Flying in sandals..

Would you guys consider these "sandals"?*

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I think of them more as heavily ventilated hiking boots!

They are my standard everyday wear most of the time, including when flying. With socks, of course!

I'd be quite surprised if I was turned away from renting for wearing them.


*I just scrolled up and see txflyer has the same superb taste in footwear!
 
I wear almost exclusively Sperrys in the warm months and then cowboy boots in the winter, so those are what I fly in. Work is green combat boots 100% of the time. I have heard rumors of crews in the desert changing at level off to basketball shorts, T-shirts, and sandals. Then changing back into their uniforms when they land.

BellyUpFish said:
Exactly.. I'm sure he taught the guy more than one lesson....
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Like who not to fly with from now on.

OkieFlyer said:
...Just the decent thing to do.
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True. Especially with a Seneca parked in the grass on a slope. A Seneca on level concrete is still a two person job.

mscard88 said:
About all I wear is tevas, just about year round, sneaks a lot during winter months, but I live in Alabama. Sneaks or boat shoes for flying. Slip 'em off if it's a long flight. Summer you'll find me wearing shorts, T-shirts, barefoot or teavas.
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I had to google these cause I'd never heard of them. I like their Omnium slide ons! May have to order a few pairs of those.
 
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I've never worn and never needed anything but shoes at any time of the year and I live in FL where it's hot and humid pretty much 11 months of the year.

I also don't wear shorts when I fly, pants only. Why?

I heard a story about a guy who had an accident in a plane and had to escape through waist high flames. Not to mention what if the firewall burns up due to an engine fire in flight? Do you really want no protection between you and the flames? Yeah jeans/pants don't offer much, but it's SOMETHING as opposed to nothing.

Bad idea...
 
Caramon13 said:
I've never worn and never needed anything but shoes at any time of the year and I live in FL where it's hot and humid pretty much 11 months of the year.

I also don't wear shorts when I fly, pants only. Why?

I heard a story about a guy who had an accident in a plane and had to escape through waist high flames. Not to mention what if the firewall burns up due to an engine fire in flight? Do you really want no protection between you and the flames? Yeah jeans/pants don't offer much, but it's SOMETHING as opposed to nothing.

Bad idea...
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All valid concerns and good things to think about. I've considered the "what if I have an engine fire" many times.

That said, if you have a fire in a single that has burned through the firewall, protection from the flames is probably a moot point. In a multi, it's not a concern for me.

If I had to wear long pants to fly, I'd probably never leave the ground in the summer time, I'm on a never ending beach vacation when I'm not at work. ;)




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Gucci Pilot said:
Like who not to fly with from now on.
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Exactly. How pompous do you have to be to be above helping a fellow pilot move their aircraft, "evaluator" or not.



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BellyUpFish said:
All valid concerns and good things to think about. I've considered the "what if I have an engine fire" many times.

That said, if you have a fire in a single that has burned through the firewall, protection from the flames is probably a moot point. In a multi, it's not a concern for me.

If I had to wear long pants to fly, I'd probably never leave the ground in the summer time, I'm on a never ending beach vacation when I'm not at work. ;)
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Not exactly true. Watch this video of a guy who actually had that happen:

https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/aopa-live?watch=E540B745-071F-37CF-A81A-B431C1D1616A

Dude almost lost his leg (probably would have if he was in shorts and definitely no foot if he had sandals) he was wearing pants and shoes. There are times for shorts and sandals, but I'd argue a plane isn't that place.

To each their own, and yeah I'd agree multi's have less of that exact risk, but you could still get an electrical fire.
 
FastEddieB said:
Would you guys consider these "sandals"?*

images.ashx


I think of them more as heavily ventilated hiking boots!

They are my standard everyday wear most of the time, including when flying. With socks, of course!

I'd be quite surprised if I was turned away from renting for wearing them.


*I just scrolled up and see txflyer has the same superb taste in footwear!
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I would not consider them to be sandals...good sole, good tread, arch support...

Bob Gardner
 
Gucci Pilot said:
I have heard rumors of crews in the desert changing at level off to basketball shorts, T-shirts, and sandals. Then changing back into their uniforms when they land.
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Must be nice.

Poor bastards flying the helos around the sand box at 500' in the summertime don't have that option.
 
bobmrg said:
I would not consider them to be sandals...good sole, good tread, arch support...

