Sunglasses
Sunglasses, in the context of aviation, tends to become one of those emotive topics that sparks virtually endless debate. At the end of the day, your personal choice of sunnies could well come down to what looks best on you, as much as which is likely to perform best in the context of your chosen career. Many more specs are sold because of the label they carry than are sold for their optical properties.
Things to Look For:
- Price alone is not a good indicator of quality!
- Not all 'aviator' glasses are created equal! The term 'aviator' may refer more to the teardrop shape of the lenses than to any real or claimed suitability for aviation use.
- Polarised lenses are not a good idea for aviation! Stay away from them.
- Polarised sunglasses may present some difficulties for pilots since reflections from water and other structures often used to gauge altitude may be removed,
- Instrument readings on liquid crystal displays may be blocked.
- Anecdotal evidence of visual distortions in the flare exist also.
- Heated window elements can also be a problem with a polarised lens.
- Comfort. Your sunnies need to be comfortable even after being worn for hours, often under headsets.
- Temple shape: A flat, blade-like temple (arm) on your sunnies will not destroy the passive noise reduction of headsets by lifting the ear-seal away from the head.
- UV protection is a critical aspect of your selection. Note: 'fashion' sunglasses often provide very little to no UV protection at all. Check the label of your sunnies carefully. Further the current trend towards huge sunglasses with wide and deep temples may compromise your peripheral vision. Caveat emptor.
- Optically correct lenses: will not introduce visual distortions via manufacturing faults.
- Photochromatic lenses darken (absorb more light) as the day brightens. Useful.
