Best 15 Gifts for New Pilots
When we think about being able to travel constantly around the world and experience different cultures while working, we would most likely tag the job of a pilot as the coolest. The job they do sounds thrilling until we imagine handling a plane ourselves, taking off from one destination, gliding through cloudy skies and landing in another destination with hundreds of people in our care sometimes; we then realise how brave pilots are and how strenuous their work can be.
If you have a pilot in your life or happen to know one and you feel you want to show them support and cheer them on for the job they do, we have identified a couple of items you can get a pilot as a gift that they would appreciate.
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Quick Overview: Cool Gifts for Pilots
1. GODINGER WHISKEY DECANTER
For new pilots and retiring pilots, you can start by raising a glass to cheer them on. Only a few people excel through the rigorous test of aviation school and work practice and if they made it, it is definitely worth celebrating. This aviation inspired whiskey decanter by Godinger is a unique and classy gift to get a new pilot. They will be proud to share a drink or two with other friends from this decenter. It is a great way to celebrate a big win. You can add a bottle of drink to the package too.
Pros.
- Elegants
- Good craftsmanship
- The sizes of the decanter and glasses are ok (650ml and 300ml)
- It is a versatile items, it can be used for other beverages too
Cons.
- It is an odd item to get someone who doesn’t indulge in alcohol. However, this decenter can be used for other beverages too.
We think this is a very classy gift, no wonder customers love it and have rated it highly for craftsmanship, giftable and value for money.
2. AVIATION INSPIRED BRACELET
Knowing how busy their schedules are and that you don’t get to see them as often, you can pick up a gift they can use daily that will always remind them of you. This aviation inspired minimalist bracelet will do just that. The design fit perfectly to their everyday work attire. The bracelet is made with stainless steel for durability. It can also be adjusted to fit his or her size. What’s so cool is that his bracelet also comes with a history booklet about aviation history.
Pros.
- Stylish
- Quality materials
- Thick
- Durable
- Well packaged
Cons.
- Adjusting it by oneself may not be as easy as said. It may be best to give it to a jewelry store to help out with adjustments.
Although this is a cool bracelet to get a pilot, we also think that the price is a bit too high for the item. However, it is a unique piece.
3. LIGHTSPEED AVIATION HEADSET
Let’s assume older pilots have an aviation headset already- of course they do- a new pair will still make a great gift. It is also a good item to get a student pilot or a new pilot. This Lightspeed zulu 3 aviation headset has been made with premium materials such as magnesium cups, sliders, stainless steel headband and durable flexible cables around the kevlar core. It has quick bluetooth connectivity, sound clarity, auto-shutoff and ComPriority that reduces auxillary noises for incoming or outgoing calls. It is also guaranteed to last for a long time.
Pros.
- Made with quality material
- Sturdy
- Speed connectivity to devices
- It has adjustable headband for good fittings and comfort
- Durable
- It comes in a good safety package for the headset.
Cons.
- While this headset can last for a really long time, it can be made with sturdies ear pads.
There are a lot of qualities that customers love about this headset such as its noise cancellation, sound quality, quality of materials used in making the headset, battery life and durability.
4. PROMASTER SKYHAWK A-T WATCH
Citizens Skyhawk watch is one of the best watches for pilots. It uses automatic time synchronization for time accuracy, it has sophisticated chronographs that can receive radio signals for certain countries automatically or on request, a pilot rotation slide rule dial ring and inner ring, a power reverse indicator, UTC display, calendar, 2 alarms and a timer. It is made with a high quality stainless steel case and bracelet for durability and it is also water resistant. This is a classy pilot accessory that you can get for your favorite pilot.
Pros.
- Accurate time keeping
- Easy to use/read
- Elegant and unique
- Functional feature
- Great packaging
Cons.
- It is pricey but also a value for money item.
This watch is highly recommended by pilots that have bought and used it.
