Futureualpilot From United States of America, joined May 2000, 2562 posts, RR: 8 Reply 1, posted (9 years 4 months 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 3882 times:
I have before and have not experienced any problems. I still like to most of the time, but it does get uncomfortable under my headset after a little while.
Jetguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (9 years 4 months 2 days 13 hours ago) and read 3874 times:
This topic comes up on a fairly regular basis. The best source of "good" information is the April 2003 issue of Aviation Consumer. (By the way, Aviation Consumer is one of my favorite aviation magazines and a very good source of information. It's basically the "Consumer Reports" of general aviation - I highly recommend it.) They had a comprehensive report on the various sunglass lenses, tints, shades, etc. I'd cut and paste the entire article here except that I'm afraid I'd be busting some copyright laws. However, their summary said something along the lines of:
"Polarizing Lenses: This one is easy. Many instrument displays and aircraft windscreens are polarized. Most pilots who have tried polarized lenses have found them unsatisfactory."
Personally, I've never found polarized lenses to be of much benefit in aircraft cockpits and, depending on what material the windscreen is made of, they can cause "interesting" and undesirable visual effects. Get yourself the best quality lenses you can find (they don't have to be that expensive either) in a good dark gray tint. The larger the lenses are the better and make sure that they have the UV coating on them.
B727-200 From Australia, joined Nov 1999, 1051 posts, RR: 3 Reply 5, posted (9 years 4 months 2 days 7 hours ago) and read 3803 times:
A bit off topic, but are aircraft windshields coated in UV protective film? I imagine you could get quite a tan and some retinal damage if they were not.
B747skipper From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 6, posted (9 years 4 months 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 3745 times:
In the 1970s I bought polarized sunglasses -
Attempted to wear them while flying a 727... could not see anything outside -
The winshield was polarized, as well, turning head sideways blanked all vision -
Since then I always used the standard "RayBan" pilot glasses...
xxx
Now I wear prescription glasses mounted in Rayban frames...
And just clip dark lenses on top of them during bright days, as needed.
By the way, I use "neutral gray" lenses - as recommended by some.
xxx
Dont need to wear $$$ glasses to be comfortable...
Nor to look like a movie star when flying, or walking in the streets...
Happy contrails -
(s) Skipper
Dragogoalie From Australia, joined Oct 2001, 1220 posts, RR: 7 Reply 7, posted (9 years 4 months 2 days ago) and read 3733 times:
I always heard that flying with polarized sunglasses wasn't a good idea because one of the more common ways to see other aircraft is by seeing the sun reflecting off of them.
QantasA332 From Australia, joined Dec 2003, 1500 posts, RR: 35 Reply 9, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 3685 times:
A bit off topic, but are aircraft windshields coated in UV protective film?
Well, all glass blocks most UV rays (the nature of glass is such that it absorbs light in the ultra violet range), but, as aircraft windscreens aren't quite glass, you'd hope there is a protective coating............I think would be.
FredT From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2002, 2184 posts, RR: 26 Reply 10, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 3679 times:
Plexi does not block much UV - trust me, I know! You get a good burn.
There were experiments with red plexi, no idea about the composition, to reduce sunburn through the canopies. As they don't seem to be around, I don't think they were too successful. I can imagine why...
Cheers,
Fred
I thought I was doing good trying to avoid those airport hotels... and look at me now.
FSPilot747 From United States of America, joined Oct 1999, 3599 posts, RR: 14 Reply 11, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 3675 times:
I had this issue when looking for sunglasses meself. I ended up buying the Ray Ban "Pilot," which is a metal framed, semi wrap around non-polaraized pair.
I know that when looking for traffic, sometimes the reflection of the sun off the other plane gives it away. I wouldn't want to lose that with polarized glasses.
Mirrodie From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 7422 posts, RR: 65 Reply 12, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 3630 times:
I am an optometrist. My patients who fly, some of them are corporate and airline pilots, each have their own opinion.
