Usage of Headsets in Airbus Aircraft

[freightmover]

Airbus has recently release a Service Information Letter saying that all headsets and boomsets has to be certified before being used on the aircraft. Only 5 headsets and 5 boomsets were listed.

My company issues a headset that alot of people including my self don't use. At the moment all headset that are not listed are not to be used.

How come its only after years of flying airbus requires this certification. Very soon pilots bags and torch lights will need the to be " AIRBUS CERTIFIED "

Any comments or are you having the same trouble ???

[nnc0]

Do you have areference for that. SIL # perhaps?

[CJ1234]

oh dear, i've had no such warning. i hope i dont have to buy another - my headset is fab

[Max Angle]

Or worse, use the company ones which are rubbish. One for the airlines to file in the waste basket I think.

[Nubboy]

Max,

surely far too simplistic or practical solution in these days of litigation and avoiding individual responsibilty:ok:

[proxus]

A list of those headsets please !

[muduckace]

54321-12345

[nnc0]

1) The list of Boomset P/N's certified with XLR-5-12C connector type:
By HOLMBERG: P/N 1046GT2102AY (basic) or 91-23-06578-07,
By PLANTRONICS: P/N SMS1066-01 (lightweight Single receiver),
By SENNHEISER: P/N HME1410CA, HME1410CA3, HME45CA (P/N 045-250-021/-025), or HME46C (P/N 046-55-999-0231)
By TELEX: P/N 64300-010, 64300-110, 64300-210 and 64000-111 (lightweight Single receiver).

2) The list of Boomset P/N's certified with XLR-5-12C connector type and the active noise cancelling function:
By SENNHEISER: P/N 025-230-325
Please note that wiring modification is required to install this P/N.

3) The list of Boomset P/N's certified with jack connectors type:
By SENNHEISER: P/N HME1410KA & P/N HME45KA
By PLANTRONICS: P/N MS50T30-2 & SMS1709-01 (lightweight Single receiver)
By TELEX: P/N 64000-100 (lightweight Single receiver), P/N 64300-212

4) The list of Headset P/N's:
By ELNO: P/N 255SP162,
By SENNHEISER: P/N LH1410, HD410K2, HD45K (P/N 045-260-011) and HD46-K1 (P/N 046-69-999-0931)

A330/A340
1) The list of Boomset P/N's certified with XLR-5-12C connector type:
By HOLMBERG P/N 1046GT2102AY (basic),
By PLANTRONICS P/N SMS1066-01 (lightweight Single receiver),
By SENNHEISER P/N HME1410CA, HME1410CA3, HME45CA (P/N 045-250-021/-025), or HME46C (P/N 046-55-999-0231), LHM1410-8A or P/N 045-250-085
By TELEX P/N 64300-010, 64300-110, 64300-210, 64000-111 (lightweight Single receiver).

2) The list of Boomset P/N's certified with 2 jacks (PJ-055 & PJ-068) connectors type:
By PLANTRONICS P/N MS50T30-2 (lightweight Single receiver),
By SENNHEISER HME1410KA.

3) The list of Headset P/N's certified with jack connectors type:
By TELEX: P/N 64400-003,
By SENNHEISER: P/N LH1410-8 (or 045-260-081) and HD45K.

A300/310
1) The list of Boomset P/N's certified with XLR-5-12C connector type:
By HOLMBERG P/N 1046GT2102AY (basic),
By PLANTRONICS P/N SMS1066-01 (lightweight Single receiver),
By SENNHEISER P/N HME1410CA3,
Please note that all these equipment's are compliant with ARINC535A/538B:
ARINC538B specifies the microphone/preamplifier characteristics:

Frequency response within the band 300Hz to 10 kHz,
microphone output level: 400 mV RMS,
microphone impedance: 150 Ohms.
ARINC535A specifies the headset (receiver) characteristics :

Sensitivity of 100dB SPL per milliwatt at 1 kHz,
impedance of 600 Ohms.
AIRBUS recommends the airline to use only the here above mentioned P/N's.

The installation of non compliant boomset with ARINC535A/538B specifications can induce defective audio reception/transmission (interference's, high squeal or background noise), and the damage of parts of the Audio Management System which has been designed to match with ARINC specifications.

We inform the airline that there are no "universal" boomset connection adaptators and that AIRBUS has never certified adaptator P/N.

Different types of boomset (jack or XLR connectors) are not interchangeable and the move from one type to the other one needs wiring modification (RFC/RMO procedure).

[Zippy Monster]

My airline (A320 family) has Sennheisers. Not sure of the exact model number, but the latest ones, starting to appear in flight decks across the airline, are absolutely appalling and a massive step back from the previous ones.

The microphone has to be pretty much touching the lips for it to be audible (at which point the sound then becomes scratchy) and the intercom volume has to be ridiculously high. The head-band looks and feels cheap and uncomfortable. And when you take it off, you're left with big dents in the side of your head where it's pushed against your sunglasses.

Considering the amount they must cost, it's pretty poor.

[Max Angle]

I see that they are only recommending the use of the listed headsets so hopefully sense will prevail. Easy to check if your own headset matches the ARINC spec, pretty sure most will.

Interesting that they say that they never certified a headset adapter and that different jacks require a wiring mod. Our lot use an adapter to convert from XLR (installed in the a/c) to jack plugs which is what the company headsets use, perhaps they will have to re-think.