Size—and Safety

Size—and Safety—Matters

Tuesday, October 05, 2021 at 03:03 PM ET

Verified

You have to have a sight picture to fly safely. If you need a cushion or cushions to achieve that, you have an important choice to make.[Credit: Appareo]

Key Takeaways:

Many pilots, particularly those of shorter stature, require booster cushions to achieve a proper sight picture over the cowling and adequately reach rudder pedals, which is crucial for safe and effective flight.
Standard pillows or couch cushions are generally ineffective due to compression and lack of security, making purpose-designed aviation booster cushions a recommended solution.
A variety of specialized aviation cushions are available, differing in price, design, and features, with options like Oregon Aero's SoftSeat benefiting from extensive ergonomic research for optimal comfort and support.
The article also briefly addresses the inverse issue for tall pilots who may struggle to fit into cockpits comfortably and safely, emphasizing the need to verify fit and full control deflection.