Bob Gardner
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They are sandals, just not open toed sandals which is what some clubs/FBOs have a problem with.

You'd be fine wearing Keen's at my flying club.
 
Caramon13 said:
Not exactly true. Watch this video of a guy who actually had that happen:
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You did hear in the video you linked that the fire occurred inside the cabin, not forward of the firewall, right?

I'd say it's pretty true that if a fire has had time to eat it's way through the firewall, you've been on fire for quite some time and you've got bigger issues than avoiding the flames, if you're still breathing.

All that said, it's exactly why I used the word "probably." We can all dig up examples of this or that to support our position, this is a matter of opinion. I know of a guy who had an off field landing while wearing flip-flops and sprinted from the aircraft, after ensuring the aircraft was placed in a safe condition, and had not a single issue with the flip flops he was wearing. :)

Here's a link to an example where the flames were too hot to deal with, regardless of clothing choice.

http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=38485
 
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I won't fly in open shoes but I've flown in shorts and have some reservations about that. But sometimes the risk of heatstroke is higher than the risk of fire.
 
BellyUpFish said:
So, if a guy showed up wearing those, would you help him if he needed a bit of help to move his "two person" towable airplane?
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Probably not. I was not a DPE at the time of the occurrence, but my experience when I was DPE taught me that i was not there to help the applicant. BTW, the kid's dad thanked me for taking the action I did. I had taught instrument ground school to the whole family.

Bob
 
bobmrg said:
Probably not. I was not a DPE at the time of the occurrence, but my experience when I was DPE taught me that i was not there to help the applicant. BTW, the kid's dad thanked me for taking the action I did. I had taught instrument ground school to the whole family.

Bob
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So then, it's wasn't really about his shoes...
 
When i got my Seaplane rating my instructor showed up in flip flops...
 
BellyUpFish said:
Just curious what you guys think about this. Recently had a discussion with a friend about it and I'm curious to see what the "general consensus" amongst the aviation community at large thinks..

Flying in sandals.. A terrible idea?
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Are we talking like beach flip flops or Jerusalem Cruisers? .... To me it's whatever is comfortable. I was worried about flying in cowboy boots (I pretty much only wear those or flip flops other than work and initially flying), but I really think anything you are comfortable wearing you can fly in. My 2 cents..
 
TRocket said:
Are we talking like beach flip flops or Jerusalem Cruisers? .... To me it's whatever is comfortable. I was worried about flying in cowboy boots (I pretty much only wear those or flip flops other than work and initially flying), but I really think anything you are comfortable wearing you can fly in. My 2 cents..
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I only flip flop.
 
mscard88 said:
Does that mean you're, uh, ________? :eek:;)
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A 66 year old native America woman? Sure does. Don't hate me for what I identify as.

I get cheap meals, low priced movie tickets and my kids get a scholarship..

;)


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Whew, had me wondering there for a sec, thought you might be, well you know. :D

Plus in Alabama you can operate casinos!
 
Nah, I typically keep it in my lane whilst bowling..


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As a Floridan who basically lives in my Mick Fanning reef sandals 3/4 of the year the one thing I can't do in them is fly. All safety reasons aside, I find it incredibly uncomfortable to fly in sandals for some reason. I've done it a few times and it just bothers me. I'll fly down to the keys or some other watery beachy place and I'll bring socks and shoes just to do the flight in, leave em in the airplane and put them back on before the flight back!
 
JustinD said:
As a Floridan who basically lives in my Mick Fanning reef sandals 3/4 of the year the one thing I can't do in them is fly. All safety reasons aside, I find it incredibly uncomfortable to fly in sandals for some reason. I've done it a few times and it just bothers me. I'll fly down to the keys or some other watery beachy place and I'll bring socks and shoes just to do the flight in, leave em in the airplane and put them back on before the flight back!
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I can't fly a heli in flip flops..
 
MyassisDragon said:
What is that hinged door on your gill plate? Can it be opened separately like the cowl flap?
Interesting.....Haven't seen that before.

Although I guess its not a gill plate if it doesn't have the gill slots???
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Mine is one of those red headed step child Bonanzas that does 200kts....with a factory turbo.
So, the doors are another set of cowl flaps....for additional cowling cooling. :D
 
I wear my work boots. It's the only pair of shoes that I have.
 
Sandals are fine if your're flying a carpet.
 
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