Air America Daytona Beach FL.
- Thread starter Alexib71
- Start date
AZflyboy
Well-Known Member
don't be like me and pack your house lol, pack a good amount for all types of weather cold and hot, but keep as light as you can cause every time you get airlined home for vacay it sucks paying extra 100 bucks for overweight bag fees both ways lol. Oh and congrats man hope to see ya on the road!
And lots of underwear and socks. Sometimes you can go a while between being able to do laundry.
Inside out, then front an back....Four uses per wash
futurevagabondpilot
Roving Member
Congrats, speedy!
After a year of survey work, I've had the opportunity to evolve my packing system over time.
PACK LIGHT. Backpack + Flight bag is all you should need. Do NOT bring a suitcase like I did at the beginning of the season.
1. Within a STURDY backpack:
-> no more than 5 changes of clothes. As much as possible, everything you pack should be adaptable between work and play. Neutral colours, such as black or grey are good because they work with any other colours, and in a lot of different situations. I think grey is very best.
That said, do pack one non-work "good/presentable" shirt and pair of pants. Not dressy perse, but for those situation where you don't want to look like a bum.
(A mistake I made early in the season is I packed Oh probably 17 changes of clothes. Totally unnecessary. Just like Mexican restaurants, laundromats are everywhere. Make the time to do laundry often)
-> for socks/underwear = 1.5 X number of changes of clothes
-> Laptop (in laptop compartment)
Note: If it is possible to leave your laptop at home, then do it. First of all, most FBOs and some hotels have a computer that you can use to send emails/file reports. But even better than relying on that is to make your mobile computing extremely compact and portable- try to do everything over your smartphone/tablet. Download MS Excel and Google Chrome browser for iOS/Android. It is possible to do this job without a laptop, but only with CAREFUL planning.
-> Power cables/connex/adapts (front or side compartments)
-> Toothbrush/razor in one of the other outer compartments. I prefer to but my toothpaste/shaving cream on the road, but once I have them I throw them in there, too. My opinion is you should NOT pack laundry detergent. I have found most detergent containers leak too easily, and you don't need that. When you are ready to do your laundry on the road, just buy the little packets of detergent at the laundromat or hotel.
-> Sturdy but collapsible bag (I have one made of canvas) for laundry/overflow baggage that may be accumulated at certain points in the season
2: Flight Bag:
-> headset (in its own case within the larger flight bag)
-> iPad Mini w/ screen protector (screen guard must preserve touchscreen sensitivity), with the iPad on one of those simple kneeboard mounts with the Velcro strap that goes around your leg. The Mini is perfectly kneeboard-sized. When not flying, I put the iPad- still on the kneeboard- inside one of those padded iPad protectors- which also fits perfectly, at least with the iPad case I have.
At first, I was hesitant to leave my paper charts at home, and I packed them as backup for my iPad Mini w/ ForeFlight. However, after about a week of this job, I realized that with appropriate discipline and backups, you can be 100% electronic and safe. Charge your tablet and smartphone and tablet every night, and make sure you have all the updates downloaded before you go fly. Yes, you WILL be asking nearly everyone you meet for their WiFi password.
-> on my other knee, I wear a traditional kneeboard in which I write notes with a pen and paper. Yes, I know there is a Scratchpad in ForeFlight, I've never though this was a good idea, especially since you have to switch away from the VFR charts to use it. Plus, maybe I'm just not good with it, but everything I write with my finger it the Scratchpad ends up looking like •. There are many moments in flight when you need to copy something down quickly, possibly in turbulence. Just make sure you have a way to secure your pen when not in use- and always put your pen away immediately after use.
-> while we're on the topic of being old-fashioned, I also like to keep one of those mechanical E6-B flight computers in my bag, since for basic calcs, it is faster than any other method I have tried- electronic E-6B, calculator App on smartphone, etc.
-> battery pack with USB out. Mine is 12000 mAh, and that was enough backup power for me.
-> 2 or more USB power cables, as well as a cigarette lighter power adapter and a wall outlet power adapter. I say 2 or more so that you can charge both your smartphone and your tablet in the air. Keep in mind that you will be flying for 4-14 hours every day. The 10-15 minutes you are on the ground for refueling is not long enough to fully recharge your devices via a wall outlet. My iPad Mini is old and its battery is only good for 4-5 hours. But even if yours is new, you want to have backup power in the cockpit. The wall outlet and cigarette lighter adapters will be handy if you have to make an unscheduled MX/WX stop somewhere other than home base and you need to charge your devices while you are in the ground (cigarette lighter adapter is for the loaner/crew car).
-> have ForeFlight installed on your smartphone as a backup in case your tablet fails
Perhaps that was too much info. Oh well, hope it helps
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chrisreedrules
Master Blaster
When I was flying survey and gone for a while, here is what I'd pack:
Sturdy backpack full of mostly clothing and my computer and other small electronics. Watch YouTube videos on how to pack the most you can in there. The NorthFace Overhaul 40 pack worked well for me, but if you want a pack that will last you a lifetime, look into the Tactical Tailor Extended Operator pack. Top notch quality, American made, and they also sell another smaller pack you can attach to the back of this pack if you need even more space or stuff. This fit most of my stuff in it.
