Gift Ideas for New Pilots

That could describe someone in your life, or maybe that’s you. There are lots of milestones worth celebrating in aviation, and it isn’t as if there are not plenty of tools, equipment, and, let’s face it—luxuries—pilots could use. Whether you are searching for the perfect gift for the new pilot in your life or are looking to blow what’s left of your Christmas money on expanding your flight bag, let us guide you to the best gifts for new pilots.

One of the best ways to refine flight maneuvers and procedures without the cost of renting an aircraft (and burning avgas) is with a flight simulator. Modern simulators like X-Plane and Microsoft Flight Simulator offer incredibly realistic graphics, aerodynamic modeling, and dynamic weather environments. For student pilots, this can be an invaluable tool for practicing everything from traffic patterns and VFR navigation to emergency procedures and instrument approaches.

A nice touch is to include a good starter set of hardware like a quality yoke or joystick, rudder pedals, and throttle quadrant, allowing your aviator to replicate many of the complexities of real flight in the comfort of their home. A good home flight simulator setup is a fantastic gift for new pilots who want to practice basic maneuvers, hone their instrument flying skills, or keep their minds in the cockpit during downtime.

Knowledge is a pilot’s most potent instrument. In addition to learning how to use them in the first place, it is important to stay current with aeronautical charts, procedures, and regulations for safety and compliance. Gifting updated sectional charts, approach plates, and chart supplements is a practical way to support a new pilot's ongoing education.

Consider pairing charts with foundational texts from the FAA like the FAA’s Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge or the Airplane Flying Handbook. These resources reinforce important concepts that pilots revisit throughout their flying careers. Subscriptions to updated chart services also ensure pilots are always flying with the latest information—particularly valuable for cross-country flight planning and IFR operations.

Weather is one of the most critical considerations for every pilot. A portable aviation weather receiver allows real-time access to crucial updates. Devices like the Stratus 3 or the Sentry Mini ADS-B receiver can directly provide subscription-free weather and traffic information to a pilot's electronic flight bag (EFB) or tablet. This gives pilots access to live weather derived from official sources and traffic data in-flight that can help them make safer decisions.

I’ve written elsewhere about the importance of a good headset and my recommendations for which ones to consider purchasing. Clear communication is nonnegotiable in aviation, so the right aviation headset makes a world of difference in noisy cockpits. New pilots often start with budget headsets, but upgrading to a higher-end model can drastically improve comfort and audio clarity.

If you’re looking to give a headset to someone else, bear in mind that the best ones tend to be pricey and that these can be pretty personal decisions for many pilots. That said, make sure you know their preferences, if they have any, before making the purchase.  

Assuming they don’t have strong feelings about a particular headset or that you are buying for yourself, when it comes to an “upgrade” headset, look for noise-canceling headsets like the Bose A30, David Clark DC One-X, or Lightspeed Zulu 3. These combine active noise reduction with comfortable ear seals. Additional features to consider include Bluetooth connectivity for listening to alerts and music (when appropriate) or even making phone calls on the ground.

A well-organized flight bag is a pilot’s command center. It must accommodate everything from charts, iPads, and checklists to headsets and kneeboards. When selecting a flight bag, look for durable materials, multiple compartments, and a comfortable design.

Flight bags by companies like Flight Outfitters feature modular setups that let pilots configure compartments based on their needs.

Timekeeping and easy access to flight data can be crucial in aviation. From timing approaches to tracking flight legs, a reliable watch can be very helpful. Although all necessary timekeeping equipment should be included in the aircraft’s flight instruments, a good pilot watch makes things more convenient and, frankly, looks cool.

Look for watches that combine practicality with style—chronograph functions for timing holding patterns, luminous dials for nighttime readability, and water resistance for added durability. Some aviation-specific watches even feature E6B flight computer bezels to help with quick calculations. Options like the Garmin D2 Mach 1 Pro offer a swath of pilot-focused features, like a built-in flashlight, night-vision-protecting redshift backlighting, built-in GPS with direct-to airport navigation, oxygen monitor, and barometric pressure sensor, to name just a few.

