What kind of flashlight would you recommend for preflights?

[begsby]

What kind of flashlight would you recommend for preflights? Looking for a bright but small flashlight. Any recommendation? And not the 100 dollar flashlight!

 

[densoo]

I use the camera strobe on my smart phone. All of them have an app that can put the strobe in a continuous on mode. It's very bright. Keep a $3 LED one in my kit for a fed check though.

 

[scoreboardII]

Small, bright, cheap.

Pick any two.

No such thing as a small cheap bright flashlight. And by bright I mean light up the tail bright.

I am a fan of twintask $40 at amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Streamlight-51039-Twin-Task-Battery-Flashlight/dp/B004MDI3PK
http://www.streamlight.com/en-us/product/product.html?pid=215

Its not as small as the E2D defender, but not much bigger either, at least not as big as a D cell light, and it floods the tail with light, and the batteries last over six months of PM flying.

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

and the batteries last over six months of PM flying.

That's like what, 10 pre-flights in the dark during the winter months?

 

[JudgeSmails218]

I have a Coleman LED; super bright and cost around $14 at
Wally World. Best part is the area around the lens is
serrated slightly. Good possible self defense thing if needed.

 

[skypine69]

I have a Coleman LED; super bright and cost around $14 at
Wally World. Best part is the area around the lens is
serrated slightly. Good possible self defense thing if needed.

You get attacked while doing the walk around often?

 

[scoreboardII]

That's like what, 10 pre-flights in the dark during the winter months?

I get it but, that's about three terminators per week, lights on coming down the jetway so its on five minutes per? 15 a week, hour per month, 6 hours burn time in 6 months?

 

[Singlecoil]

I got one of these for $6 from amazon. Very bright with a single AA size 14500 battery, or you can use a AA and it isn't quite as bright. Will light up the tail and it is very light. After losing a $50 flashlight and a $40 one, these are the way to go.
http://www.amazon.com/Cree-300LM-Mi..._sim_hi_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=1TB9B02SVK4DRV2HDA11

 

[Fly4$]

Just make sure you have something that the FAA approves of within reach in the cockpit. Then just use whatever works. Since they came out with the LEDs there is no need for anything bulky. Mine has lasted me for 4 years now without replacing the batteries once. I thinknit was 25 bucks on amazon. IPhone works fine in a pinch.

 

[begsby]

So I guess this will be overkill?

http://www.amazon.com/NiteCore-Mons...09&sr=8-1&keywords=nitecore+tiny+monster+tm26

 

[shootr]

AA LED Maglite will do the trick. $19. BTW, I think you're overthinking it.

 

[waveflyer]

Costco had a 3pack for $20
Bought them 3 years ago and all 3 still work great

 

[Old School 737]

I got 1 that has a laser built in .. Shine it on the wing and it helps detect cold soaked fuel frost/ ice

 

[ArcadiaMaxima]

Become a captain and you don't need to do walk arounds.

 

[Mamma]

Become a captain and you don't need to do walk arounds.

I keep offering them my crewmeal but I guess it takes time to seal up the artery.

 

[BILL LUMBERG]

I have a Coleman LED; super bright and cost around $14 at
Wally World. Best part is the area around the lens is
serrated slightly. Good possible self defense thing if needed.

Agreed. I have two in my bag!

They even have a filter for red and blue light.....very bright and tiny enough with little extra weight.

 

[JudgeSmails218]

You get attacked while doing the walk around often?

Well played, sir. I was referring to a cockpit breach/overly
aggressive pimps at the overnight hotels.

 

[ATLplt]

So I guess this will be overkill?



http://www.amazon.com/NiteCore-Mons...09&sr=8-1&keywords=nitecore+tiny+monster+tm26

It's nearly half off. What a steal! You should buy it.

 

[Freebrd]

You get attacked while doing the walk around often?

Been to the ATL?

 

[humveedriver]

The Duracell 3 pack is still a Costco. Small, bright (250 lumens) and uses 3 AA. I picked up a surefire flashlight at Lowes for 70.00 because it uses Lithium batteries and I thought at 320 lumens I would see a big difference. But not really. The Duracel has a narrower beam. More expensive isn't always better and AA's are sold at the airport!

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

I get it but, that's about three terminators per week, lights on coming down the jetway so its on five minutes per? 15 a week, hour per month, 6 hours burn time in 6 months?

My fault, I didn't realize you did post flights. I figured the ground crew did those.

 

[scoreboardII]

Ground crew? SWA has ground crew?

 

[freightdogfred]

Become a captain and you don't need to do walk arounds.

Best post award for 2014, that's thinking outside the box.

 

[freightdogfred]

Pelican products makes a double C cell molded plastic one with a clip. It's on the FAA approved list, lifetime unconditional guarantee and it's 100% waterproof. It doubles as my diving light/lobster tracker. I don't know what kind of bulb it is, but it's really bright.

 

[GogglesPisano]

It's on the FAA approved list,

Tell us more. Where did you find this list?

 

[freightdogfred]

It was circulated on the union web board a while back, they shut it down so...

 

[freightdogfred]

Tell us more. Where did you find this list?

I will tell you more, it must have been a union-supplied list. Thanks for "Keeping it real"


Electronic Code of Federal Regulations

e-CFR Data is current as of March 5, 2014
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Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
PART 121?OPERATING REQUIREMENTS: DOMESTIC, FLAG, AND SUPPLEMENTAL OPERATIONS
Subpart T?Flight Operations
?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.

 

[flyboyike]

http://www.galls.com/streamlight-jr-with-50000-hour-luxeon-led-bulb

 

[JudgeSmails218]

Become a captain and you don't need to do walk arounds.

Captains do walk arounds in thunderstorms! Didn't you
see the movie "Flight"?

 

[Patriot328]

Go all in, get The Torch: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsyVw6Qrup8