40 Gifts For Pilots
Our Best 3 Picks
Birthday Gifts For Pilots
Useful Gifts For Pilots
Personalized Gifts For Pilots
Gifts For New Pilots
Gifts For Professional Pilots
Pilots are some of the hardest-working, most skilled professionals who fly us to our destinations safely. They’re away from home and their families for long periods and experience immense amounts of work-related pressure. Fortunately, there are many gifts that can thank them for their invaluable service.
Choosing the best gifts for pilots
According to Erin Bowen, chair of the Behavioral and Safety Science Department at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, piloting often tops the list of the most stressful careers in terms of perceived stress and quantifiable stress metrics, like rates of burnout and health issues.
When pilots make mistakes, the consequences can be disastrous because they’re responsible for the lives of all on board. They’re away from their families for long periods of time, living out of a suitcase and because they fly from timezone to timezone at all hours, it’s stressful on their bodies too. Gifts that they can use in-flight to help them perform their jobs better as well as items that can make their lives easier or more relaxing when they’re on the ground are ones to consider. Everything from professional headsets and espresso machines can make a great gift for the pilot in your life.
How we identified the best gifts for pilots
Our selection is based on what airline pilots and other industry professionals regard as great on- and off-duty gifts, and we chose the most highly rated items in terms of functionality and popularity.
When pilots are on-duty, there are many useful gadgets and items that they can use in the cockpit, at the airport, and while traveling that will make their lives easier. When flying, items like noise-cancellation headphones, memory foam neck pillows, and portable espresso machines can help to improve their performance and provide a degree of comfort and convenience, which is why we selected some of the best on the market. Pilots are always on the go and find themselves in a different country daily. We included functional messenger bags, power banks, and aviation watches to complement their fast-paced lifestyles.
If you’d prefer to commend them and show your appreciation, our personalized gifts are varied, but each one will send the message that you’re proud of them and grateful for the work they do. They’ll serve as special mementos that the pilot in your life will appreciate. And because a pilot needs their downtime, we included gadgets, accessories, and appliances that they can use or enjoy when they’re off-duty — like whiskey decanter sets. We also distinguished between the wants/needs of professional versus new pilots. We chose items that a seasoned aviator will appreciate more, based on their years of experience, and that will make a newbie to the profession feel excited about their career ahead.
Tips for buying the best gifts for pilots
- Consider the occasion
The occasion can help you determine what type of gift to buy for the pilot in your life. If it’s their birthday, for example, it’s the perfect opportunity not only to celebrate them but to honor the great work they do as well. Personalized gifts with meaningful messages would be a great choice. Whereas, if you’re celebrating a work milestone with them, functional gifts are less personal, but they’ll certainly come in handy. - Make sure they don’t have it
Pilots will most likely buy the items they need if it’ll help them to perform their jobs better. If you have a great gift in mind, make sure it’s something they don’t already have, particularly if you’re planning to spend a little extra on the time. - Ask them
After years of flying, who better to tell you what they need most than the pilot in question? By asking them, you can take the guesswork out of the gift-buying process and ensure that it’s something they’ll get a lot of use out of.
FAQs
Are gifts for pilots readily available?
Just like any other gift items, gifts for pilots are readily available depending on what it is you intend to buy. Many online stores have pilot-themed gifts such as drink coasters; various merchandise items such as mugs, t-shirts, hoodies, and other knick-knacks that will be well received. So just get browsing to see what is available and you’ll realize there’s no need to stress about getting gifts for pilots or for the pilot in your life.
What are the best gifts for pilots?
The best gifts for pilots are those items they will need each time they fly. You could go as basic as a warm pair of aviation gloves to keep their hands toasty warm or splurge on some high-end aviator sunglasses. You could go practical and get them a flight bag to put all their essentials, an aviation headset for easier communications, an iPad for them to keep their backup charts, or a water bottle to keep them hydrated. When you understand what their profession entails, you will be able to figure out the best gifts for pilots.
Where do you buy gifts for a pilot?
The advent of the internet has made shopping so much easier because of the choices available online. This should be your first stop when thinking about getting gifts for a pilot. If online stores are not your thing, take a walk to your local thrift store and get some knick-knacks that are bound to appeal to the aviator in your life. You may find some great wall decor items or sculptures. You could also go to your local jeweler and have some customized jewelry made for them. There are plenty of places where you can buy gifts for a pilot so get shopping.