You know what? I didn’t think I needed a handheld radio. I fly a 1979 Cessna 172 with two good panel radios. But stuff happens. Wires age. Weather rolls in. A hand slips. So now I keep a handheld in my flight bag, always. It’s like a spare tire. You hope you won’t need it. You will someday. A good real-world rundown of why that backup matters lives right here.
What I’ve Used, For Real
- Yaesu FTA-550L: it gets COM and NAV, so I can hear VORs and localizer. It’s chunky, but friendly.
- Icom IC-A16: COM only, but tough as nails. Big battery. Louder speaker. IP67, so rain didn’t scare it.
You can browse both of these models—and a full range of aviation handhelds—at Airtronics if you're looking to equip your own flight bag. If you want a deeper dive into how these two brands stack up head-to-head, there's an excellent comparison over at Hangar.Flights.
I’ve flown with both for more than a year. I still carry the Icom for daily use. I keep the Yaesu for trips and practice. If you’re curious how different units stack up across price points and features, check out this side-by-side comparison where I tried a bunch of radios so you don’t have to.
The Sunday My Panel Went Quiet
Run-up at my home field, a little Class D. My number one radio got stuck in transmit. The tower couldn’t hear me, and my mic light stayed on. Not good.
I pulled the handheld from the side pocket. Quick check. Fresh battery. I tuned the tower, called them, and let them know my panel radio had a stuck mic. They gave me a short taxi back to the ramp. No drama. No hand signals. No guessing.
The funny part? I didn’t feel “heroic.” I felt calm. The radio made a loud, clean call. The tower replied. Problem solved. That’s why I carry it. Moments like this prove how crucial a rugged handheld can be—here’s a hands-on take on radios that shine when stuff gets weird.
Small Wins That Add Up
- I grab ATIS from the ramp while I’m still fueling. No need to power the plane yet.
- During a pancake fly-in, I used the handheld to hear CTAF from the grass line. It kept me clear of busy taxi lanes.
- One night, I monitored 121.5 while cruising. The radio’s second watch kept an ear on guard. I didn’t need it that night, but it was nice.
- On a cold day with gloves, the Icom’s big knobs were easy to use. The Yaesu had more menus, but I saved the common stuff, so it was fine.
I don’t transmit unless I’m supposed to. I use it in the plane, with a license, or I just listen on the ground.
Audio, Battery, and Buttons (The Real Feel)
The Icom IC-A16 is loud. Like, “I can hear Ground over a tug engine” loud. The battery lasts me most of a weekend—about two long mornings plus one late hop—before I even think about a charger. I dropped it on the hangar floor once. It shrugged it off. A bit scuffed, still fine. For more pilot reviews of the IC-A16’s real-world performance, skim through the comments on MyPilotStore; they mirror much of what I’ve seen.
The Yaesu FTA-550L has more features. It can hear VORs and the localizer, which is neat for backup and for learning. The screen is nicer. But the menus can feel fussy. I got used to it, even liked it, after I set up memory names on my laptop with the cable. Doing it by hand took forever.
Both worked better with a longer airband whip. Stock antennas are okay. A tuned whip made weak ATIS come in clearer from the ramp.
One Rainy Day at Oshkosh
I stood in light rain near the flight line. The Icom sat on my shoulder strap, clipped in. It stayed dry inside and kept chugging. I listened to arrivals while munching a soggy pretzel. Could I have lived without it? Sure. But I knew what was happening in real time. For me, that’s half the stress gone.
Headset Hookups and Comfort
I use a simple headset adapter to plug the handheld into my David Clark. When I tested Ground from the cockpit with doors open, the noise dropped, and the call sounded clean. Without the adapter, the speaker is still good, but air on a hot day is loud. The adapter is worth it.
The Good Stuff
- Loud, clear audio (Icom wins here)
- Long battery life, real-world strong
- Memories make busy days smooth
- Rugged build; a little rain or a bump didn’t matter
- Yaesu’s NAV is handy for practice and backup awareness
The Not-So-Good Stuff
- Menus can feel clunky, especially on the Yaesu
- Stock antennas are only okay
- Charging cradles take bag space
- It’s not light; your shoulder knows it after a long day
- Naming channels by hand? Slow and a bit painful
Who Should Carry One?
- Student pilots: for listening practice and a simple safety net
- Weekend flyers like me: for that “what if” moment
- Folks at fly-ins or on the ramp: so you hear the flow before you join it
A Few Real Tips (Nothing Fancy)
- Keep it charged. I set a reminder after each weekend.
- Save the big ones: ATIS, Ground, Tower, CTAF, Approach, 121.5, and your top alternates.
- Label channels on a computer if you can. You’ll thank yourself later.
- Toss a spare antenna and the headset adapter in the same pouch. Future you will smile.
After a full day of flying, I like to unwind by checking out different forms of “live communication” that have nothing to do with ATC or CTAF. If you’ve ever wondered how crystal-clear streaming tech and real-time interaction translate in the entertainment world, skim this detailed Jerkmate review—it breaks down the platform’s video quality, user interface, and pricing so you can decide if it’s a relaxing way to de-stress once the headset comes off.
For pilots who find themselves overnighting along the Southern California coast, it never hurts to have a quick way to scope out the local scene once the tie-downs are secure. From live-music listings to more adult-oriented meet-ups, local classifieds can be a handy resource for last-minute plans. One concise directory worth bookmarking is Bedpage Laguna Beach—its streamlined, location-specific posts give you a snapshot of nightlife options, services, and social gatherings so you spend less time searching and more time enjoying that Pacific sunset.
Final Call
I didn’t buy a handheld to be cool. I bought it because one small, simple tool can keep a normal day from turning weird. The Icom IC-A16 lives in my bag now. The Yaesu FTA-550L sits ready when I want NAV. Both did what they promised me.
Do you need one? If you fly, or even hang around airplanes, I’d say yes. Not for every task. But for that one moment when you want a clear voice and a quick plan—yeah. That moment matters.