Other than that, maybe a duffel bag for dirty laundry and a fishing pole.
Sturdy backpack full of mostly clothing and my computer and other small electronics. Watch YouTube videos on how to pack the most you can in there. The NorthFace Overhaul 40 pack worked well for me, but if you want a pack that will last you a lifetime, look into the Tactical Tailor Extended Operator pack. Top notch quality, American made, and they also sell another smaller pack you can attach to the back of this pack if you need even more space or stuff. This fit most of my stuff in it.
Other than that, maybe a duffel bag for dirty laundry and a fishing pole.
AZflyboy
Well-Known Member
haha I had my fishing pole in my 172 for a good part of the season, thankfully I got to use it a few times cause I was starting to think it'd go to waste
AZflyboy
Well-Known Member
I mean depends what you're used to, I just have my columbia waterproof jacket it's pretty light and works pretty well in the cold, I did have my helly hansoon snowboard jacket for first few months and that thing was overkill with this job, i'd just bring a light rain jacket, pair of long socks maybe and call it good
chrisreedrules
Master Blaster
One that keeps you warm.
I had a 28 liter backpack and a 95 liter duffel bag and that was more than enough room for everything I needed and then some. I'd recommend getting a bag with a padded sleeve for your laptop or you can go with out it if you buy padded sleeves separately that have a zipper. I also ended up bringing a camera bag too and I could fit all three in the Cessna on relocations without anything touching or near the camera equipment. Some of the problems I did see happening was that people would buy food and drinks and then get relocated so there wouldn't be much good room left to place it all.
If you're looking for cheap, reliable luggage you can find High Sierra's stuff marked down substantially online and a lot of them have wheels and sometimes backpack straps. I had some luck with some of their stuff, but honestly the wheels just add extra weight and I was fine carrying it all. Since then I've had lot of luck with Gregory Duffel bags and Mountain Hardwear backpacks, but there are so many other manufacturers of backpacks you can likely get a good 28-35 liter backpack with a padded laptop sleeve for $50-$100 shipped.
Get your banking stuff set up NOW as you won't be around home to get it all sorted out once the season starts. Bring a warm jacket or expect to buy one a month or so into the season. At altitude I've flown the Cessna's below 0 degrees and the heater feels like it's doing nothing, but that was only for a few weeks in Missouri.
I saw some guys with the plastic shell luggage and while it might have been great for carrying their Xboxs and Playstations I'm not sure they're the best to put behind the seats, but I can't say for sure. I'd recommend bringing a second bag as you can easily pack enough stuff to get you by for up to two weeks. The $25 each way on vacations was well worth being able to fit extra stuff while on the road, but I think you could get around that for a season if were on the smaller side and had a small personal bag and a 30 to 40 liter backpack that was within carry on requirements. Expect to wear pants or shorts multiple days and some shirts, everything else you can expect to only last for a day.
If your phone uses USB micro you might want to pick up some cheap cables now off of ebay or Amazon as you'll likely lose some of them checking in and out of hotels. Get a dual voltage rated USB car adapter as some are only rated for 12vs and will be rendered useless.
If you're looking for cheap, reliable luggage you can find High Sierra's stuff marked down substantially online and a lot of them have wheels and sometimes backpack straps. I had some luck with some of their stuff, but honestly the wheels just add extra weight and I was fine carrying it all. Since then I've had lot of luck with Gregory Duffel bags and Mountain Hardwear backpacks, but there are so many other manufacturers of backpacks you can likely get a good 28-35 liter backpack with a padded laptop sleeve for $50-$100 shipped.
Get your banking stuff set up NOW as you won't be around home to get it all sorted out once the season starts. Bring a warm jacket or expect to buy one a month or so into the season. At altitude I've flown the Cessna's below 0 degrees and the heater feels like it's doing nothing, but that was only for a few weeks in Missouri.
I saw some guys with the plastic shell luggage and while it might have been great for carrying their Xboxs and Playstations I'm not sure they're the best to put behind the seats, but I can't say for sure. I'd recommend bringing a second bag as you can easily pack enough stuff to get you by for up to two weeks. The $25 each way on vacations was well worth being able to fit extra stuff while on the road, but I think you could get around that for a season if were on the smaller side and had a small personal bag and a 30 to 40 liter backpack that was within carry on requirements. Expect to wear pants or shorts multiple days and some shirts, everything else you can expect to only last for a day.
If your phone uses USB micro you might want to pick up some cheap cables now off of ebay or Amazon as you'll likely lose some of them checking in and out of hotels. Get a dual voltage rated USB car adapter as some are only rated for 12vs and will be rendered useless.
