What shoes do you wear when you fly?

Question

i was getting ready for a flight yesterday and a colleague was surprised at my shoes, a pair of girly little canvas runners. i told him that they give me good feel on the rudder pedals. my instructor says i take off like a 747 pilot, so i must be doing something right. :-)

mr. colleague (a former air cadets 1970s pilot) seemed skeptical, like somehow real pilots were supposed to wear army boots or something. my favourite ballerina flats are just not on, as far as he's concerned.

what sorts of shoes do you wear in the cockpit? why?

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

I would recommend sport shoes "Nike-Adidas" style for rudder pedals -
Rubber soles, something that would not slip...
Ladies, avoid "classy ladies shoes" when sitting at the controls -
I always had a pair of sport shoes in my flight bag in my airline days -

The worst is some cowboy "high heals" -
I had an idiot from TX who got a high heal stuck under pedal -

And if you care to know, I often changed to jeans and t-shirts -
Uniform shirts and stripes in the coat closet -

Jeremy · Answer

The last flight I did I went no schooz no socks.

I've recently gave up socks and when I hopped in I said 'its a nice day out I haven't flown in a few months I'm gonna enjoy this' and took them damn shooz off.  I figure you fly the plane with your bare hands why the hell not use your bare feet.  I'm trying to get other pilots on this bandwagon too.  It makes you 'feel' the aircraft more.  Not just 'you fly with your hands and the feet don't do anything special'

Not sure how it'll go when I become a cfi.  Students might not think its professional.  Also can't wait til I'm flying a regional jet and pop my schooz off.  d:D

Give it a shot on your next lesson!

Zaphod Beeblebrox · Answer

1) Your instructor hasn't a clue how a 747 pilot would take off.
2) Wear what is comfortable and also what is appropriate for walking a lot, should you ever have to.

? · Answer

They wear dress shoes in the cockpit. 


If your flying a small plane anything would work. Boots, dress shoes, sneakers, even no shoes (but that would suck when landing out)

Anonymous · Answer

I just wear my normal street shoes. Usually a soft soled leather walking shoe.

Rob G · Answer

It never mattered to me, nor should what you wear matter to any other pilot.  I'd wear whatever I happened to pick for the day.

Warbird Pilot · Answer

Cowboy boots, sometimes tennis shoes.

Anonymous · Answer

Horse shoes!

Brett · Answer

I wear the sandals of Hermes.... http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_FwWKEyGmP-c/SslxoqiWmII/AAAAAAAADQw/1UmA11X8f2I/s400/Sandals+of+Hermes.jpg

some people prefer to wear dress shoes or combat boots. like your instructor. I personally prefer any shoes. I just wear my regular running shoes that I wear every other place. Similar to this:
http://www.shopwss.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/4/-/4-mens-dart8-395841102-nike-white-blue-silver-athletic-running-shoe_203728.jpg

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What shoes do you wear when you fly?

9 Answers