Abstract Heat stress is a common condition in hot climates. Aviators are the most affected based on the nature of the work they do. Desert climates such as the Arabian Peninsula pose a challenge to aviators. This research paper seeks to investigate the occurrence of heat stress in flight cockpits in desert climates. Besides, it makes a comparison between sources of heat on the performance of the pilot. The methodology used is an article review. The articles used were compiled from PubMed. The results show that heat stress has physiological and psychological effects on aviators and that the cockpit had different sources of heat depending on the ‘make’ of the aircraft and the climate. Clothing and height of flight are also important factors in the etiology of heat stress. The paper concludes that although the effects of heat stress on modern aircraft are subtle, they may greatly affect the performance of aviators in the cockpit. Therefore, recommendations are provided on how to prevent heat stress, including the development of better cooling systems and indices. Introduction The Middle East and Arabian Peninsula Climate The Arabian Peninsula has a relatively hotter climate compared to the rest of the world. It is one of the hottest places on earth (Perry, 1967). Working in this environment requires one to make adequate adaptations. Despite the hot climate, the area also has millions of inhabitants in different occupations, with the aviation industry being vibrant. Temperatures in the Middle East are often above 30 o Celsius. There is rarely any rain since the region has only one rainy season. The Arabian Peninsula is also categorized as a desert since there are inadequate natural water resources. The area is largely arid and semi-arid. There is often a lack of water and high temperatures (Perry, 1967). The Middle East has mild winters once a year. However, the rest of the year is characterized by hot and dry weather (Perry, 1967). The region where the climate is different is in the mountains that form part of northern Iraq and Iran, and part of Eastern Turkey (Perry, 1967). The winters are long in this region, with temperatures dropping to below the freezing point in some areas. The monsoon that is frequently experienced in the area results from the hot and dry climate. The winds blow towards the land in one part of the year, with the reverse taking place when the temperatures on the land drop (Perry, 1967). Temperatures above 100 F are common. However, the average recorded temperatures are 85 F for the whole region (Perry, 1967). Basra has some of the hottest temperatures in the Middle East. These temperatures are recorded to reach above 124 F (Perry, 1967). Another common phenomenon in the region resulting from the high temperatures is the sandstorms that the area experiences frequently. This phenomenon results from the collection of dust and sand from the desert surface by the strong winds blowing across it (Perry, 1967). Arabia Area Climate Different researchers have ventured into the study of the effects that the Arabian climate has on the different professionals working in the area. However, few researchers have documented the effects of the area’s climate on aviators, especially pilots (Perry, 1967).