First Day Must Haves!
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Join Date: Feb 2024
Location: United Kingdom
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First Day Must Haves!
Hi all!
Having recently secured my first airline role out of training, I'm now thinking of what things I need to buy so that I'm properly equipped and not caught out while on the line. Will be flying short/medium-haul ops in Europe, North Africa and Middle East. A pair of non-polarized sunglasses and a decent suitcase comes to mind which I have added to my 'to buy' list. But is there any other items that a junior pilot ought to equip themselves with from day one?
Also, am wondering if there are any items that aren't necessarily essential but are useful to have packed for overnights or long pauses on the ground? Be good to hear people's thoughts.
Having recently secured my first airline role out of training, I'm now thinking of what things I need to buy so that I'm properly equipped and not caught out while on the line. Will be flying short/medium-haul ops in Europe, North Africa and Middle East. A pair of non-polarized sunglasses and a decent suitcase comes to mind which I have added to my 'to buy' list. But is there any other items that a junior pilot ought to equip themselves with from day one?
Also, am wondering if there are any items that aren't necessarily essential but are useful to have packed for overnights or long pauses on the ground? Be good to hear people's thoughts.
PPRuNe Handmaiden
iPad/E-reader for those long waits.
Chargers/cables.
Packing cubes are useful for keeping your clothes organised.
If you use battery powered headsets, batteries.
Luggage should be cabin size. If going larger, hard shell.
Lens cleaning cloth. Small pack of travel tissues.
OTC medication - aspirin/paracetemol, otrivin nasal spray, bandaids. (You don't need the full packs, just cut a few out for use).
AirTags or Tiles.
Chargers/cables.
Packing cubes are useful for keeping your clothes organised.
If you use battery powered headsets, batteries.
Luggage should be cabin size. If going larger, hard shell.
Lens cleaning cloth. Small pack of travel tissues.
OTC medication - aspirin/paracetemol, otrivin nasal spray, bandaids. (You don't need the full packs, just cut a few out for use).
AirTags or Tiles.
Adaptors for non uk sockets - almost entirely for USB - can't remember the last time I needed to plug in a mains powered device other than shaver and bathrooms always deal with those. I've never used an iron down route. Small bluetooth speaker in a bright colour to avoid leaving behind - mine is JBL Flip 6, many other brands are available.
You can 'do' a lot of the North Western hemisphere and Mexico, India, Middle East, with just a couple of electrical adaptors. I use an Apple charger with; the UK 3 pin, the American 2 flat pin and the European 2 round pin connector clip-ons. Those and a USB phone charging lead all in a little bag.
A stapler. Seriously. Nobody ever told me this but I wish they had, and I am giving you this tip for free, but at 0500 one day in 'my' new airline there was not one stapler in the briefing room, and nobody else had one. (Turned out that some office f****r had locked all the staplers in a drawer before going home the previous day
). I had to do my whole final line check flight with loose PLOGS, loose Wx, loose NOTAMS.........all the paperwork loose. TRE was not impressed !
And joking apart, I think it held me back in the company because he thought I was an idiot and probably told all the other TREs - mind you; he didn't have a stapler either................. But at my previous airline there were always plenty of staplers in the briefing rooms - not this airline though.
Pens and spare pens.
A clear, security approved bag with a roll-on deodorant, a mini toothpaste and tooth brush, and a manual razor. Very handy for a freshen-up during the turnaround down route, or during long-haul flights.
Immodium, just in case. Nothing worse than dodgy guts while in the cockpit, and you can't declare sick and go home. Any other drugs you might possibly need, e.g. paracetamol, the No. 1 can get for you from the first aid kit or down-route. Couple of plasters are handy to have.
A pair of fold-up ear defenders, e.g Peltor H6F. They are small and slim and fold to the size of two fists, so they fit easily in your Nav bag. Almost 100% essential, in my book. Then you can do proper walk-arounds and check things properly and the engine cowl latches are done up etc, without cutting corners because you are having to hold your fingers in your ears.
