Aviation Flashlights, Lighting

Pilots Need a Better Flashlight

We recommend having a flashlight (or two) available for all night operations—it is essential equipment. To help you sort through the different types available, we’ve prepared this brief list of features to consider when buying a flashlight:

• Exterior preflight inspections are best performed with white light for maximum area lighting.
• For lighting in the cockpit (including chart lighting), a red light will preserve night vision far better than white light.
• In an emergency, the brightest light you can buy (regardless of color) will be most useful.