmet: Well until you get into the realms of being licensed and doing more hours than likely at present then the cost might be too much. Though you can pick up a pretty good one from an ex-mil source reasonably cheap. I like them because the offer hearing protection and prevent me banging me head when I slip on dispersal/apron. I prefer the web inset cradle type but each to their own.
It all boils down to whether you think you are going to get reasonable use out of anything you invest in. I think you might be best advised to wait a while until you are completely sure of getting your ticket and by then you will have been able to assess your needs.
Best Wishes
Gloves: Again personal choice but I like them preventing me getting my hands all mucky. Makes the sandwiches taste odd and there is the odd chance of picking up some carcinogenic grease as you fiddle with bits and pieces.
Helmet: Well until you get into the realms of being licensed and doing more hours than likely at present then the cost might be too much. Though you can pick up a pretty good one from an ex-mil source reasonably cheap. I like them because the offer hearing protection and prevent me banging me head when I slip on dispersal/apron. I prefer the web inset cradle type but each to their own.
It all boils down to whether you think you are going to get reasonable use out of anything you invest in. I think you might be best advised to wait a while until you are completely sure of getting your ticket and by then you will have been able to assess your needs.
Best Wishes
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I guess my priority would be helmet due to hearing loss, gloves to keep my hands clean followed by a flightsuit. You can now I am told get flightsuits which come in two parts i.e. Jacket and trousers which would make sense for when you are sitting in the office.
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You always want to turn up for every flight lesson fully prepared. 
What you want to do is turn up at your flight school wearing a Nomex flightsuit, nomex gloves, helmet, strong pair of boots, leatherman, flashlight and kneeboard.
Alternatively, if this seems a bit much, then i would highly recommend investing in a good quality pair of flip flops, cargo shorts with plenty of pockets and something like a football shirt or quality strap vest.
Either way you will be respected by the flight insructors and all the other students.
Best of luck...
What you want to do is turn up at your flight school wearing a Nomex flightsuit, nomex gloves, helmet, strong pair of boots, leatherman, flashlight and kneeboard.
Alternatively, if this seems a bit much, then i would highly recommend investing in a good quality pair of flip flops, cargo shorts with plenty of pockets and something like a football shirt or quality strap vest.
Either way you will be respected by the flight insructors and all the other students.
Best of luck...
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Most of those fire retardant trousers and jackets are made of 100% cotton that is coated with some sort of powder. Not a good idea if you ask me, because that powder wears out with use, and cleaning.
If you're looking for something to train or fly by your own, or fly anywhere else except VIP transport - Nomex flightsuit is the way to go. It's not really expensive, you can buy them from military surplus cheap and in excellent condition. I bought one last year for 30USD, it was wared by some USAF Major... once. Very comfortable when you get the right size
If you're looking for something to train or fly by your own, or fly anywhere else except VIP transport - Nomex flightsuit is the way to go. It's not really expensive, you can buy them from military surplus cheap and in excellent condition. I bought one last year for 30USD, it was wared by some USAF Major... once. Very comfortable when you get the right size
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Thanks for all of the replies chaps and to be honest i'm happy to spend the money especially if it's going to save me from an injury but no doubt most people will have a good laugh at someone turning up in a flight suit and helmet to fly an R22!
Although maybe it might be me having the last life it it saves me from severe injury!
Although maybe it might be me having the last life it it saves me from severe injury!
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As a student I'd be careful about things that cover your eyes too much. My instructor didn't like my silvered wraparound sunglasses as he could never tell where I was looking.
Ensuring you're looking out or in at the right times is obviously vital.
Other than annoying sunglasses I wear standard civvies. Which is wierd, 'cos whenever I'm out on my motorbike I go for the ATGATT principle. All The Gear, All The Time. Perhaps it's because on my bike I think someone else will try to kill me, in the air it's more lkely to be me!
You need to be comfortable and if you do choose to have all the gear, make sure you have an idea.
Ensuring you're looking out or in at the right times is obviously vital.
Other than annoying sunglasses I wear standard civvies. Which is wierd, 'cos whenever I'm out on my motorbike I go for the ATGATT principle. All The Gear, All The Time. Perhaps it's because on my bike I think someone else will try to kill me, in the air it's more lkely to be me!
You need to be comfortable and if you do choose to have all the gear, make sure you have an idea.
Never heard of ATGATT but it seems like a good principle.
One thing to beware of becoming is 'Got The Gear But No Idea'. Your personal steps to remain safe are your business, no one elses. If the school wants your business and you turn up in a pink tutu who cares !
I've taught one guy who always wore sandals, hawaiian shirt and shorts. The only issue I had with him was the sandals, and on my say so he swapped to firmer soled shoes as he couldn't really control the pedals properly in soft soled sandals.
I've also taught a guy who turned up in Nomex suit, and we used to take the p*ss out of him, but now we've all grown up a bit, I'd sooner look like a car mechanic (in Nomex) than a traffic warden if I had to get out of a smouldering or blazing aircraft.
Do what is right for you, accept that some people will comment on it, and unless it affects your training, leave them to deal with it.
I'd be interested to learn if burns are more common injuries post accident in hot countries where shorts and T shirts are the norm, as opposed to the UK, where trousers or flight suits prevail. Maybe that'll be my next crusade, but I am a bit busy with the current one...
