rse,
Sorry-I'd just come back from the pub (empty handed), and being the sad g1t I am, thought I'd have a gander on PPRUNE.
The revalidation requirements for the class 1 medical for hearing are less stringent (thereby allowing for a certain amount of deterioration in hearing).
The limits (from the CAA website) are:
Hearing Limits
Its interesting to note that they website says:
However the hearing of experienced pilots at re-certification can be worse than the levels above, as JAR-FCL 3 Appendix 16 to Subparts B and C, paragraph 2 (b) states that: ‘If satisfactory hearing in a noise field corresponding to normal flight deck working conditions during all phases of flight can be demonstrated, recertification may be considered by the AMS (Aeromedical Section)’. This will usually take the form of a flight (real or simulated) with a training captain or instructor who reports that all tasks involving hearing were performed satisfactorily.
So even if you dont meet the revalidation requirements, it is still possible to retain your class 1.
Headsets etc will help reduce the amount of Noise induced hearing loss, but it looks like we'll all have to accept a level of hearing loss throughout our careers!
