Flashlights for UA pilots
 

So after been out of flying for UAL for many years, I’m returning to work. The requirements for personal flashlights that I recall is that it had to be powered by 2 D-cell batteries. Now that that requirement went away, what flashlights are in use out there that’s weight/space-friendly and still capable of shining, say, the vertical tail?

iPhones work great

I use a Surefire G2X Pro 600 Lumen dual output LED with batteries, $66 bucks on Amazon. Carry a couple of extra batteries, light is so bright it’s blinding.

I have a feeling that the FAA will not consider a smartphone LED light as an appropriate flashlight.

To meet the FAR requirement, probably not. For the walk around, works great. Carry both.

Ditto.....

Got a generic LED Flashlight (three AAA batteries) that you see at checkout in an auto parts store..$3-5.

WAY brighter (and more reliable) than the old mandatory Maglite, not to mention, smaller and lighter.

On my ID lanyard, I keep one of those tiny keyring-type button flashlights. Mainliner store sells one for about $3.00 with the logo on it.

That little thing comes in handy in so many ways, and at five years old...still haven’t had to change the battery.

You can get the above mentioned generic led light on amazon, but I got one that charges via usb! No batteries! They have plenty for under 20 bucks.

I prefer the led 2 d cell maglight even though it isnt required. Still heavy but 2-3 yrs worth of battery and could be a help if there was an attacker in the cockpit. No issues with the beam not reaching the tail or brightness. Welcome back!

Surefire Defender 500 and 15 lumen duel output. Also has the serrated bezel if you had to use it as a defensive tool as a last resort.

I carry lots of spare batteries, on the 500 lumen setting it goes through them pretty quick. Thats my only complaint.

6d maglight is a pretty serious defensive tool!

In all seriousness, I’m a surefire light user as well. High quality stuff

I have ordered several sets of the DAX Industries flashlight set off Amazon and have them all over. $30 for a set of two. I have the small one in my bag, use the big one to walk the dogs, and bunch stashed all over the house. Rechargable battery lasts forever, bright, zoomable, bunch of other features, can't go wrong.

Surefires are great lights. But they are expensive and finding lithium batteries for them in a pinch is PITA. I’ve gone to the small, LED mag light. It take two AA batteries it’s plenty bright enough and they are like $20.00.

The AA LED maglight is great and compact. Also, DC ProX headsets also use AA batteries. I buy a pack of AA batteries from Costco once a year and that is more than enough.

Plenty bright, small, rechargeable, only $20


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072171VHQ..._7tByCb9REP74Y


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That's what I use. Works great and it can take some drops like a champ, too.

I bid to fly during the day....;)

Olight makes great flashlights. They're available on amazon and they come with mini USB chargers. I usually charge mine twice a year.

I also chose the Fenix PD35 and it’s a great mini flashlight!

$80 on Amazon,1000 Lumen (bright as *F* w/ several levels of brightness) usb rechargeable 2600mAH battery.

Had no troubles seeing the top of the MD11 tail in the middle of the night, but now I rarely use it as the bus doesn’t have a huge tail - AND - I rarely flight at night anymore!

Before you buy, try to evaluate how the on/off button works, and what the location is. People tend to discuss this commonly in the reviews because an overly complex or misplaced on/off can be super annoying.

I have one of the baby 250 lumen ones I bought in a 3 pack from Costco a while back. It has a large rubber on/off at the end, which I like. One click for dim, one more for bright, and a third strobes it, which is good for getting the attention of the other pilot from the ground, or the ground guys if you want the air pulled, etc. Holding in the button from off actuates momentary bright. As far as the 250 power, it could be a bit brighter on low, because I always find myself clicking right to full bright.

BTW, any flashlight with "TACTICAL" in the description is going to be at least 100% overpriced....

A flashlight is way better than a phone in this case because it's more reliable. I use a regular one from target

Surefire… last one you’ll ever need.

untill you lose it. :(

Olight. Beats the heck out of a surefire.

https://www.olightstore.com/2001-3000-lumens.html

I have this little bastard and it will literally blind you if you look into directly. It's just a bit bigger than the size of your thumb.


https://www.olightstore.com/baton3-pre.html