5. BRIGGS & RILEY LUGGAGE
It is already obvious that they travel a lot and therefore a durable luggage will make a good gift. Briggs and Riley have built a good reputation for making quality travel bags and one of their most talked about luggage that is well recommended by travellers for its quality is this carry-on luggage. Nylon outer fabric, aluminum handles, high grade rubber spin wheel, self repairing zippers, compression-expansion inner slider, speedthru pockets, hang storage space and smartlink strap are some of its features. It comes in various sizes but we think the 19 inch or wide-body carry-on 21 inch size will be great.
Pros.
- Spacious
- Sturdy
- High quality material
- Durable
- Has warranty
Cons.
- The only issue a few customers had were the sizes of the case, especially the 22inch luggage which was taller than was specified in the product description.
Highly recommended travel bag, value for money.
6. LEATHER FLIGHT JACKET
You can get this cool bomber jacket for your favorite pilot as a Christmas gift, made with 100% genuine leather and 100% inner lining and filling. It has a removable inner fur collar, two side entry pockets and inner pockets and a pen holder on the left sleeve. This jacket looks even better than it looks on the ad.
Pros.
- Good fit
- Thick
- Removable inner fur is a good feature
- Quality materials
- Solid stitches
- Great looking aviation jacket
Cons.
- Some people may not like the inner fur, it is a great idea by the company to make it detachable
Thus far, the reviews for this jacket has been great
7. RANDOLPH AVIATOR GLASSES
A good pair of sunglasses will make a good gift. Randolph aviator glasses are one of the best glasses out there for pilots. It has mineral lenses for optimal clarity, they are 100% UVA & UVB ray protected.
Pros.
- Classy
- Solid metal frame, gold coated
- Good lens
- Adjustable nose pad
- Durable
Cons.
- The frames aren’t as tinted some people may prefer.
The few customers that have gotten it, love it.
8. TRAVEL STEAMFAST
Due to their work times and flight destinations, they don’t have the luxury of popping in and out of their house as they would want to for immediate cloth change. So they grab essential items as needed and one item that will come in handy is a travel iron. This small portable iron is a life saver. It heats up in 15 seconds for quick press. It has 3 temperature settings that are suitable for different fabrics.
Pros.
- Easy to use
- Easy to hold
- Lightweight
- Effective
- Durable
- It comes with a travel bag too.
Cons.
- One or two customers had issues with either their plate or steamer which is probably a flaw from construction. It is important to check this item as soon as it has been received to ensure that it is working properly.
This item has great customer review and has been rated high for features such as wrinkle-free, lightweight, durability, temperature control and easy to use.
9. PORTABLE ESPRESSO MAKER
Another useful accessory to get is this portable espresso maker. It ensures that they make the best coffee at any given time. This espresso maker is manually operated which makes it convenient to use. The in-built pumping system allows a person to extract the best coffee with each finger pressure applied to the pump system. The Nano espressor tank can hold upto 80ml of water, it has an in-built espresso cup for finely grounded coffee, filter basket, scoop and brush. The package also includes stickers, a warranty card, instruction book and pouch.
Pros.
- Portable
- Easy to use
- Durable
- It makes good expressors
- Well packaged
Cons.
- Since it has multiple compartments, it take a little more time to clean
- It does not use a battery and is not chargeable, therefore if you like hot coffee, you may have to source for hot water or store it in the tank provided.
Highly recommended and well loved by customers.
10. FLIGHT BAG
This little storage bag has been built to fit-in and organise his accessories or toiletries. It has back-up radio/water bottle pockets, 2 chart pockets and fuel tester pocket. It has 4 internal mesh organizers for cables and cords, headset pockets and elastic loops for batteries. It also has adjustable straps and braided wire carry handle. It is a pilot go-to storage bag and will make a great gift.
Pros.
- Very handy
- Spacious
- Great organizer
- Sturdy
Cons.
- Although the bag is a solid one, a few customers have experienced one or two issues with their bag. Sadly, when an item has past its returnable date, there is little the company or sellers can do to help.
Most customers were really happy about the quality of this bag and its compartments.
11. POWER BANK
Power banks are a great on-the-go accessory to have for workers, especially for those that work long hours with movable work space. We recommended this Anker PowerCore 20100mAh. It can recharge phones or tablets for upto 4-7times and it charges fast too. The package also includes a micro USB chargers, a travel pouch and user guide.
