I remember reading a story of a videographer that was in a firey helicopter crash, wearing a polyester track suit. The fire didn't do much, but the track suit melted to his skin and scarred him horribly. While it's unlikely everyone will have a pickle suit on some day, there is still something I think we can do to help not make things worse if there's a crash.

I'm a big fan of the Army's ADCU and ABDU, which are the two-piece flight suits in tan or camouflage pattern. The ADCU is the tan set, very light weight, very comfortable, and looks super cool. I wear the pants all the time in the Robby, with a cotton shirt. Not the best protection, but nothing is melting to me.

Also, I wear 100% cotton socks with some non-synthetic shoes. Not the best, again, but far better than something that will melt to me. I found a pair of Vans skateboarding shoes that look nice, and are 100% non synthetic.

Helmets are awesome too. Wish my gentex dome-o-crap wouldn't keep breaking. I've bumped my head getting in and out enough to know that's probably the first thing that will happen in a crash-em-up. Maybe some day I'll cancel the life insurance policy and use my premiums to buy one of these cool helmets:

http://a757.ac-images.myspacecdn.com...f310f528c4.jpg

Mike

Baggy look is safer
 

http://massif.com/nomex_clothing/inferno_jacket.php

This company make fire resistant kit, tested to US standards.
They have a range of fleeces (one is waterproof) and t shirts ect that can do double duty out of the aircraft.

A complete outfit is more expensive than a one piece pilot suit.
The material is relatively new carbon/nomex blend that is very comfortable in fleece form.

Nomex itself doesn't insulate from heat. An air gap between skin and the suit does.
The value of Nomex lies in its ability to charr and not fall apart as easily as other fibers. So in most circumstances it keeps the air gap for longer.

So the baggy look is safer!

A helmet visor protects the face from (line-of-sight) radiant heat.




Mickjoebill

Thanks everyone, looks like the general concensus is that safety equipment IS the right thing even if you do get laughed at.............maybe one day it will be me who has the last laugh? :ok:

What, the ones I "procured" that bear an uncanny resemblance to those issued to RAF pilots or the golfing glove I use (in summer!)? My use of the singular is intentional!!

The RAF gloves are very soft but do stretch with wear; the golfing glove is a tight fit which I prefer.

Cheers

Whirls

FAA and Robinson recomend Nomex suit and helmet as most injuries have resulted in fire ! your choice

Toasty
 

This was a little incident I was involved in, I can confirm that leather is very effective as a fire retardent and I was obviously wearing a crash helemt too. It was warm enough to melt all the plastic off my leathers and helmet, but I was uninjured except a small area between my leathers and helmet, my chin and neck.

Interestingly as a corporate jock I choose not to wear fire protection on a daily basis, for me it's a question of sensible risk management. If I was involved in another type of flying then it would be different.

Quick quiz:-

1. How many litres of fuel did it take to feed this blaze, it actually was Avgas

2. Extra special prize for the first to spot my legs/boots in the first picture

http://lh4.google.com/Jemax61/R91vyN...jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh3.google.com/Jemax61/R91v19...jpg?imgmax=512
http://lh5.google.com/Jemax61/R91v5d...jpg?imgmax=512

http://lh4.google.com/Jemax61/R91v8N...jpg?imgmax=512
http://lh6.google.com/Jemax61/R91v-t...jpg?imgmax=512

1. About 10 litres? :hmm:

2. Is your boot sticking up over rider No 41's left shoulder? :\

So it seems that there is some consensus that we SHOULD routinely fly in Nomex (or at least cotton or wool) clothing with no man made fibre clothing, wear a helmet and gloves and wear leather footwear.

I have ordered a nomex flightsuit after following this discusssion but where in the UK can a casual PPL(H) get a decent helmet at reasonable cost?

Ian.

another question then, the flight suits we wear for offshore flying during winter, they have a rubber neck seal and rubber cuff seals. How would this fare in a fire? It might seal the water out but flames may have a different effect. Also, why no helmets for offshore flying or do any companies supply helmets?

I was surprised to see some of the older pilots wanting to get straight back into their cotton coveralls as soon as the sea temps in NS are above 10degrees C. I don't think that there is much difference in the cooling effect beyween say 9 degrees and 12 degrees. It's still gonna be bloody cold.

