Flashlights and 121

blee256

blee256

Well-Known Member
Hey guys,

I got one of those superbrite Surefire flashlights to carry in my flight case. I showed some guys in my class, and they said it needs to be 2 D cell. is that right? Cant it just be 3 volts? I guarantee you that his flashlight is brighter than any 2.99 wal-mart 2 d cell flashlight.
 
Pretty sure it no longer has to be 2 Dcell. Be careful with those surefires, though. I've heard that the quick flash button on the end gets depressed in flight bags, draining the batteries. That said, the one guy I know who carries one still loves it.
 
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Pretty sure it no longer has to be 2 Dcell.

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I don't have the 121 section of the FARs handy, but the 135 regs call for "A flashlight having at least two size "D" cells or equivalent". I'm not sure what "or equivalent" means.

FAR 135.159 (f) (3)

[edit to add:]

Went looking online in the 121 regs and what I found was:

"Sec. 121.549 Flying equipment.

(a) The pilot in command shall ensure that appropriate aeronautical
charts containing adequate information concerning navigation aids and
instrument approach procedures are aboard the aircraft for each flight.
(b) Each crewmember shall, on each flight, have readily available
for his use a flashlight that is in good working order."


So there you go....
 
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Aren't those SureFires ridiculously expensive?

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Something like $40 for a flashlight a little bigger than a mini Mag.
 
We had a D-cell requirement in our books at Chicago Express, but do not at ExpressJet. It just has to be a suitable flashlight, so no pen lights or anything like that.
 
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Aren't those SureFires ridiculously expensive?

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Something like $40 for a flashlight a little bigger than a mini Mag.

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Their smallest one is $35, but their Aviator is $185. Fricken riddiculus.
 
Yeah i got mine for about 32 on ebay. I looked at our FOM and it said 2 D cell or equivalent. what the hell is equivalent? Mine is 3 volts. i might buy a 99 cent one from walmart, jst to keep the feds quiet or at least until i find out if my light is ok.

thanks guys.
 
Forgive me for being a moron, but I've forgotten for whom you're flying, Blee. Too many people on this site for me to keep up, anymore! Please refresh my memory.
 
Many FOMs say "2 D Cell or equivalent" - it's a throw back from the old days (when I used to fly LOL). I NEVER carried a 2 D cell flashlight!

Mini-mag for me!
 
The new 'nitrolon' plastic surefires are a good deal. They are only about $35, and are really no different than the 6P which goes for over $60.

The only thing that sucks is how much the bulbs cost. If you don't drop them, they last a long time, but the bulbs go for about $15. I once dropped my rechargable 8X and when I turned it on I could hear the 'pop' when the bulb exploded. The Stingers do the same thing and have cheaper bulbs, but do not provide as high a quality of light. The plastic surefires are probably better in this regard as they have some 'give' and may do better when dropped. They make a neat 'spares carrier' that holds an extra bulb and 6 batteries (get batteries cheap at Botach.com) that would be a good addition to your flight bag.

One thing to be careful of with these lights is if you ever pack them in luggage. When they are turned on the lens gets very hot. This is a possible fire hazzard and in the cheaper lights that have plastic lenses, you can melt the lens. If I left the cap on too tight, my 8X would turn on when I would sit in a car, and I could feel it, even through body armor. The more expensive ones have lock out tail caps so they will not turn on accidently.
 
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