You don't need to carry an iron. 90% of hotels have one in each room, the other hotels will bring you one on request.
Enjoy ! I am envious.
.
A stapler. Seriously. Nobody ever told me this but I wish they had, and I am giving you this tip for free, but at 0500 one day in 'my' new airline there was not one stapler in the briefing room, and nobody else had one. (Turned out that some office f****r had locked all the staplers in a drawer before going home the previous day
). I had to do my whole final line check flight with loose PLOGS, loose Wx, loose NOTAMS.........all the paperwork loose. TRE was not impressed !And joking apart, I think it held me back in the company because he thought I was an idiot and probably told all the other TREs - mind you; he didn't have a stapler either................. But at my previous airline there were always plenty of staplers in the briefing rooms - not this airline though.
Pens and spare pens.
A clear, security approved bag with a roll-on deodorant, a mini toothpaste and tooth brush, and a manual razor. Very handy for a freshen-up during the turnaround down route, or during long-haul flights.
Immodium, just in case. Nothing worse than dodgy guts while in the cockpit, and you can't declare sick and go home. Any other drugs you might possibly need, e.g. paracetamol, the No. 1 can get for you from the first aid kit or down-route. Couple of plasters are handy to have.
A pair of fold-up ear defenders, e.g Peltor H6F. They are small and slim and fold to the size of two fists, so they fit easily in your Nav bag. Almost 100% essential, in my book. Then you can do proper walk-arounds and check things properly and the engine cowl latches are done up etc, without cutting corners because you are having to hold your fingers in your ears.
You don't need to carry an iron. 90% of hotels have one in each room, the other hotels will bring you one on request.
Enjoy ! I am envious.
.
Last edited by Uplinker; 25th Apr 2024 at 12:54.
All credit to the OP and the sensible replies. Many newbie pilots invest in a massive watch that's meant to show the owner is a pilot, seem to remember a pilot's experience is inversely proportional to his watch's complexity? Respect.
My own simple and humble advice, get a small plastic bag and keep your licence and passport in it, coffee spills everywhere.... Best of luck!
My own simple and humble advice, get a small plastic bag and keep your licence and passport in it, coffee spills everywhere.... Best of luck!
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All credit to the OP and the sensible replies. Many newbie pilots invest in a massive watch that's meant to show the owner is a pilot, seem to remember a pilot's experience is inversely proportional to his watch's complexity? Respect.
My own simple and humble advice, get a small plastic bag and keep your licence and passport in it, coffee spills everywhere.... Best of luck!
My own simple and humble advice, get a small plastic bag and keep your licence and passport in it, coffee spills everywhere.... Best of luck!
Will remember the plastic bag trick! Cheers.
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Adaptors for non uk sockets - almost entirely for USB - can't remember the last time I needed to plug in a mains powered device other than shaver and bathrooms always deal with those. I've never used an iron down route. Small bluetooth speaker in a bright colour to avoid leaving behind - mine is JBL Flip 6, many other brands are available.
Sense of humour and a dash of humility will not go astray.
Gne
Gne
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On my first line training there was no iron. Two weeks on a remote island without luggage (lost) and no Iron. But I was smart to take uniform in a carry on just in case. Had to wash my shirt and pants in a sink and then stretch it while it dried. I wish I had an iron back then. You can buy meds, pencils and stuff like that at the airport, but they never sell irons 
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My first day I had my ID, a hi vis, my logbook, EFB and its charging cable, licenses .. and some food.
If you're going long haul, you might need the stuff above. If you're going to Malaga and will be back by lunch, you don't need to be hauling a luggage trolley around the airport.
The longer you do it, the less you'll start to carry. Guaranteed.
If you're going long haul, you might need the stuff above. If you're going to Malaga and will be back by lunch, you don't need to be hauling a luggage trolley around the airport.
The longer you do it, the less you'll start to carry. Guaranteed.
