The Pre-Flight Briefing - Pilot Shop Blog

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, and lethal threat in any piston aircraft cabin. With the NTSB urging pilots to adopt active alerting detectors, choosing the right device is a critical safety decision. To help you make the right choice, our team of experienced pilots put the top portable CO detectors to the test in real-world cockpit conditions. This guide provides our unbiased 2026 picks, shows you the FAA-researched best location for mounting, and covers the essential maintenance to keep you safe on every flight.

In this article, we will explore primary, secondary, and even tertiary uses for the items included in a pre-packaged medical kit. Like any emergency, sometimes we must think outside the box, so here we go.

By the time we’re done, you’ll know what med gear you have onboard your plane and how to use it plus have ideas for bonus items to add.

Consider the need for life rafts and life vests. On extended overwater flights, you’ll want to carry one life vest per person and a raft (or rafts) with enough room and buoyancy to fit everyone on board.

What kind of pilot would fly after a drink? Not you, right? Good. Same here, but if we are being honest, how many of us have experienced signs of hypoxia (oxygen deficiency) while at the controls?