When I first had the good fortune of making an airline cockpit my office, it didn’t take long to realize organization was imperative for not only a smooth operation but a safe operation. Scrambling to find the appropriate emergency checklist as the fire bell is clattering in your ear or attempting to locate a pen to write down a route amendment that a New York controller is rattling off like an auctioneer is not exactly a professional or safe situation.
For GA flying, I’m always in search of a better organization system for my Arrow and that’s what prompted this Aviation Consumer review. To keep it contained, I focused on organizers priced under $50 that are found easily between two popular online aviation shopping stores—Sporty’s and Aircraft Spruce. A caveat: What might work for my airplane may not work for your airplane and vice versa. And, your personal priority preference for items needed in flight is important when considering the available options. Here are my top-pick aircraft-specific bargain-priced products.
Sporty’s pilot pouch
Sporty’s has been selling its Pilot Pouch with both a smartphone accessory and a pen holder. The accessories attach via Velcro directly to the pouch and can be positioned together, left or right, depending on your preference.
One of the main reasons this pouch attracted my attention was the feature of a pocket at the top that has a Velcro strap for securing an ANR headset control box. This pocket would become a more sophisticated substitute than my lack-of-a-better-solution technique of sandwiching the control box on top of and in between the airplane logbook and the laminated checklist card that was jammed into the pilot’s side pocket.
My expectations for this pouch were high, hoping that it could somehow be mounted to the outside of the overstuffed pilot’s side pocket via the top grommet using an improvised hook, or by use of the two sewn-in vertical Velcro straps on the back. Adhering Velcro with the included self-adhesive patches to the Arrow’s side pocket’s leather material didn’t seem to be a viable option in terms of a secure installation. But I was willing to give it a college try.
Unfortunately, the Arrow has limited real estate, especially if the ANR pouch has to be located near the headset jacks on the instrument panel, so I was stuck with the pilot’s side pocket. Even if the above described attachment ideas were successful, the Sporty’s pouch would have mounted in such a way that it not only nudged my left knee but would interfere with the control wheel’s operation.
Rather than abandon the entire pouch, I found a simple solution. After removing assorted items of unequal size and a plastic pen holder hooked over the edge, I slipped the pouch directly into the pilot’s side pocket. Voila! Unfortunately, I was then challenged with finding a home for the stuff I evicted. More on that later.
The 8 by 11 inch pouch can hold a standard iPad, but a smaller iPad would slip in and out easier, especially if other items like an airplane logbook or checklist is added. On most trips I like to keep the iPad more available, so it’s placed in the center of the floor underneath the flap handle. Periodically, my wife enjoys reviewing the ForeFlight moving map display, so accessibility to her side of the cockpit is important.
I filled the iPad section of the pouch with a laminated checklist and a laminated quick reference guide for the JPI display. Pens were loaded into the sleeves of the accessory pen holder. Although it’s a snug fit with my Otterbox case, my iPhone 15 Pro fit neatly into the cellphone accessory pocket. The airplane logbook and a notepad slid behind the entire pilot pouch into the airplane side pocket and against the fuselage wall.
For just $19.95 and a couple of options to attach the Sporty’s pouch, inclusive of my solution of just slipping the organizer into an existing pocket, it’s hard to go wrong.
Sporty’s Pocket Pro
I was already making use of an older model, so unloading some of the stuff that was jammed and forgotten at the bottom of my pilot’s side pocket and transferring it to a more visible container made sense. Although it hadn’t been my original strategy, removing the bottom stuff also cleared the path for inserting the Sporty’s Pilot Pouch mentioned above. But alas, I was running out of room with my older Pocket Pro. Enter the second Pilot Pocket Pro.
Between the two units, I store batteries, small lightbulbs for the gear lights, a flashlight, a small Leatherman tool for twisting those pesky instrument panel screws back in, a spare headset mic cover, cowl replacement screws and other assorted convenience stuff.
The Sporty’s online description advertises the ability to store a cellphone and a Bluetooth device (a portable ADS-B receiver, as one example), plus it has two divided compartments for two pens and a side notch to hold sunglasses. The newer upgraded model provides slots for charging electronic devices and/or for organizing charging cables. As in the previous model, a Centigrade/Fahrenheit conversion scale is printed on the face of the unit.
The Pocket Pro material is a sturdy transparent acrylic, resistant to scratches and discoloration from UV rays. After almost three years of use with the older model, I can attest to both attributes.
The suction cups that secure the unit work reasonably well but have to be remoistened on occasion. If the Pocket Pro is overloaded, you may find it on your lap after a firm touchdown, a jolt of turbulence or just because it’s tired of the extra weight.
The unit measures a very manageable roughly 4.3 inches wide by 4.4 inches high by 1.30 inches deep. It’s easy to install on a side window or side plastic and it won’t dramatically obscure your view.
Sporty’s has it priced at $29.95. Visit www.sportys.com.
