Airline Cockpit Noise

Introduction

Many airline jet aircraft have high cockpit noise levels. Noisy cockpits make communication between pilots difficult, increasing the potential for error. Pilots in noisy jet cockpits may not hear important instructions from ATC. Loud cockpits could prevent pilots from hearing warning or alert sounds. Aircraft could be lost because a pilot could not hear ATC, a fellow crewmember, or a warning sound from an aircraft system, sounds that could be masked by high cockpit noise levels. Pilots are at risk of hearing damage and loss due to noisy jet cockpits. Because of high ambient noise levels, pilots must turn radio volume levels up to hear ATC communications, further endangering their hearing. 

Discomfort caused by increased noise at higher jet speeds may cause pilots to disregard Flight Management System (FMS) recommended airspeeds in favor of slower, quieter airspeeds. Air conditioning subsystems may be turned off by pilots seeking quieter cockpits, reducing passenger comfort.

In the U.S., Federal Law prohibits the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) from regulating pilot noise exposure, reserving that authority for the FAA. Because the FAA has chosen not to regulate cockpit noise, pilots are legally exposed to dangerous levels of noise in their workplace. In contrast, the FAA has chosen to regulate the noise exposure of its own employees. Under the FAA Human Factors Design Standard, the noise level in an ATC Control Tower cannot exceed 55 dBa, a level dramatically below that routinely experienced by airline pilots. The FAA's rationale for this restriction is to insure that Control Tower personnel can hear radio communications and warning signals, and avoid fatigue due to higher noise levels.

In many other countries, OSHA laws do apply in the cockpit. Airlines in those countries have conducted cockpit noise studies, and some provide noise reducing headsets to pilots. Most airline jet cockpits exceed the forthcoming European Union noise action level of 80 dB.

By using active noise reduction headsets, pilots can protect their hearing by reducing jet cockpit noise levels at relatively low cost. Available lightweight active noise reduction headsets provide at least 10dB of noise reduction. A pilot using a lightweight active noise reduction headset in a typical jet cockpit will experience at least a 50% reduction in ambient noise.

ANR Headsets Designed For Use In Jets

Headset manufacturers produce lightweight active noise reduction headsets in two styles: open ear cup and closed ear cup. The open ear cup style is lighter, rests on top of the ear and provides no passive noise reduction. The closed ear cup style is slightly heavier and provides some passive noise reduction. Some pilots using the closed ear cup style report difficulty hearing other crew members in cockpits where intercoms are not used.

Pilot comments can only provide a rough guide when you choose an active noise reduction headset. Comfort, fit, and performance issues are subjective. You should insure that any headset you buy is the right one for you by trying it out in your workplace. All reputable suppliers will let you use the headset for a trial period.

Some US airlines require that headsets used in the cockpit comply with Technical Service Orders (TSO) published by the FAA. Not all available headsets comply with TSO. You should consult the Flight Operations Manual from your airline for guidance.

 Some people modify headsets for use in the cockpit. Modified headsets may lack original manufacturer support, but are reported to work well in the cockpit.

 

Headset Purchase Information

ALPA members are eligible for substantial discounts on some headsets. Check the ALPA Shopping Mall section of the ALPA web site. Problems finding the discount links on the ALPA site? Here are some instructions that might help.

Attention Airbus Pilots: You may need an adaptor to use personal headsets in the Airbus. INFO

If you do not qualify for one of these discounts, Marv Golden Sales offers good equipment at reasonable prices.

 

Links to Other Noise Information

ALPA ANR Headset Study
Active Noise Reduction FAQ 
Lord Corp.; ANR for passengers.
Ultra Electronics Ltd.; ANR for the F28, DHC-8, Saab 340, and Beech 1900. This site includes a Java based ANR demo. Hear the quiet!
LightSPEED Aviation, Inc., makes outstanding ANR headsets for General Aviation. They also have an excellent series of tutorials on ANR.

Etymotic Research makes a range of excellent hearing protection devices. None involve ANR, but I nevertheless recommend taking a look. I use their Ety•Plugs ear plugs for walk arounds, when riding as a passenger, even just sitting in the terminal. I can still hear normal conversation, but they really knock down the background noise. I even wear them under my regular ANR headset for extra protection.


 

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This site was last updated on December 9, 2009

   

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DISCLAIMER: Long term occupational exposure to noise can damage your hearing. Take precautions to protect your hearing in your workplace. This website does not address possible hazards of short term or occasional exposure to noise. This website does not address possible hazards to persons other than those working as pilots in jet aircraft. The webmaster lacks expertise to address these issues and, according to his spouse, almost any other issue.