How Many Flashlights Do You Carry in Your Flight Bag?

Historically, pilots carry two flashlights.

Monday, October 17, 2022 at 04:28 PM ET

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For pilots, losing night vision during a flight could be dangerous—so keep the white lights out of the cockpit. Instead, use a flashlight with a colored lens such as red, green, yellow, or blue to protect your night vision. [Courtesy: Meg Godlewski]

Key Takeaways:

Flashlights are indispensable for pilots, crucial for both preflight inspections and in-cockpit illumination, with a strong emphasis on preserving night vision through the use of colored lights (red, green, etc.).
Pilots must understand basic eye physiology to avoid white light in the cockpit, which compromises night adaptation, and instead utilize appropriate colored lenses to maintain visual acuity in low-light conditions.
When selecting a pilot flashlight, consider features like multi-colored lenses, angled heads for hands-free use, and reliable power sources, including quality batteries, spares, or alternative options like hand-crank flashlights.

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Recently, I thought I lost my favorite flashlight. It is a Smith & Wesson with the ability to project a white, red, and green light. It is my favorite to bring along in the airplane because it provides illumination for the preflight as well as illumination in the cockpit in the event the panel post lights fail.

Also, it was the last Christmas present my father gave me before he flew West—and flashlights were very, very important to my father.

Meg Godlewski

Meg Godlewski has been an aviation journalist for more than 24 years and a CFI for more than 20 years. If she is not flying or teaching aviation, she is writing about it. Meg is a founding member of the Pilot Proficiency Center at EAA AirVenture and excels at the application of simulation technology to flatten the learning curve. Follow Meg on Twitter @2Lewski.