Headphones At Landing Options

[The Airbuser]

Hey guys, I was checking some pictures on A.net, and if found that some pilots land with their headphones behind their ears

Super Mario's headphones

Any ideas on this?

[Odyssey2001ACC]

Hey guys, I was checking some pictures on A.net, and if found that some pilots land with their headphones behind their ears

Super Mario's headphones

Any ideas on this?

He still has it on his left ear, he probably pulled it off his right to help with cross cockpit comm.

[Ranger]

Exactly right. We're required to wear headset/boom mics below FL180. In my case the ear facing the other pilot is always uncovered. After 35 yeras of flying, a lot of it without hearing protection, my hearing is not as good as it once was. Covering both ears with a headset would create some problems.

[Jumpshot724]

Maybe he was just trying to be ballsy

Anyway, yea the ear facing the other guy uncovered sounds about right. I thought pilots used headsets that only go in one ear though, or is that only some airlines or pilot choice?

[SF3aviatrix]

. I thought pilots used headsets that only go in one ear though, or is that only some airlines or pilot choice?

If you buy a headset like that, then yes it's only in one ear. Most jet pilots I know wear the single earpiece variety (not a double muff headset) like these- http://www.pilotstuff.com/headsets.html

[learguy]

Exactly right. We're required to wear headset/boom mics below FL180. In my case the ear facing the other pilot is always uncovered. After 35 yeras of flying, a lot of it without hearing protection, my hearing is not as good as it once was. Covering both ears with a headset would create some problems.

Don't you guys have a crew interphone? I can talk to the other crewmember directly through the mic via a voice-activated intercom.

For those that don't know: You wear a headset that protects your hearing, while being able to communicate with the other pilot through your microphone directly to his/her headphones. The microphone remains off until it detects sound (your voice) and then becomes active, transmitting what you are saying to the other pilot.

When I first began flying (1981) virtually nobody used headsets in light aircraft. It was, usually, simply a handheld microphone and an overhead speaker. This changed because we all wised-up about the hearing damage that can occure due to long term exposure to high sound levels. Now, wearing a headset, covering both ears, is the norm.

I have flown a dozen different jet aircraft models, but not any of the airliners, so I don't know firsthand what the cockpit noise levels are for the various big iron stuff. But it has been my experience that a jet cockpit can go anywhere from requiring merely no noise-attenuating headset to something giving you both active and passive protection. But in any case, there IS ambient noise and a headset improves your ability to hear and communicate with the other crewmember and ATC.

Even in jet aircraft you can be exposed to sound levels that are harmful, over the long term, to your hearing. In fact, some jets are astoundingly loud in the cockpit and wearing full headsets are essential. For this reason headsets are important, and the voice-activated intercom still allows you to communicate with the other pilot.

[The Airbuser]

OK, that sort of answered my next question: Do you have to wear those big o' headsets like this

Big Ol' Headset

or can you use something a bit smaller, like the ones I fly FS with like this:

My FS headphones

[SF3aviatrix]

There are all sizes of headsets but to fly you need one with a boom mike for communications, so the FS type won't work in real life.

[The Airbuser]

There are all sizes of headsets but to fly you need one with a boom mike for communications, so the FS type won't work in real life.

Oh, yeah, I forgot, but mine do have a boom mike so can I use it even though its that small???

BTW, Damn! you're gorgeous!!! how old are you?

[Ranger]

Don't you guys have a crew interphone? I can talk to the other crewmember directly through the mic via a voice-activated intercom.

Yes and no. There is a crew interphone but it's used for comms with ground crews during things like engine start, push, etc. It just isn't noisy enought to justify a cockpit crew interphone system. And I don't want to drag around my own headset anyway. I have enough garbage with me already.

One point that should be noted regarding headsets. Technically, they have to be FAA approved for use in the cockpit. Just because the plug fits in the jack doesn't mean that it can be used. Technically.