Got your six
When I read the description of the Got Your Six Aircraft Seat Organizer product, it seemed to have my name all over it. This organizer was designed to slip between adjacent seats. The Arrow’s newly renovated pilot bottom cushions are slightly oversized. The seats mostly touch each other, especially with the sheepskin covers, so this configuration fell within the parameters of a 0.5-inch gap or less that the unit’s manufacturer recommends.
The organizer is designed with a hardened outer shell that contains the storage bin and is then tapered below into a thinner, 9-inch, rectangular shark fin that fits in between the seats. The shark fin is covered on one side with a friction-fit pad. The pad is supposed to keep the entire organizer stationary even when the pilot seats are slid fore or aft.
Unfortunately, the organizer tends to slide in one direction or another, mostly aft, and then gets lost on the floor or in between the seats. I tried turning the bin around, so the friction-fit pad is against the other pilot seat, but to no avail. All is not lost if you are willing to readjust after the seats are moved into their final flight positions. The bin does fit nicely on top of the seat cushion without crowding anyone’s thigh.
The organizer sells for $34.95 at Aircraft Spruce, but I would consider it a better idea if it were to sit in between the Arrow’s back seats because they don’t move. Not that I’m a slave to interior fashion, but perhaps the company’s decal of “Got your six aviation.com” could be located somewhere less obtrusive. Visit www.aircraftspruce.com.
High road portable cargo caddy
The sewing, seams and finish work, along with the material strength, give this organizer high marks for quality construction. The carry handle is sturdy and placed appropriately for a neutral CG when the caddy is picked up. The whole design is collapsible. The compartments are numerous and adjustable via Velcro. Outer mesh pouches allow for more accessible storage. A Velcro strap on the back of the unit can be used to secure it to a seatbelt or cargo tie-down.
The biggest problem with the Cargo Caddy is deciding where to put what. In the Arrow, I have loose items on the back seats in addition to stuffed seatback pockets. The items are a tissue box, a spare headset, a handheld aviation radio and other assorted non-flight essentials like an umbrella and side window glareshields.
Although no complaints have been vocalized from rear seat passengers about knees being crushed from the bulges in the seatback pockets, it makes for a crisper look without such items, notwithstanding that I have to periodically reacquaint myself with what was buried down deep. If you look carefully at the photo of the Cargo Caddy in the Arrow, you’ll notice that the antenna on the handheld radio has suffered stuffing abuse. So, I transferred quite a few items to the organizer.
The only drawback for the Cargo Caddy in the Arrow is that it takes up the majority of the real estate on one of the rear seats. However, most times it’s a two-person airplane, so not a big deal. If four people occupy the airplane, it’s easy enough to throw the organizer in the cargo compartment.
At a price of $21.95 from Sporty’s, I think the Cargo Caddy is a bargain no matter where you choose to place the organizer.
Caddycan waste container
My wife and I occasionally decide it’s more efficient to dine in the sky when we’re flying multiple legs in a day. If we pick up sandwiches and a drink, waste follows. A plastic grocery bag is normally our go-to answer in keeping the cockpit free of loose debris, but a container that is designed specifically for such a purpose seemed worth a try.
The whole unit is well constructed from “weather-resistant, heavy duty denier material.” Denier material in this context most likely translates to thickness. The waste container appears to be a good strength nylon. The whole design can be pushed into an almost completely flat shape, occupying very little space. The Caddycan is actually two separate containers. The outer container is zippered from the top and stores the inner nylon waste container. The top of the outer shell includes a slot to push trash through to the waste container. Unzipping the outer shell exposes the waste container, which can be pulled out and then the trash secured via a pull cord at the top. The entire unit can be attached behind a seat headrest with Velcro straps or just placed on the seat itself.
It’s an innovative design that keeps cockpit trash contained and secured. The packaging that the Caddycan arrived in displayed its use as camping equipment, which it would aptly serve. The only drawback for my purposes is that it occupies more space than I thought. If the rear seats are loaded with baggage for a long trip, then it would have to be located either on the floor or attached to the headrests or set in the cargo compartment for future use. Regardless, it’s all doable.
Priced at $29.99 from Sporty’s, I think the product is a good value. But if you want to really save money, simply don’t throw away your plastic grocery bags.
Wrap it up
Among others, the obvious difference between an airline cockpit and a GA cockpit is size. In addition, the cockpit of a typical reciprocating single-engine GA airplane is shared with the cabin. A smaller cockpit makes it essential to organize necessary items and convenience items for easy access. For me, it’s important to have an organization system that places necessary items in immediate reach, i.e., checklists, pens, electronic charts and approach plates. Convenience items can be anything from a quick guide to extra headset batteries.
Although the recently installed new interior for our Piper Arrow included slightly larger pouches and pockets, I managed to fill them up quickly. Small pouches were installed on the forward portion of each pilot seat, but I lost the extra storage by covering them up with sheepskin covers that were gifted to me from a longtime airline friend, which prompted a search for alternative solutions.
Most pilots should strive to achieve an organized cockpit. Everyone has their system, but it’s certainly worth it to give aviation-oriented designs a try. Luckily, there are some good ones that won’t break the bank.