Do student pilots need a handheld radio?
Not immediately — but there are compelling reasons to own one before you solo. A handheld VHF transceiver gives you a completely independent backup communication system. If your aircraft's radio fails during solo flight, a handheld means you can still contact ATC, get clearance to land at a towered airport, and avoid a lost-comms situation. It also serves as your primary radio at non-towered airports during early training flights.
For your checkride: Some DPEs like to see a handheld radio as a backup. It also demonstrates good ADM — carrying backup equipment is sound risk management. Not required, but noticed.
Our pick — Icom IC-A25N
- Full NavCom — receives VOR and ILS as well as communicating
- Built-in GPS for position awareness even when panel avionics fail
- Weather receiver — get METARs and TAFs directly on the radio
- Loud, clear audio even in a noisy cockpit
- Rugged construction — Icom's build quality is industry-leading
- Rechargeable Li-ion battery with long life
- Scan function monitors multiple frequencies simultaneously
- Premium price — the most expensive handheld on this list
- Feature-rich interface takes time to learn
- Overkill for a student pilot who only needs backup comms
Best value — Yaesu FTA-550
- Significantly lower price than the Icom IC-A25N
- VOR/ILS receive capability for nav backup
- Clear audio quality for comms
- Compact and lightweight
- Rechargeable battery pack included
- Simple, intuitive interface — easy to learn quickly
- No GPS — position awareness requires separate device
- No weather datalink
- Slightly less rugged than Icom build quality
What to know before buying
You need an adapter to plug it into the aircraft intercom. Most handheld radios use a different connector than the aircraft's GA headset jacks. An adapter cable (~$15 on Amazon) lets you connect the handheld to the aircraft intercom system so you can use your normal headset with the handheld radio. Buy this when you buy the radio.
Battery life matters in the cockpit. Always have the battery fully charged before flight. Carry the charging cable in your flight bag. Some pilots carry a spare battery pack — worth considering if you do long cross-countries.
Practice using it on the ground before you need it in the air. A radio failure in flight is stressful. If you've never used the handheld before, fumbling with an unfamiliar device while managing the aircraft is dangerous. Practice at home: program your local tower frequency, ATIS, ground, and guard (121.5 MHz) as presets.
Quick comparison
| Radio | GPS | Weather | Nav Receive | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Icom IC-A25N | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | Career pilots, all-in-one |
| Yaesu FTA-550L | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | Student pilots, budget backup |