FAA and Noise Cancelling Headsets

SteveC

SteveC

"Laconic"
Staff member
Information For Operators newsletter:
SUBJECT: Noise Attenuation Properties of Noise-Canceling Headsets

Purpose: This InFO alerts operators, directors of operations (DOs), chief pilots, and flight crewmembers who may be using noise-canceling headsets of the potential for misdetection of audible alarms and other environmental sounds.

Background: Ordinary (non-noise-canceling) headsets reduce ambient noise levels through a physical means by providing some acoustical quieting. Noise-canceling headsets cancel noise through a combination of physical means and electronic means. While this technology can have many beneficial effects such as providing clearer communications, reduced pilot fatigue, and added comfort, electronic attenuation of important environmental sounds and alarms may occur.

Discussion: Noise-canceling headsets are most effective over a narrow frequency range, but the specific frequencies may vary by make and model. Also, these electronically attenuated frequencies are often proprietary to the manufacturer and may not be publicly available. Therefore, it is difficult to assess any effects the headsets may have on discerning environmental sounds such as:
• Vital communications between flight crewmembers or flight attendants, other than those attainable through interphone operations;
• Abnormal mechanical noises or abnormal engine sounds;
• Audible alarms other than those discernible by electronic means;
• Vibrations or wind noises; or
• Other aircraft during ground operations.

Recommended Action: Operators, DOs, chief pilots, and crewmembers of aircraft should evaluate their use of noise-canceling headsets. The FAA recommends sampling the available manufactured makes and models when performing such evaluations, since performance and attenuation properties vary. Evaluations should be conducted while both on the ground and in flight during normal operating conditions to ascertain if any audible alarms or other environmental sounds, or combinations thereof, can be detected while electronic noise attenuation is on and active. If any audible alarms or environmental sounds cannot be discerned, operators should elect to find other solutions to discern such alarms or sounds, or discontinue the use of noise-canceling headsets.
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Interesting.

I have a student who is so proud of his Bose headsets, but he claims he can't hear the stall warn horn. I think it's because of the noise cancelation but he acts like I've lost my mind when I tell him that he might be better served with his cheap flightcom's once and awhile.....
 
I wear the Bose QC2 with the uFlyMike setup. My airplane's aural warnings almost make me jump out of my seat. No problems there!
 
I've got he new DC X11, and what's cool about it is it reduces the engine noise to a comfortable level, yet I can still hear my watch alarm go off. When I wear no headset at all I cannot hear my watch over the engine noise, but with the headset on I can. My student with a passive headset couldn't hear it. I'm sure it depends on the fequencies the ANR is designed to cancel, but in many cases I can see it being easier to hear alarms and such with electronic noise cancelling as opposed to passive.
 
what is your general thoughts about the x11, i'm thinking about buying one but couldn't find any reviews on it. worth the $800 bucks?
 
JAM said:
I wear the Bose QC2 with the uFlyMike setup. My airplane's aural warnings almost make me jump out of my seat. No problems there!
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Agree. I have never had a problem hearing warnings or chimes in the cockpit with the Bose. I can even hear my watch and approach timer. The only problem I have experienced is a faint buzz that happens when people don't turn off their cell phones.
 
montanapilot said:
what is your general thoughts about the x11, i'm thinking about buying one but couldn't find any reviews on it. worth the $800 bucks?
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Well at first I was a little disappointed, compared to my Telex Stratus 50D it didn't sound quite as good. But its really starting to grow on me. It is unbelieveably comfortable. Its not quite as quiet as I'd like, and if the batteries die, the passive attenuation dosn't quite cut it, but overall I'm happy with it.
 
My guess is that because of FAA budget issues, they dredged up a scare piece from the early days of ANR when no one was using them, even less people understood them, and the combination led to this completely unwarranted concern.

In fact, the blurb sounds awful familiar, like I've read it before.
 
Even before noise-cancelling headsets this problem was identified. That's why co-pilots were added, so they could nudge the captain and point to a light or say: "Don't you hear that?"
 
I think I hear the stall warning horn better with my bose that I ever did with the Lightspeed. I can hear the alarm on my timer and my wristwatch just fine. Not to mention that I am not getting a serious headache after 45 minutes from all the engine noise.
 
Well considering we're not privy to the protection(s) of OSHA and workplace noise limits I'll keep my ANR thank you very much.
 
If it blocks the stall horn then you have one of the best ANC headset in the world.

<--- I use the pilot PA-1779 I think it is called. One of the best ANC headsets I have used for about half the price of the competitors.
 
Cessnaflyer said:
<--- I use the pilot PA-1779 I think it is called. One of the best ANC headsets I have used for about half the price of the competitors.
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I also used the PA-1779, it is a great headset. No external battery compartment, rechargeable, gives good passive attenuation when the batteries are dead (they need recharged about every 35 hrs), and comfortable. Relatively cheap too, compared with some of the others.
 
ananoman said:
I also used the PA-1779, it is a great headset. No external battery compartment, rechargeable, gives good passive attenuation when the batteries are dead (they need recharged about every 35 hrs), and comfortable. Relatively cheap too, compared with some of the others.
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which one is that?

I just have a H20... I like it, its conf. as well, but I would love to get a bose...
 
taseal said:
which one is that?

I just have a H20... I like it, its conf. as well, but I would love to get a bose...
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The bose is nice, but I think I could have found a headset of equal quality for less than a grand. The only reason I went with the bose is because they split it up into $86 a month for a year so I didnt have to come up with all the cash at once. That and they gave me a little Garmin geko that sits unused in my family emergency kit.
 
taseal said:
which one is that?

I just have a H20... I like it, its conf. as well, but I would love to get a bose...
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It it the Pilot Avionics PA17-79. If you search, you will find quite a few online shops carry them. They are probably around $450. The only problem that I had was that after around 1200 hrs, I had to replace the cord. It just plugs into the side of the headset, so I could change it myself.

I knew a few instructors that had the Bose and they liked them. The only problem was that they did not hold up that well. After a year of instructing they looked pretty bad. Some had problems loosing the cap for the battery compartment as well.

I have only worn the Bose for 4 hrs and I could not wait to get them off my head. At first they felt great, but after a while they really started to clamp my head.
 
I just got the bose and love it. I was going to pay for it, then the guy said you can do it 0% for a year. I said sure I would love to use your money for a year.
 
I have had my Bose for over a year and flight instucted out of it for just over half a year. I don't treat my headset very well and it still looks almost new. Now about the warning horns and things like that, I hear all stall warning horns just fine and on the Merlin, I hear the 100 foot altitude alert just fine, and I hear passengers just fine when they come up to talk. So far, it's been great. And the reason I chose the Bose is because my DC that I still have gave me headaches after about an hour and the Bose is the smallest headset that would fit my big head with good comfort. But, that is kindda wierd about the letter saying that people can't hear warning horns and the likes. I don't think I have really ever heard of anyone having problems hearing it with any ANR headset.

I'll stick with my ANR to save my hearing.
 
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