Flying in sandals.. Opinion?

[Alanna]

I dunno man, even if everything goes well and there's no "my flip flops melt in fire" revelations, I'm not sure how I'd feel about sandals on rudder pedals. Generally, sandals have terrible traction on anything but sand. Do you really want your feet to slip and slide around the pedals? (...also, for, uh, olfactory reasons, please consider the confined nature of most cockpits when considering airing out your feet to stay cool)

 

[DPApilot]

I've flown in flip flops many times. Gasp! I just flew the Challenger in flip flops the other day on a MX run. That being said, I took them off before we left the blocks and we didn't crash. So I have that going for me, which is nice...

 

[mshunter]

If they'd let me do it at work, I'd do it there too. I don't really fly for fun anymore, but when I did, I did it all the time. When I was an instructor, depending on who the student was, I used to.

 

[mshunter]

I dunno man, even if everything goes well and there's no "my flip flops melt in fire" revelations, I'm not sure how I'd feel about sandals on rudder pedals. Generally, sandals have terrible traction on anything but sand. Do you really want your feet to slip and slide around the pedals? (...also, for, uh, olfactory reasons, please consider the confined nature of most cockpits when considering airing out your feet to stay cool)

If your feet stink, was them, and get cotton socks and new shoes.

 

[alaskadrifter]

I've got a friend who ground looped a Pacer partly because he was wearing sandals. The other two factors was a quartering tailwind and operating near gross with an aft load.

 

[Groundpounder]

I don't fly in anything opened toed, either as a crew member or a passenger. I want all the protection I can get in the event of an evac.

 

[SurCharles]

I do what I tell my passengers.... Don't wear anything you're not willing to walk out of the woods in.

 

[Alanna]

If your feet stink, was them, and get cotton socks and new shoes.

My feet aren't the problem, silly! They're safely laced away in my "Airplane Flyin' Boots." My point was that I'm not taking my chances with anyone who decides that the cramped interior of an airplane is a dandy place to kick off one's shoes and waft one's toes about the cabin. (Not that this is what everyone with sandals does. It was just an amusing, albeit somewhat troubling, mental image.) In short: passengers wear shoes if they're flying with me. Plus, as others have said, it's really a safety issue.

 

[dustoff17]

This entire thread reeks of "troll".......
Example:
Thread title: Flying in sandals.. Opinion?

What do you guys think?

Already do. But I weed eat and edge the driveway in sandals as well...

So, people who don't agree with your idea of preparing are "sheeple?"

I have no issues. currently walking all over gravel barefooted, but I don't wear shoes when I can help it.

This thread would have served better if started in Member Announcements.

 

[Tram]

This entire thread reeks of "troll".......
Example:
Thread title: Flying in sandals.. Opinion?

.

Troll? Not quite.

I was recently on the ramp in flip flops and was semi-chastised about how it was an ignorant choice for flying.

So, I thought I'd post here and see what other pilots thought.

Your reply sorta has those troll smells, though.

 

[n57flyguy]

Some guys out here go barefoot. just waiting to see one of them do it on a check ride and see what the dpe says.

I had a DPE actually make sure I was wearing jeans and shoes. I don't think it would have constituted a bust, however he made the point that in the event things go south on a forced landing it is a last defense in some aspects, but also protection from an in flight fire.

 

[JustinS]

I don't care what people wear when they fly it's their choice. Me personally, I'm going to wear a pair of comfortable shoes. Makes traction on the pedals consistent, and to me is actually more comfortable than sandals for long periods of time...

 

[SlumTodd_Millionaire]

Sandals? What, are tennis shoes too "formal" for you?

I swear, it's getting harder and harder to tell the hobos apart from everyone else in this slacker country.

 

[Fireflights]

just waiting to see one of them do it on a check ride and see what the dpe says.

I did on my SES check ride. The plane in the avatar pic, btw. DPE thought it was a good choice.

 

[Finny]

If you're going to wear sandals, just make sure to keep your watch on if you're going to go into the woods.

 

[Roger Roger]

I had a DPE actually make sure I was wearing jeans and shoes. I don't think it would have constituted a bust, however he made the point that in the event things go south on a forced landing it is a last defense in some aspects, but also protection from an in flight fire.

Unless your shoes are all leather chances are they're just going to melt to your feet in case of an in-flight due.

 

[dustoff17]

Whatever helps you sleep.
If not trolling then why not start this thread with something along the lines of.....

........I was recently on the ramp in flip flops and was semi-chastised about how it was an ignorant choice for flying.

Instead, you waited for a response to your initial inquiry then pounced in defense of your personal choice. Then jumped on someone that disagreed.

 

[Roger Roger]

My feet aren't the problem, silly! They're safely laced away in my "Airplane Flyin' Boots." My point was that I'm not taking my chances with anyone who decides that the cramped interior of an airplane is a dandy place to kick off one's shoes and waft one's toes about the cabin. (Not that this is what everyone with sandals does. It was just an amusing, albeit somewhat troubling, mental image.) In short: passengers wear shoes if they're flying with me. Plus, as others have said, it's really a safety issue.

If it's the safety issue you're concerned about, you need to be wearing a helmet too. FAA up here does a seminar on crash survivability every year and that's one of their big recommendations every year.

Some of you folks need to step back and look at what REALLY kills pilots to realize what's important. That said I don't like the feel of flip flops on the rudder pedals, and flying a piston single around here IS one of the cases where one should consider being prepared to climb out of a tree or hike to the beach.

 

[n57flyguy]

Unless your shoes are all leather chances are they're just going to melt to your feet in case of an in-flight due.

I wear NOMEX flip flops

 

[CFI A&P]

While flying seaplanes, my footwear is either sandals or boat shoes. They are all technically off-airport landings. Much easier to remove when jumping in to heel it on a shore.