How to Care for Your Pilot Gear: Headsets, Sunglasses & More

Caring for aviation gear is a crucial part of any pilot’s professional life. It is essential that all equipment is in good working order, to ensure the safety and comfort of pilots & passengers, as well as longevity of equipment as we all know how expensive pilot gear can be. With decades of experience in the aviation supply industry, Flightstore offers a specialist selection of high quality pilot gear. From professional pilot headsets to essential navigation tools, we are proven to equip pilots with the best, most reliable, high-quality products to meet the demands of flight. Follow our guide to keeping your equipment in the best condition to ensure it has the longevity is deserves.

Table of Contents

1. Caring for Aviation Headsets 
2. Maintaining Pilot Sunglasses
3.Pilot Bag Maintenance
4.Charts and Navigation Tools 
5. Common Mistakes to Avoid 

Caring for Aviation Headsets

Headset Cleaning Tips:

Keeping your aviation headset clean doesn’t need to be a laborious task, for regular cleans follow our easy steps:

Use a gentle soap and water on a cloth, wipe the outside of the headband, cushion and outer ear cups. Then, remove the headband cushion and place it in a solution of water and mild detergent. Once its air dried, it can be reattached. Do not, however, immerse the ear cushions in any kind of liquid. A moist cloth or antibacterial / alcohol wipes are enough to clean ear cushions of a Bose A30 Headset. The microphone sock can be removed, washed and dried then reattached. If needed, you can completely replace all removable accessories with our Bose A30 Service Accessory Kit.

For Bose Pro Flight Headsets, the ear cushions are replaced with ear buds instead, and to clean these you can use a soft toothbrush with diluted hydrogen peroxide to remove any earwax build up and restore the sound quality.

Aviation Headset Storage Recommendations:

In order to maximise the lifespan of your investment in your pilot headset, you should do your best to keep it out of the elements. While its not always possible to avoid the sun when flying, aiming to keep your headsets out of the sun when not flying will stop the mic sock, ear cups and pads from breaking down from UV exposure. Extreme temperatures can also cause unnecessary wear, try to keep your headset out of very hot or very cold environments. Another death sentence for your headset is moisture - try to keep your headset safe and dry and out of the humidity of the hangar. We would recommend a protective case to ensure that you get the maximum life out of your headset.

Maintenance Best Practices:

Some of the most common areas of wear on a headset are the ear pads, ear seals and mic sock. Besides these, another typical problem is damaged cables and connections. You can alleviate a lot of the wear on cables by avoiding to twist or wrap the cables, and never yanking out of the panel by the cable, always use the parts close to the plug to unplug.

“Many modern headsets now have Stereo capability but not many aircraft do. There is usually a small slider switch on the plug splitter box that switches from mono to stereo. If the switch is set to stereo and the headset used in a standard mono aircraft - only one earphone will work. So check the switch if you’re having problems.” - Andrew Holdsworth, Flightstore

Maintaining Pilot Sunglasses

Pilot Sunglasses Cleaning Tips:

If you don’t clean your pilot sunglasses correctly, you can risk scratching the lens coating, which can embed dirt or dust and reduce how effective the sunglasses are. To safely clean sunglasses, you can begin by blowing on the lens to remove any dust/dirt. Then, rinse under warm water to remove any excess grime. While the sunglasses are still slightly wet, use a microfibre cloth to wipe the lenses to remove any remaining dirt or smudge marks. You shouldn’t use a cleaning solution you can find around the house for your lenses, as this can cause chemical reactions and the lens can get damaged. It’s important to check the recommended solution from the manufacturer of your sunglasses, to ensure you’re using the best tested solution.

Storage Advice

Proper storage of your pilot sunglasses is important to protect your investment, as scratched lenses can reduce the effectiveness of the glasses, or even blur your vision. Taking care of your glasses can save you money from replacing them sooner if they get damaged, as not storing correctly can cause the frames to warp or bend, making them uncomfortable or even unwearable. We recommend a hard case, which prevents them from being dropped or scratched. You want to choose a case that fits your glasses snugly, to prevent them from moving around. Best practices for cockpit storage include keeping them in a designated safe spot, that is within reach from the pilot’s seat. Never place them face-down, as any surface can cause scratches.

“Polarised lenses work by reducing the amount of light passing through the lens. Polarised lenses can distort cloud appearance, reduce ground reflection and cause distortion patterns from laminated cockpit windshields. For this reason, the use of polarised lenses is discouraged for pilots.” - Andrew Holdsworth, Flightstore

Caring for Other Essential Pilot Gear

Pilot Bag Maintenance

Keeping your pilot bag clean and organised is an often-overlooked part of aviation. It’s important to clean your flight bag regularly, so that they’re not degraded by dirt, and to ensure longevity. Avoid putting your pilot bag in the washing machine, as this can damage your equipment. Always wash by hand, using a non-chemical soap, and ensure you remove all grime from the zips and pockets. Use only a damp cloth for the inside, and hang your bag somewhere safe and dry to air dry. Don’t store in a humid environment or in direct sunlight, as this will greatly reduce the lifespan of your bag. A good tip is to stuff bags with clothes or newspaper to help maintain its shape.

Charts and Navigation Tools

Charts and maps are expensive and important papers. You should be safely storing them to avoid creases and damage. A good method of storage is rolling and storing in chart tubes. You should also explore digital alternatives such as backing up on an iPad or similar, to ensure that if any damage or losses occur, you’re not without your important charts.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Over-cleaning delicate materials

• Ignoring firmware updates for digital devices

• Neglecting regular inspections for wear and tear

• Improper storage conditions

• Not testing equipment before use.

We’ve covered how proper care and maintenance of your aviation equipment is vital to ensure safety, comfort and longevity. By avoiding common mistakes and following best practices, pilots can ensure their gear remains performing at its best, and is reliable in every flight situation. At Flightstore, we understand the importance of high quality pilot equipment. Explore our range of specialist products, so you can focus on what matters most - flying with confidence.

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