Suppose it's down to risk.

Because they don't crease like the 100% cotton ? ;)

Mickjoebill, great link, will have to buy some stuff from them... after robbing a bank :ugh:

BTW about 20 litres, 5USG,

Correct about the boot.

Helimutt,
Now that is a good question after all offshore has more Health and Safety than you can shake a stick at.

As for putting the coveralls on as soon as possible we were more thinking about exhaustion from the heat in the cockpit due to the lack of fresh air.

guys, that massif web looks nice for nomex gear.
Thanks.

Thinking of buying one or two pieces soon before starting my heli training.
Few hundred bucks is nothing considering how much I'm going to spend over the coming years :\

anyone got good suggestions on similar garment companies in the US?
I'll check out first two pages as well for any links. I'll google it as well, but being quite reluctant and ignoring 'fashion' crap (except watching Victoria's Secret catwalks etc)

Me too, I'd rather look silly than f:mad: up cripple. I happened to have big scald on thigh thanks to mom's coffee (she had it way worse) when I was a kid. Real 'fun'. I can manage to control pain to a certain degree having been waiter for some time.
But that's pretty mild to what one could experience in the cockpit and panicking and waving hands around doesn't exactly contribute to safe-ish landing after !!!! hit the fan. Or after crash landing when seconds matter.

Just that I don't think there's many PPL students wearing fire-resistant gear. I survived bunch of near misses in general life so getting into aviation should see me taking more precautions.

I'd also look into all-cotton clothing. Not that I like man-made fabrics too much. My mom had lots of fun when I was a kid and rejected every woolen cardigan and anything with more than 10% polyester in it. Lycra feels fairly nice, though :) I don't mean stockings, btw.

Hi Martin

You might want to look at 5.11 tactical gear website. I normally wear a cotton version of those pants and I like them much. Comfortable and very practical. As you will see, you can now get a fire retardant ones for very reasonable price.

Petr

http://www.511tactical.com/fire-retardant.html

HSL who are the main dealers for Alpha helmets in the UK have offered me a fully reconditioned helmet............but will this be okay as i'm aware that you should never wear 'seondhand' motorcycle helmets?

Masak,

I have worn 5.11's for years....one complaint is the belt like loop on the right hand side has a nasty habit of hanging up on door levers and the like. One might consider removing that loop.

For those aspiring for promotion....5.11 makes some very nifty foam knee pads that fit right into the double knees.

SAS
Got those DON'T work!!!

cheers. I googled nomex clothing and got bunch of companies that do or sell some. Massif looks bit dear although with more than twice the nomex weight per area than other flight garments. Presume it's about preferences..

I'm one of those (if there are few at all) that don't bother spending on casual clothing but love outdoor and functional high-tech gear and gadgets :-)

I'll probably go for some light 4.5 oz/sq yard coverall that won't be of much bother in R22 althought I'm not heading to Florida. And Massif's Inferno Jacket (13oz) for cold or mild climate in the future.

Yeah, talking about functional gear and people having a laugh.
Nobody can beat my pink glittery kevlar paragliding helmet I used to wear.
I would never look more stupid than in my short free flying past..

K77
I bought a used alpha. The cost saving was considerable. I think the issue with motorcycle helmets is with some of the materials used in their construction dont show damage. I'm sure HSL will not sell a dud. Carbon fibre and kevlar are pretty tough. Reject it if the shell is not perfect inside and out.

Only you can decide if the risk of getting a used one is worth the cost saved. For me it was worth it.
Cheers.
Phil

It has just hit me....I have a problem with the title of this thread!

Am I wrong to think the idea of wearing safety equipment is limited to just "training".....and not wearing it during "non-training" flights?

Should not safety equipment be worn at all times?

If not....what determines the need to wear it or not wear it?

SASless,

fast forward me into 5 years in the future and I won't bother with training.
I'd be in 'plush' safety gear with smooth helmet and Bose X or David Clark ANR 'puffing away' over North Sea or Canada. Just like in the Click.
You'd save me from my best years of life wasted thanks to following my tough plans with flight training. Also, crappy hospitality/catering jobs..

Well, thread was started as .... while training, but it applies even more so during casual ops, obviously. That's why old salts contribute and it's useful.