Good afternoon all!
I just had a quick question as to what you all are using for hearing protection. PNR Headsets? ANR? Ear plugs? A combination of the above?
I currently have a PNR headset that I think is doing the job I need it to, but was curious if there were any suggestions about how to check it or improve it.
Many thanks!
In what environment?
My ears, left especially, are wrecked from a Cinderella / Bon Jovi concert, but I have taken to wearing JVC active noise cancelling headphones
on airplanes and trains.
On the flight line I have some shooting ear protectors, but don't use earplugs much.
I use those plugs that are green on one side and yellow on the other. They have a handy little case and work for two different types of noise. One side is for loud sudden noises and the other is for constant noise.
Quote from: Eclipse on November 30, 2010, 08:08:44 PM
In what environment?
I was thinking of in the cockpit, but thanks for bringing up the flight line question. I have just been using some shooters ear muffs for that.
For flying, never go anywhere without my Bose ANR headset. On the flight line, stay indoors unless I am going to or from an aircraft.
After being around my half-deaf dad, who had significant noise-induced hearing loss from his 30 year Navy career, I worked very hard at avoiding the same fate. I carry ear plugs with me all the time, and for really noisy situations, I have muffs to supplement.
While I have noticed a bit of high frequency loss, due as much to age as anything else, my basic hearing acuity is better than average for my age (at least so says my regular doctor). The bottom 2/3 of my most recent hearing test didn't look much different from my retirement physical hearing test.
While we're talking about hearing loss, I should point out that there has been an increased incidence of noise-induced hearing loss because of personal audio devices. The young folks are killing their hearing at an alarming rate. Ear buds can beat up the ears just as easily as standing in front of the speakers at a rock concert.
Quote from: bosshawk on November 30, 2010, 08:49:50 PM
For flying, never go anywhere without my Bose ANR headset. On the flight line, stay indoors unless I am going to or from an aircraft.
Ditto. However, for the 15 years I flew a tow plane for the Canadian Air Cadets I used a David Clark Head Clamper.
Quote from: bosshawk on November 30, 2010, 08:49:50 PM
For flying, never go anywhere without my Bose ANR headset. On the flight line, stay indoors unless I am going to or from an aircraft.
ditto except i use zulus :P
if i am going to an active flight line , and soon to be active air force flight line (I might secure a pilot slot soon) i am going to look for any means of passive ear protection. As my grandfather use to say there is nothing more important than your ears you only got one set of them ( he flew F-51 to his last gig as a Lear 35 captain.. )
If you fly infrequently (< 20 hours annually) as a CAP crewmember, the most economical and dependable route is to but a set of $4 earplugs and a David Clark H10-30 headset. The H10-30's aren't the fanciest item on the market, but they are bulletproof, the company stands by their product and you can pick them up used on eBay for $120.
If you are not a pilot, the combination will allow you to hear what is going on and save your ears.
If you are a pilot, you need to decide whether the above combination works for you, whether you remove the earplugs or go for an ANR headset.
If you want to go on the cheap, you would be surprised how much you can hear with a simple headset and earplugs. It is an interesting combination, but few people talk about it. Most people use just a passive headset, but that's also fine. Just not as mind numbing. You just turn up the volume more with the earplugs and don't have to put up with the droning noise.
I personally fly only with ANR headsets, but that is the next step. I have tried six different brands and own four - all different, due to different head sizes in my family and preferences. It is a personal decison. If you are going to fly 40 hours a year or more, don't skimp on your hearing. Let's face it, most CAP pilots are no spring chickens. The last thing they need is more hearing problems. It is not just the noise. Once you have had an ANR headset in a busy terminal environment you will be amazed at the clarity of ATC and your passengers and how much of what you don't want to hear is suppressed.
An ANR headset will set you back between $300 used on eBay (For a good one) and $1000 new. It depends on how much you fly - occasionally or regularly. If you are in the latter camp, after a year you will fall in love with your ANR headset and dread not having one. Don't get caught up in the "Bose" vs. "Zulu" debate. All the decent ANR headsets will do the job. Pilots will swear one is better than the other (Pilots will swear on anything), but the one for you is a personal preference.
Don't fly without a headset. I have just got through flying with a guy who has flown for 25 years without a headset. We just went through a $40,000 avionics upgrade to his A36 and part of that was putting a headset on his head for the first time. At first, he didn't like the feeling of something on his head. But I noticed how many ATC calls he was missing or got wrong. We organized day long flights to various airports with several different headsets for him to try. We trialed the Zulu, the Bose (You can try and return them) and I took all my ANR headsets as well. He tried them all. On the flight back with a Zulu on, he actually nodded off for an hour - a good sign he was enjoying his new found tranquility (Don't worry, at this point I was in the left seat). It really is a different flying experience with good noise suppression. Personally, I think it is a safety factor as well. Especially if all your flying is out of busy terminal areas.
Let me know if you need some recommendations. I have tried a lot of headsets. There are pro's and con's. It depends on your needs. We are so lucky that we have these options today.
FYI, I wear a David Clark H20-10XL. $750 new. Bought two pairs on eBay for $425 each. If you are going this way, get the gel seals and convert the AA to 9V pack. I have tried other ANR headsets and they are good as well. I just like David Clark because of the awesome customer service. They actually pick up the phone.
I use a David Clark X11, and I cant say enough nice things about the headset.
I agree with all the above comments on ANR, once you've experienced it, it's amazing the difference it makes.
As for the flightline, a pair of foamies do just fine for our traffic, if I were around jets more often a set of over the ear hearing protection would be nice but that's not an issue.
^^ Simon - great post. I noticed a clarity improvement right away with ANR.
Another suggestion, since fit and comfort can be an issue depending the size of your Head I ssuggest you ask local aircrew if you can try on their headset - just make sure you've showered recently :)
Finally, I recommend that you wear sunglasses with flat arms. Sunglasses with fat arms like Oakleys let noise in and can cause discomfort near the temples.
Have fun, and be safe.
Adding to Mission Pilot's comment about glasses:
Agree with the small arms on glasses. If the arms create a gap between your headset's ear pads and your head, the increase in noise is VERY noticable. The gel is slightly better than the foam in this department as it is more flexible and fits in around the arms a little better.
Personally I solve the problem completely with a somewhat unorthadox approach, but it works perfectly. I move the arms of my glasses up at the back so they are completely clear of the ear pads. Try it. Might look a little dorky to your co-pilot but it makes a big difference in noise for ANY headset. Any gap between your head and the ear pads negates some of the benefit of any headset.
Quote from: Eclipse on November 30, 2010, 08:08:44 PM
In what environment?
My ears, left especially, are wrecked from a Cinderella / Bon Jovi concert, but I have taken to wearing JVC active noise cancelling headphones
on airplanes and trains.
On the flight line I have some shooting ear protectors, but don't use earplugs much.
Cinderella/ Bon Jovi. Those were the days!