While there are issues as far as the degree of polarization, the answer is simple: it depends on the individuals comfort.
Forum moderator 2001-2010; He's a pedantic, pontificating, pretentious bastard, a belligerent old fart, a worthless st
Cancidas From Poland, joined Jul 2003, 4112 posts, RR: 13 Reply 13, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 3580 times:
i fly with them, and i don't know how i flew without them before. when you're flying into the sun and it's right above the horizon they help out a lot.
"...cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home."
Pilotpip From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3084 posts, RR: 12 Reply 14, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 3567 times:
I don't fly with polarized lenses, but I have really good sunglasses becuase I got them cheap. Personally, I find that the quality of the lense has everything to do with my comfort when wearing a pair of glasses. I can notice the difference between flying with a pair of $10 department store glasses and my Smith glasses.
N1641 From United States of America, joined May 2000, 220 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 3560 times:
Im not allowed to wear them in an USAF tower but we have window shades. So how does a person who wears glasses keep the sun out of their eyes while flying? Maybe get those things that slide over the front of them? I always thought I would wear my polarized set when I finally get to fly, oh yes I will....
Beechcraft From Germany, joined Nov 2003, 828 posts, RR: 45 Reply 16, posted (9 years 4 months 1 day ago) and read 3544 times:
Hi,
i´m doing fine with Skylet glasses from Zeiss. They are darkend 80 or 85% and also contrast enhancing. They are a little bit yellow coloured, but it´s no problem to see the different colours e.g. on the CRT.
Vision is great andt hey are easy on the eyes due to the contrast feature and i am hardly ever flying (or driving )without them.
Also, they are affordable. I got the glasses for appr. 25€ each.
best regards,
Denis
That's it! You people have stood in my way long enough. I'm going to clown college!
ThirtyEcho From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 1635 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (9 years 4 months 21 hours ago) and read 3504 times:
Never used them in 45 years of flying and here is why: they block the glint of sun off of a window or bare metal part of another aircraft. I can't tell you the number of times that a sunflash has pointed out traffic that was still far away or running in and out of cloud.
Pilothighflyer From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 220 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (9 years 4 months 17 hours ago) and read 3484 times:
I fly with Maui Jim Kapalua which are polarized with their own process which is called PolarizedPlus, it supposable block glare on more angles. The only problem I have found is reading the digital displays in aircraft such as the Sr22, I also find it nearly impossible to read the navigation screen in my car with them on. Other than reading the Displays they are great, i can fly directly into the sun with out having to squint or be annoyed by the light.
They also help when looking for traffic, really makes it alot easier to spot
Wing From Turkey, joined Oct 2000, 1552 posts, RR: 24 Reply 20, posted (9 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 3298 times:
I had made the mistake of spending some good amounth of money to my sunglasses with polarized glasses and I realised that its not possibble to see from the front of the cockpit windows.It looks weird and disturbing(even more than the sunlight itself).I can say I don't recomend if anybody will fly with them.
LZ-TLT From Germany, joined Apr 2001, 431 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (9 years 3 months 2 weeks 3 days ago) and read 3289 times:
Well...to add to Mirrodie's comment:
Folks, unless staring directly into the sun for hours, the retinal damage by bright sunlight is just an urban legend. Most UV gets absorbed or reflected on the border of the tear flud film and the surrounding air. What gets through, gets absorbed by the cornea, so a neglectedly small amount of UV rays makes it through to the retina. About every good optometrist or ophtalmologist will tell you nearly the same, so wearing the glasses is just for convenience.
Sponsor Message: 
From United States of America, joined Dec 2001, 6195 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2002, 2184 posts, 
From Australia, joined Nov 1999, 1051 posts, 
From Poland, joined Jul 2003, 4112 posts, 
From Germany, joined Nov 2003, 828 posts, 
From Turkey, joined Oct 2000, 1552 posts, 
Sponsor Message: 
Printer friendly format