Glare from the sun can be a major issue in a cockpit, and no pilot I know gets in the cockpit for daytime flying without a good pair of sunglasses.

A couple of beginner’s mistakes to avoid. While polarized lenses are nice on the ground, pilots should go for nonpolarized versions, as polarization can make reading many digital cockpit instruments difficult. Also, it is generally best to opt for glasses specifically designed for pilots, which usually have very thin and/or flexible earpieces. This is important since, unlike in virtually any other setting, the wearer will also be donning a tight-fitting headset. I’ve made the mistake of wearing sunglasses with a thick earpiece before and had to take them off and deal with having the sun in my eyes after a while because they became too painful to wear.

Comfort and practicality make for more enjoyable flights. GA cockpits, in particular, which are usually not air-conditioned, can be hot on the ground and chilly at altitude, so the right clothes for the flight can make a big difference. One of my favorite pilot-specific gifts I’ve received over the years was a comfy bomber jacket.

Look for moisture-wicking shirts, breathable jackets, or even quick-dry pants that allow easy movement (jeans for summer flying in trainer aircraft are the worst, especially down South where I do most of my flying). Focus on stylish yet functional clothes so the pilot in your life can go straight from the airport to a postflight dinner without skipping a beat.

Joining an aviation organization like the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) or the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) provides pilots with resources, camaraderie, and ongoing education. Membership benefits often include access to legal services, flight planning tools, magazines, and discounts on aircraft insurance or rental. More importantly, it connects pilots to a broader network of peers, mentors, and experts who can answer questions and share experiences.

This gift is a wonderful way to support someone’s continued growth in aviation—exposing them to webinars, safety seminars, and events that can sharpen their skills and keep them current.

Consider surprising your new pilot with a trip to an aviation museum for a memorable weekend. Museums like the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Washington, D.C.), the Museum of Flight (Seattle), or the EAA AirVenture Museum (Oshkosh, Wisconsin) offer immersive exhibits, historic aircraft displays, and sometimes even flight simulators. Of course, there’s no need to go far from home since most major metros around the U.S. have some sort of aviation museum with a local twist in the area.

Aviation milestones are huge for pilots. First solo flights and successful check rides, for instance, are moments they will hold on to for the rest of their lives. Commemorating these events with personalized items is a great way to show you care. A custom logbook, for example, is a practical gift they’ll use every time they record flight hours, making it not only a useful tool but also a keepsake.

There’s something special about flipping through the pages of a classic aviation biography. My home bookshelf includes titles on aviation history, pilot biographies, and even novels with an aviation focus. A few of my favorites include Skyfaring and Imagine a City by Mark Vanhoenacker, Flight of Passage by Rinker Buck, and The Aviators by Winston Groom.

Beyond recreational reads, as an instructor and perpetual student, my bookshelf also includes plenty of technical and academic reads as well. Everything Explained for the Professional Pilot by Richie Lengel and Rod Machado’s Instrument Pilot’s Handbook, for example, served me very well while I was in training.

My wife rolls her eyes nearly every time I bring in the mail. Almost never does a day go by when I do not bring in a new aviation magazine. For a continuous source of news, articles, and fresh inspiration, give a subscription to a reputable aviation magazine. Magazines like Plane & Pilot and FLYING are superb, if I say so myself.

These often showcase pilot stories, aircraft reviews, and flight technique tips that help pilots learn and keep on growing. I frequently share stories from the recurring ILAFFT (I Learned About Flying From That) column in FLYING Magazine with my students because these real-life stories of lessons learned from accidents and near misses teach aviation safety far better than I ever could from the lecture podium, or simply from scanning National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) accident reports (though that’s a good habit to develop as well).

Whether you’re shopping for someone stepping into a cockpit for the first time or for a newly licensed aviator eager to embark on new adventures, there’s a gift tailored to their passion. The key is to balance practicality with meaning. A well-chosen gift for a new pilot can mean more than just another gadget or novelty. It can spark a lifelong journey of exploration and camaraderie at thousands of feet above the ground.

So go ahead—pick a gift that lifts spirits and sends your favorite new pilot soaring into the wild blue yonder.