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Don't bring a winter jacket, a Canada Goose is useful maybe 10 days out of the season, they're too bulky. Layer. Thermals, a pullover fleece, and a hardshell rain jacket. Put em all together and it's warm, and each piece is useful on its own in different situations. Gloves/hat/scarf as required, personal preference.
pntbllr233
Pilot
Do you load the plane with all your bags before each day or did you leave everything at the hotel? I know things can change daily, so I'm curious if it's better to just load up as if I'm not coming back or to just leave unnecessary stuff back in the room.
The only time I'd ever bring my bags with me and usually I'd leave them at the FBO was that if I was about to finish a project I would be ready to relocate. One time in Arkansas in the winter I had two hours of reflies and perfect weather so I finished up the work and started working on my next project which was an hour to two away all loaded up, but that only happened once. Sometimes you may get assigned a few small batches of reflies and if you can knock them out in the same day it's awesome, however management's pretty understanding as it can get really old checking out of the hotel every day only to find clouds pop up morning after morning. The long days are awesome for pay, but don't be pressured into flying ridiculously. I've done some days I'm oddly proud of, but in hindsight were a bit overkill. Also on the relocations if you can find a 24 hour FBO on the way with a snooze room you can save your per diem and crash there.
You can get by with all sorts and combinations of luggage.
Hiboglossi
The Most Depressing Person
I know several others have said to pack light, but I agree with Jordan to bring plenty of socks and underwear. After all they are small and light so it won't use up too much space or weight. I think I usually have close to 25 or 30 pairs of underpants with me.
This. Since we can't shoot with snow, we're usually somewhere at least somewhat warm during the winter. So there are likely to only be a few weeks worth of days when you would need a winter jacket, and just bringing layers is your best bet. I have a fleece jacket for cool days and a light, waterproof coat for cold, rainy days. On the truly wintery days I just wear both together. Last season that was only necessary a few days in Indiana in March, though. Admittedly I'm from Wisconsin and have a higher tolerance for cold than a lot of people...
Agreed. No need to agonize too much about what to bring or what size suitcase/ duffel bag/ backpack to use. Just as long as you don't exceed 50lbs and get slapped with overweight baggage fees when airlining to work or back home. I myself have a fairly big suitcase which is usually just under the weight limit, a backpack, and a flight bag.
I respectfully disagree about the laptop. If you have one, you would be best off bringing it. I tried using my tablet for daily reports but it never seems to work when I try to send spreadsheets on it. And while many hotels and FBOs have computers for public use, quite a few do not and it can be a royal pain trying to find a computer to send these reports on in some situations.
I do agree not to bring liquid detergent. However, I have found Tide Pods, Gain Flings and similar products to be very handy on the road, and much more cost-effective than laundromat detergent packs. Not a huge difference in cost in the grand scheme of things, but after all we are cheap pilots
.Also, Congratulations to everyone who was hired. Hopefully I'll see you all on the road at some point this season.
I do agree not to bring liquid detergent. However, I have found Tide Pods, Gain Flings and similar products to be very handy on the road, and much more cost-effective than laundromat detergent packs. Not a huge difference in cost in the grand scheme of things, but after all we are cheap pilots
I can't say enough good things about Tide Pods. I've never had one explode in my luggage and damage my clothes and I've been traveling with them in my checked baggage for well over two years. I wouldn't be surprised if there were hotels that didn't even sell detergent, but the front desk or vending machines always have change. Doing wash in hotels can suck as sometimes you might need multiple dryer cycles or the washer is taken and do you really want to make it take any longer by trying to track down some detergent? I would stay away from packing any liquid detergent, because if it spills it will ruin whatever clothes it touches unless it's washed out reasonably quickly.
Hiboglossi
The Most Depressing Person
I couldn't agree more with this. If you don't have an account at Bank of America already, it would be a good idea to open one as soon as possible, so hopefully you will receive the debit card for it before you go on the road.
Also if you don't have a credit card, it would be a good idea to apply for one as soon as possible and hopefully receive it before you leave (unless your credit is bad enough you wouldn't qualify). Technically not essential but it makes it easier to pay for personal expenses on the road if you have one.
It's an awesome way to build credit and if your credit isn't good now then get an ok credit card and after a few months of paying it off you might be able to ugrade to an IHG card. There are some other hotel cards with good rewards and upgrades. I was a dumbass for not getting my IHG card sooner as you get upgrades, points, late checkouts and earn more points each stay. Some guys really like the Marrirott card, but you can read up on which cards offer the best parks and see what makes sense for you.
Now might be the best time to go to a digital logbook, before you start racking up more and more entries. I'm not familiar with them at all, but need to make the switch and am wishing I did it when I only had a few hundred hours.
NEVER leave your logbook in your checked baggage and I would say the same for your headset and iPad.
NEVER leave your logbook in your checked baggage and I would say the same for your headset and iPad.