GS
One thing to beware of becoming is 'Got The Gear But No Idea'. Your personal steps to remain safe are your business, no one elses. If the school wants your business and you turn up in a pink tutu who cares !
I've taught one guy who always wore sandals, hawaiian shirt and shorts. The only issue I had with him was the sandals, and on my say so he swapped to firmer soled shoes as he couldn't really control the pedals properly in soft soled sandals.
I've also taught a guy who turned up in Nomex suit, and we used to take the p*ss out of him, but now we've all grown up a bit, I'd sooner look like a car mechanic (in Nomex) than a traffic warden if I had to get out of a smouldering or blazing aircraft.
Do what is right for you, accept that some people will comment on it, and unless it affects your training, leave them to deal with it.
I'd be interested to learn if burns are more common injuries post accident in hot countries where shorts and T shirts are the norm, as opposed to the UK, where trousers or flight suits prevail. Maybe that'll be my next crusade, but I am a bit busy with the current one...
GS
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I did read somewhere that if you were to have an accident in a helicopter, god forbid, that the main cause of injury or death is a blow to the head so a helmet MUST surely help in that regard?
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No, but you can find reports which say that wearing a helmet could save pilot life if he had one during the crash 
(last one like that I read about NZ TH-1F crash)
Although wearing a helmet during training might be bit of overkill, since you shouldn't end up in any really dangerous situation in the first place - but flying commercially or on your own is a whole different story, there the ATGATT is the way to go.
(last one like that I read about NZ TH-1F crash)Although wearing a helmet during training might be bit of overkill, since you shouldn't end up in any really dangerous situation in the first place - but flying commercially or on your own is a whole different story, there the ATGATT is the way to go.
Lt. Fubar
Considering that in the UK at least 1/5 of all accidents to helicopters happen when training maybe its not such a bad idea for him to protect himself during training after all.
Gary
Considering that in the UK at least 1/5 of all accidents to helicopters happen when training maybe its not such a bad idea for him to protect himself during training after all.
Gary
Rather than spend money on helmets etc why not save it and spend a little more and learn on a 300 which is a proper chopper
I think little white gloves , clip on ties and those daft gold stripes are all pointless ( but highly amusing for everyone else , so dont stop guys !!) but in my accident i would have 100% saved many weeks in hospital with burns if i had worn nomex AND IF i had been knocked out i would have died.....i do however slightly wonder what the passengers are going to think about only the pilot wearing a helmet on a charter . Although it now seems odd to be flown in the mountains in Canada by a pilot without one .
I think little white gloves , clip on ties and those daft gold stripes are all pointless ( but highly amusing for everyone else , so dont stop guys !!) but in my accident i would have 100% saved many weeks in hospital with burns if i had worn nomex AND IF i had been knocked out i would have died.....i do however slightly wonder what the passengers are going to think about only the pilot wearing a helmet on a charter . Although it now seems odd to be flown in the mountains in Canada by a pilot without one .
J.
Hopefully he'd just get on with it, expect a ribbing and thats the end of it. Talk to him beforehand he's a grown up, if he can't accept it move on, but I think he probably will.
Nigelh
I couldn't agree more, ties and bars etc how lovely but you never fly any better or worse without them. Maybe in the commercial world they imply professionalism but in the training environment anything goes in my mind as long as the student is comfortable and can concentrate on learning to fly.
GS
Hopefully he'd just get on with it, expect a ribbing and thats the end of it. Talk to him beforehand he's a grown up, if he can't accept it move on, but I think he probably will.
Nigelh
I couldn't agree more, ties and bars etc how lovely but you never fly any better or worse without them. Maybe in the commercial world they imply professionalism but in the training environment anything goes in my mind as long as the student is comfortable and can concentrate on learning to fly.
GS
How tall are you? If you are 6ft (1.80m) or more, you might not fit into an R22 cockpit with a helmet on.
Nobody should be making fun of you because you are wearing a nomex suit.
Nobody should be making fun of you because you are wearing a nomex suit.
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I'm 5ft 10" but another reason for the helmet is that I currently work as a Television Outside Broadcast Sound Engineer and anything extra to protect my hearing (as well as my head) must be a good thing!
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Instruction makes up 19.6 percent of accidents on a ten year average from 1998-2007 in the United States, second only to Part 91 personal use. (according to stats provided by HAI)
While the total number of fatal accidents is usually higher in turbines (per year), the accident rate of fatal accidents is higher in recips... While I don't think training is inherently dangerous, it is foolish to think it is less dangerous than commercial operations and certainly has a worse safety record than the areas of the industry where safety equipment is mandatory.
I for one wear a flight suit and wouldn't feel stupid wearing a helmet, if I could afford a good one. Personally I wish helmets, flight suits and a days survival equipment were standard use items across the training industry in the US.
While the total number of fatal accidents is usually higher in turbines (per year), the accident rate of fatal accidents is higher in recips... While I don't think training is inherently dangerous, it is foolish to think it is less dangerous than commercial operations and certainly has a worse safety record than the areas of the industry where safety equipment is mandatory.
I for one wear a flight suit and wouldn't feel stupid wearing a helmet, if I could afford a good one. Personally I wish helmets, flight suits and a days survival equipment were standard use items across the training industry in the US.
Last edited by aclark79; 15th Mar 2008 at 23:28.