Is That What You’re Going to Wear in the Air?

Pilots should think in terms of crashworthiness when dressing for flight.

Joseph "Jeb" Burnside

Wednesday, July 09, 2025 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

Pilots need to integrate PPE into their higher-risk flying to be better prepared when something happens. [Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

General aviation aircraft are not designed for optimal crashworthiness, exposing occupants to significant injury risks from internal structures, fuel, and impact forces.
Crash helmets are a highly effective "delethalization device" for preventing head injuries from impact and turbulence, and offer some fire protection, despite low public acceptance in light airplanes.
Wearing comprehensive flame-resistant clothing, such as multi-layer Nomex flight suits, gloves, and balaclavas, is critical for increasing survival chances in post-crash fires, a significant threat in GA accidents.
Pilots should proactively adopt a full suite of personal protective equipment, including multipoint harnesses and fire-resistant gear, drawing lessons from high-risk fields like F1 racing and military aviation, to enhance safety.

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Anyone who paid attention to news coverage during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic likely is familiar with personal protective equipment (PPE). In the medical profession, PPE can include masks, gloves, gowns, booties, and more. But PPE isn’t only for doctors and nurses.

Construction workers wear hard hats, steel-toed boots and Day-Glo vests. Many motorcyclists have adopted the initialism ATGATT, standing for “All The Gear All The Time”—helmets, boots, gloves, leathers, whether riding on the street or off-road. No shorts, flip-flops, or tank tops, even if it’s only a quick trip to the corner store. Motorcyclists refusing to wear helmets often are referred to as “organ donors” behind their backs.