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Packing light

Essential electronics, do-it-all bags

December 17, 2018 By Dave Hirschman

Pilots are mission-minded, and they are also mindful of weight and balance. Through trial and error, they'll assemble and make room in the confines of a cockpit for the equipment that will work best. Check out what you need when you need to pack light.

2018 AOPA Gear Guide

Baggage compartment space and weight and balance limit what you can take on a cross-country trip in a smaller airplane—but packing light doesn't mean foregoing backups. Batteries, emergency equipment, and even a spare headset make it into my essential packing list.

One of the most useful items in my flight bag is a simple battery charger. Aviation apps provide such irreplaceable weather, traffic, navigation, and airport information that the thought of doing without them fills me with dread. As we place more and more trust in these apps, we're also asking more of our devices through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections that can quickly suck the life out of batteries. And that's why a simple charging brick is so useful.

I confess that I seldom carry an actual helmet in my military-style helmet bag. But the soft-sided bag itself is a bottomless pit that easily accommodates my other aviation items—and since the bag has only one heavy-duty zipper, you don't have to wonder which secret compartment to open to find the item you're looking for. Hand-held radio, Afrin, chewing gum, and sunglasses are all in the same place. Just fish around and you'll find it.

Check out more in the 2018 AOPA Gear Guide.

Gear for Packing Light

  • Gear for Packing Light
    No batteries needed: In-ear passive headsets do not block as much ambient noise, but they are light and take up very little space when not being worn, which makes them an ideal backup. Clarity Aloft in-ear headset. $525/www.sportys.com, www.clarityaloft.com. Also consider: Telex 5x5 III (www.telex.com).
  • Gear for Packing Light
    Where is Dave? Even in the heavily populated Mid-Atlantic region there are some surprisingly remote places. West Virginia, anyone? The Garmin InReach Mini can poinpoint your location for rescuers, and it takes up almost no space in a flight bag. $349.99/www.sportys.com, www.garmin.com. Also consider: SPOT (www.findmespot.com).
  • Gear for Packing Light
    Flightbag in your pocket: Plan a flight; check the weather; file, amend, or close a flight plan; calculate weight and balance, and much more with Garmin Pilot. Subscriptions start at $74.99 per year/www.garmin.com
  • Gear for Packing Light
    Weather, traffic on the go: ForeFlight users can add the palm-sized Sentry ADS-B receiver to the cockpit and get in-flight weather and traffic advisories, plus a 12-hour battery and built-in carbon monoxide detector. $499/www.sportys.com, www.flywithsentry.com. Also consider: ForeFlight Scout (www.flywithscout.com), Stratus by Appareo (www.appareo.com).
  • Gear for Packing Light
    Phone buddy: Keep your phone in sight and locked down with a cradleless Ailun magnetic dashboard mount. $9.89 for a pack of two/www.amazon.com. Also consider: RAM (www.rammount.com), MyGoFlight (https://mgfproducts.com).
Dave Hirschman

Dave Hirschman

AOPA Pilot Editor at Large
AOPA Pilot Editor at Large Dave Hirschman joined AOPA in 2008. He has an airline transport pilot certificate and instrument and multiengine flight instructor certificates. Dave flies vintage, historical, and Experimental airplanes and specializes in tailwheel and aerobatic instruction.
Go to Dave Hirschman's Profile
Topics: Gear

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