UFLYMIKE

I used uflymike, Bose Headset X, and David Clarks w/o noise cancellation in the CRJ and I prefer the David Clarks.  The worst of the three was the uflymike setup.  When the battery dies, you wont have a functioning headset and of course it will happen at the worst possible time.  It's good for the airlines to ban them until this issue is corrected.  As for the sound quality of the Bose QC2 and Headset X, I will take the David Clarks any day.  It may sound crazy, but while comparing them to David Clarks, I noticed that ATC voice transmissions sounded muffled compared to the crisp clear sound of the David Clarks.  With Bose, It was like listening to ATC through a pillow.  I think this must be due to the design of Bose products being focused on a broader range of sound instead of an acute sound range of the speaking voice that is best for clarity of content.  With the David Clarks, it sounded similar to turning the sound setting on your home stereo to "talk show" instead of "hip hop".  I didn't need to turn the sound level up as high in the cockpit when I used the David Clarks.  It was easy to decipher ATC instruction at a very low level of radio volume which made for a much more relaxing day.  As far as comfort goes, both Bose products beat the David Clark clamps, but it's not enough to make up for the serenity of the David Clarks.  I'm going to try the new David Clark X11's (their lightweight ANR answer to Headset X).  I'm betting that David Clarks with noise reduction will be completely silent AND have good sound quality.  I just hope their light weight version has the integrity of the clamps.

Alvin Vinson
One BIG caveat about the Bose consumer headsets.  I'm not sure about the very latest model (Quietcomfort 2), but the older ones LOST ALL AUDIO if the battery died.  I've flown with guys who missed several radio calls before they realized what was going on.   I would think this would be a deal-killer for the Bose, from the airline/FAA point of view.

Scott Braddock
I just stumbled across your website while researching cockpit noise.  I am a pilot for Southwest Airlines, and several months ago I bought the UFlyMike/Bose headset combination.  I love it!  It has made a major difference in cockpit communication, and  in my fatigue and stress level. But, as you may know, Southwest has recently banned us from using it.  Our union has negotiated a couple of extentions to the deadline for the ban, but ultimately, I don't think we will be able to use it much longer.  What a shame.  What a step backward in safety, brought about by unnecessary noise and the fatigue, stress, and missed radio calls that go with it!  All because it is not TSO approved (because the inventor did not spend extra millions in development costs.)  Makes as much sense as taking my Leatherman tool away so I couldn't use it to take over the airplane.

Name withheld by request

(Editors Note: I've commented elsewhere on this site about the TSO vs. non-TSO issue for personal headsets. Check the Flight Ops Manual for your airline to ascertain whether or not you can use a non-TSO headset. When you buy a non-TSO headset, be aware that the controlling agency or your airline may subsequently decide to forbid non-TSO headset use. Please understand that I am not defending either the FAA or airline decisions to ban non-TSO headsets. I believe that anything that reduces fatigue and makes it less likely that pilots will miss radio calls is a good thing. I think that requiring a TSO stamp on an appliance like a headset is nonsense. But we must deal with the world and the bureaucracy as they are.

Update 10/6/2008. The manufacturer reports that FAA TSO certification is complete, and that he has the certification letter in hand. Check the manufacturers site for updates on TSO certification. Congratulations are in order for getting this work done!
The mic and headset are NOT TSO approved by the FAA. Works great, but FAA warned pilots not to get caught using them at my airline. I just returned a Sennheiser HMEC 25KA, nice headset just uncomfortable to me compared to the Bose. The Bose and UFLYMIKE spoiled me.

The Bose audio and UFLYMIKE are quality products, very comfortable; really cuts the fatigue factor. I am back to the molded earpiece since the warning went out and have noticed a huge difference at the end of the day in the 737.

I have tried the Sennheiser HMEC 45KA and it may be the best jet airliner option, IMO. It is light and comfortable, but does not cut the noise like the Bose Quiet Comfort.

Jeff Weesner

If you use this headset, please send your .