Why Pilots Need Non-Polarized Sunglasses

The right sunglasses in a cockpit aren't simply about reducing glare. They're about seeing everything you need to see.

For fishing, boating, driving and many other outdoor activities, polarized sunglasses can be an excellent choice. Polarization is designed to reduce reflected glare from surfaces such as water, snow and pavement.

Aviation is different.

Inside an aircraft, a pilot must constantly transition between bright exterior conditions, the aircraft windscreen, instrument panels, electronic flight displays, tablets and other aircraft in the surrounding airspace. Polarized lenses can interact with several of those visual elements in ways that are undesirable in a cockpit.

For that reason, the Federal Aviation Administration's Sunglasses for Pilots: Beyond the Image specifically states that polarized lenses are not recommended for use in the aviation environment.

The video above demonstrates an important point: a lens feature that may be beneficial on the water or highway isn't automatically the best feature in an airplane. Cockpit visibility has a different set of requirements.

1. Polarized Lenses Can Interfere With Cockpit Displays

Polarized lenses selectively filter light traveling in particular orientations. That's what makes them so effective at cutting reflected glare.

The problem is that many electronic displays and anti-glare filters also use polarization. When the orientation of a polarized sunglass lens interacts with the polarization of a display, the screen may lose contrast, become unusually dark or become much more difficult to read at certain viewing angles.

The FAA specifically cautions that polarization can reduce or eliminate the visibility of instruments that incorporate anti-glare filters.

Anyone who has rotated a phone or tablet while wearing polarized sunglasses has probably experienced a version of this effect. In the cockpit, however, rapidly reading an instrument, GPS, electronic flight bag or other display isn't simply a convenience — it's part of maintaining situational awareness.

2. Aircraft Windscreens Can Look Different Through Polarized Lenses

Aircraft windscreens are not ordinary pieces of glass. Depending on the aircraft, they may incorporate laminated layers, coatings, heating systems and other materials.

When these materials are viewed through polarized lenses, pilots may notice unusual bands, rainbow-like patterns, discoloration or striations that are much less apparent without polarization.

FAA guidance warns that polarized lenses may interfere with visibility through an aircraft windscreen by enhancing striations in laminated materials. The UK Civil Aviation Authority similarly warns that polarized lenses can cause distortion patterns in certain multilayer cockpit windscreens.

Aviation sunglasses should help simplify a pilot's visual environment, not add another optical effect to it.

3. That Flash of Light From Another Aircraft Can Be Useful

This is one of the biggest differences between flying and many recreational activities.

Most people buy polarized sunglasses specifically because they remove reflected glare. But in aviation, some reflected light can provide useful visual information.

Sunlight reflecting from another aircraft's windscreen, wing or fuselage can create the brief flash or "glint" that attracts a pilot's attention while scanning for traffic.

The FAA points out that polarized lenses can mask this sparkle of reflected light and potentially reduce the time available to recognize another aircraft during a see-and-avoid traffic situation.

4. Non-Polarized Does Not Mean Less UV Protection

One of the most common misconceptions about sunglasses is that polarization and ultraviolet protection are the same thing.

They're not.

Polarization controls certain reflected visible light. UV protection concerns ultraviolet radiation. A quality non-polarized sunglass lens can provide strong UVA and UVB protection without being polarized.

That matters in aviation because exposure to ultraviolet radiation increases with altitude. FAA guidance recommends selecting sunglasses that provide approximately 99–100% UVA and UVB protection.

Pilots therefore don't have to choose between UV protection and non-polarized cockpit visibility. The two characteristics are independent.

5. Lens Tint and Light Transmission Matter Too

Choosing good aviation sunglasses involves more than simply checking whether they're polarized.

FAA guidance identifies gray, gray-green and brown as common tint choices for aviators. Neutral gray produces minimal color distortion, while some pilots prefer brown or gray-green lenses because of the way those colors affect perceived contrast in haze and varying terrain.

Extremely dark sunglasses aren't necessarily better. The FAA advises that aviation sunglasses should generally screen out about 70–85% of visible light while avoiding significant color distortion. Lenses that are excessively dark can make instruments and written material inside the cockpit more difficult to see.

The goal is balance: enough protection for the bright world outside the aircraft while still allowing the pilot to comfortably see the considerably darker environment inside.

6. Headset Comfort Is Part of Aviation Eyewear

A pilot may wear sunglasses under an aviation headset for hours at a time. That makes the design of the frame almost as important as the lens.

Thick temple arms can create pressure against the side of the head and can interfere with an over-the-ear headset's seal. FAA guidance says aviation sunglass frames should be functional, lightweight, secure and should not interfere with communications headsets or protective equipment.

This is one reason Sky Optics uses lightweight titanium construction and thin flexible temple arms on aviation-oriented models such as the Pilot, Foil and Aerowire.

Explore Sky Optics Pilot Sunglasses

Choose a non-polarized lens option when configuring your sunglasses for aviation use.

The Bottom Line

Polarized sunglasses can be excellent for many outdoor activities. But an airplane presents a unique visual environment.

For pilots, polarized lenses can potentially:

• Darken or interfere with some cockpit displays and anti-glare filters.
• Create distracting optical effects in laminated aircraft windscreens.
• Reduce reflections that may help a pilot visually acquire another aircraft.
• Remove visual information that a pilot may prefer to retain.

That's why the FAA does not recommend polarized lenses for the aviation environment.

A quality non-polarized aviation sunglass can reduce harsh sunlight and provide UV protection without intentionally filtering the polarized light coming from cockpit displays or removing potentially useful reflections outside the aircraft.

When you're flying, the objective isn't simply to reduce glare.
It's to see everything that matters.

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Sources & Further Reading

Federal Aviation Administration: Sunglasses for Pilots: Beyond the Image
UK Civil Aviation Authority: Use of Sunglasses for Pilots

This article is intended as general educational information about aviation eyewear and does not replace applicable regulations, aircraft manufacturer guidance, employer policies or advice from an aviation medical professional.