View limiting devices are used in all aspects of pilot training and check rides, from primary to ATP For student pilots, there is the three hour instrument requirement to get your rating. Instrument Ratings require that virtually all training is performed under simulated or actual conditions. View limiting devices should provide a level of comfort that allows the pilot to focus solely on the training and not the discomfort of wearing them. They should also provide a complete view of the instrument panel and create an environment that parallels IMC. Purchasing as many view limiting devices as we could allowed us to assess the failings of other products so that we could improve on them and bring a superior product to market. Failings that other products had were that they tended to be bulky, incompatible with glass cockpits, allowed unfettered views of the horizon and ground, reduced the effectiveness of ear seals on headsets, and were uncomfortable and/or expensive. Hoody® elminates these issues and provides a more effective product that occupies a smaller space.

Space comes at a premium in your flight case. We realized that many of the hoods were made of brittle plastic, were bulky, and required a fair amount of space to store, so we created a hood that folds to almost paper thin widths and can be easily slipped into almost any flight bag.

As flight instructors, it was easy for us to field test view limiting devices with our students, getting feedback from them on what they thought the failings of the product were. We also experienced countless different devices while getting instrument current. Through empirical accounts and our own experience, we realized that every hood that we used had inherent problems with newer glass cockpit aircraft. It was apparent that view-limiting devices have not kept up with changing aircraft design, construction and technology. Many of the devices currently on market create blind spots on modern instrument panels. Moreover, many areas of the glare shield are visible, thus the horizon is visible, which negates the point of wearing the device. Beta testing Hoody® on many of today's composite, high tech glass cockpits allowed us to remedy the problems that are experienced with other products.

View limiting devices currently on the market also tend to be uncomfortable. As flight instructors, we understand that discomfort, whether it is physical or otherwise, fosters an environment that is not conducive to best performance and learning from our students. The number one complaint came from the goggle type devices. The biggest issue with these came from the fact that the temples (parts of the frame that extend over and/or behind the ears to help hold the frame in place) were held tightly to the pilot's head by aviation headsets, creating pressure against the skull and consequently, discomfort. Another result of this type of device is that they reduce the effectiveness of the ear seals on headsets. The result is an environment even less conducive to learning, reducing intra-cockpit communication ability and to some degree interfering with ATC communications. Hoody® utilizes an entirely different technique for positioning that doesn't cause any discomfort or reduction in communications.

We have remedied the faults of previous view limiting devices on the market through materials research and field-testing. Hoody® is the result of all our labors. We hope to bring a more affordable, quality product to market and we believe we have accomplished that. The primary consideration in training is to complete it in a safe, comfortable, efficient, and effective manner. Hoody® is another tool in your flight bag that can assist in meeting all of these goals.