Pilot Supplies & Aviation Gear

Pilot supplies and aviation gear for every phase of flight

Pilot supplies are the tools that keep a pilot organized, legal, and safe from preflight through shutdown: flight computers and plotters for planning, kneeboards and logbooks for the cockpit, fuel testers and flashlights for the walkaround, and the bag that carries it all. Whether you are building a student pilot's first kit or restocking a professional flight bag, Pilot Mall gathers gear from the brands pilots actually fly with, including ASA, Jeppesen, Battleboard, Flyboys, Sensorcon, Coast, and more. The fastest way to shop is by where the gear works, so this guide is organized by phase of flight.

Compare popular pilot supplies at a glance

Click any product for current pricing.

Pilot supplies by phase of flight

Flight planning and training

Planning gear lives on the table before you ever reach the ramp. A flight computer solves groundspeed, fuel burn, time, and wind, and you can go electronic with the ASA CX-3 Flight Computer or keep the battery-free classic with the ASA E6B paper flight computer. Add an ASA rotating plotter for measuring courses and distances on a sectional, and build out the rest of a student kit in pilot essentials.

In the cockpit

Once you are strapped in, the goal is to keep charts, checklists, and your tablet within reach and clear of the controls. A pilot kneeboard straps it all to your leg, and the Battleboard Kneeboard Tech Edition is built around an iPad EFB. Keep a printed aircraft checklist as a backup, and stock pens, timers, and a flashlight from navigation and cockpit supplies.

Flight records

A professional 10-year logbook like the Jeppesen Professional Pilot Logbook keeps a career of time and endorsements in one binding. For how paper and digital records fit together and which layout suits your stage, compare every option in pilot and aircraft logbooks.

Preflight and around the airplane

The walkaround needs its own tools. Sump every tank cleanly with the GATS Jar fuel tester, which filters water and debris and returns good fuel to the tank, and confirm quantity with FuelHawk fuel gauges. A dual-color light like the Coast PX20 keeps your night vision on the red beam. For aircraft care, the Claw tie-down anchors and the Wash Wax ALL waterless kit live in aircraft supplies.

Carrying it all

A good flight bag ties the kit together. Our flight bags for pilots run from compact headset bags to full crew luggage, with organized room for a backup radio, batteries, charts, and the supplies above so nothing rattles loose between the car and the cockpit.

Top pilot supply brands

• ASA makes the core training kit, from the CX-3 electronic flight computer and the E6B to rotating plotters, logbooks, and kneeboards.
• Jeppesen is the long-standing name in professional logbooks and navigation publications.
• Battleboard builds rugged tablet kneeboards designed around the iPad and other EFB tablets.
• Flyboys makes configurable, ambidextrous kneeboards and cockpit organizers for either seat.
• Sensorcon makes the AV8 Inspector portable carbon monoxide monitor tuned for the cockpit.
• Coast builds dual-color white and red flashlights that protect night vision during preflight.

How to choose your pilot supplies

• Start with the phase of flight. Buy planning tools first, then cockpit organization, then preflight and aircraft-care items, and let your training stage set the order.
• Match a student kit to the checkride. A core kit is a flight computer, plotter, kneeboard, paper logbook, printed checklist, flashlight, and fuel tester, all of which you can assemble from pilot essentials.
• Decide electronic or paper for the math. The CX-3 is faster and reduces errors, while the paper E6B never needs batteries and is allowed on every knowledge test.
• Pick a kneeboard around your device. Choose a clipboard for paper, a tablet kneeboard like the Battleboard Tech Edition for an EFB, and see the 10 best pilot kneeboards guide to compare layouts.
• Do not skip safety items. A fuel tester, a quality flashlight, and a carbon monoxide monitor are smart, low-effort insurance for every flight.

For a full walkthrough, see our student pilot buyer's checklist and our guide to the 12 items for every pilot's flight bag.

Why buy from Pilot Mall

• Aviation-only focus: we sell pilot gear and nothing else, so every item is chosen for real cockpit use.
• Trusted for more than 25 years by student, recreational, and professional pilots.
• Genuine products from the brands pilots fly with, backed by the manufacturer warranty where one applies.
• Free U.S. shipping on orders over $100.
• Expert guidance from a team that flies and knows how the gear works in the airplane.

Frequently Asked Questions

What supplies does a student pilot need?

A core student pilot kit includes a flight computer (an E6B or the electronic CX-3), a plotter, a kneeboard, a paper logbook, a printed aircraft checklist, a flashlight, and a fuel tester, plus a flight bag to carry it all. A headset and current charts round out the setup before solo flight.

What is the difference between a paper E6B and an electronic flight computer?

A paper E6B is a manual slide-rule that solves flight calculations with no battery, while an electronic flight computer like the ASA CX-3 runs the same math through a keypad and display for speed and fewer errors. Both are checkride legal, so the choice comes down to personal preference and how fast you want the math.

Do student pilots need a paper logbook or is an app enough?

Many student pilots keep both, since a paper book holds instructor endorsements cleanly while an app speeds up totals. For the full paper-versus-digital legal-record breakdown and how to pick a layout, see our pilot and aircraft logbooks guide.

What should be in a pilot's flight bag?

Pack it by phase of flight: your documents and planning tools, the cockpit gear you reach for in the air, and the walkaround items you use on the ramp, then size the bag to fit. For the full packing list and bag styles, see our flight bags for pilots.

Are carbon monoxide detectors required in general aviation aircraft?

Carbon monoxide detectors are not required by the FAA for U.S. piston general aviation aircraft, though the NTSB recommends them and some other countries mandate them. Because exhaust leaks into the cabin are a real risk, many pilots carry a portable monitor such as the Sensorcon AV8 Inspector.

What is a fuel tester and why do pilots need one?

A fuel tester is a clear sampler used during preflight to draw fuel from each sump and check it for water, debris, and the correct color and grade. A separator type like the GATS Jar filters out contaminants so you can safely return the good fuel to the tank instead of wasting it.