SGB, I wonder if ear protectors could be designed so that you could still hear the engines running, but at much lower sound levels? I'd hate to see anyone lose their hearing over this.
I'm a sportsman and I shoot rifles on occasion, and the ear protectors used allow you to carry on a normal conversation, and also allow you to hear a rifle shot when it's fired. But the design of the protectors is such that the shot's noise is sufficiently suppressed to protect your ears, while still allowing you to hear the shot, and normal conversation. Clever design really.
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Safe flying to you...
[This message has been edited by Flight Safety (edited 09 April 2001).]