Pros.
- Good quality
- Good power storages
- Fast charging
- Two charging ports
- It comes with 1+ years warranty
- Well packaged
Cons.
- Takes a while to fully charge and sometimes they don’t have the luxury of time. It probably means they might have to use partially charged power banks here and there.
A highly recommended gadget for pilots and the quality of this power bank and the storage space is great.
12. PILOT FOUNTAIN PEN
A fountain pen is another good retirement gift you can get for a pilot and we recommend this Pilot Metropolitan fountain pen with brass barrel and stainless steel fountain pen nib.
Pros.
- Stylish
- Cute packaging
- Works well
Cons.
- Might be a bit fussy at first but it gets better with consistent use. A customer also suggested Pelikan Edelstein ink as one of the best refillable inks for this fountain pen.
Customers think that this pen is easy to hold, comfortable, giftable and is deserving of its price. They highly recommend it.
13. TRAVEL JOURNAL
Travel journals help pilots to scribble down important information off and on duty. It is a handy accessory. We love the embossed lotus design on the cover and strap, the stylish pen holder, thick pages that are sip proof, it’s classic yet modern look and feel leather exterior and lastly, the stunning packaging. This is why we recommend it and we think your favorite pilot will love it too.
Pros.
- Great craftsmanship
- Beautiful leather
- Thick
- Well binded pages
- Strap closure
Cons.
- Some customers might not prefer the strap bind, they will however love it as a gift.
Most customers consider the quality of this journal as exceptional, they highly recommend it.
14. CANON EOS REBEL T7i EF-S CAMERA
One good travel item is a quality camera that is able to capture the world as a person sees it. They are able to keep pictorial records of their adventure and share it with their loved ones and friends around the world. We have carefully gone through the reviews and features of this camera and we think this is one the best cameras you can get a pilot as a gift. It is a 242 megapixel camera with phase detector, 1080 picture resolution, high speed continuous shoot and in-built wifi and bluetooth.
Pros.
- Great picture quality
- Easy to use
- Good capturing range
- A little lighter than rival cameras
- Quick connectivity and transfer with its bluetooth and wifi features
Cons.
- It is quite pricey
Some of the most talked about features of this camera by customers are; picture resolution and image stabilization. Customers love that it is easy to operate.
15. LOVERY HOME SPA GIFT
For Christmas gifts, this home spa gift by Lovery is a good seasonal relaxation gift. The set includes 3 bubble baths, 3 body scrub, 3 large bath bombs with dry flowers, 3 bath salts and 3 body lotions, all in 3 amazing flavors (coconut, lavender and honey almond). Natural ingredients such as shea butter and vitamin E will nourish skin for more healthier looking skin.
Pros.
- Well scented
- Good range of products
- Comes in three lovely fragrance
- Beautifully packaged
Cons.
- Products like these are subject to preferences but the three varieties provided in this package will spoil a person with choice.
Most customers that bought this spa gift were happy with their purchase.
For more gift ideas for travellers, check out our articles on
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTION
What gift items can I get for a student pilot?
A student pilot will definitely love a quality aviation headset and we’ve recommended Lightspeed aviation headset. It is premium quality. You can also get for him or her the inspired aviation bracelet that we have recommended. It is cute and classy. There are many more gifts such as a bag back or quality aviation sunglasses.
What are some of the important gadgets that every pilot needs?
The Promaster Skyhawk watch, it is an accurate time keeper and Lightspeed aviation headset for good sound quality. Aside from these two, you can make their work experience smoother by getting their convenient items they would find useful such as a journal, travel iron, portable espresso maker and quality travel luggage.
Which Christmas gifts can I get my pilot husband or boyfriend?
The aviation jacket is one the coolest items you can get him. Pure leather, pure class, he will love it. Your Christmas gifts do not have to be limited to aviation items. For more gift ideas, check our articles on what to get my husband for christmas and what to get my techie husband for christmas
CONCLUSION
As thrilling as the job of a pilot can be, it is also for the brave. This great service men and women need to be appreciated for the amazing work they do. We have selected and listed a few items pilots love to have and we hope that you find our gift ideas helpful.
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