I think I already did a bit, PA
So yes Mr Guppy, in response to your last: three bags full Sir
. But temptation to remove said digit(s) from their ideal sealed location even a teensy bit will immediately start to flatten a few more villi, whereas donning proper ear defenders from the outset and leaving them there whilst you guide any communicant e.g. refueler, loader, dispatcher (using your third arm or one of your first two?) to a less noisy area might be the most sensible course. Alternatively I would guess that you may have perfected the nod with fingers still firmly in, not forgetting that thrown glance towards the nosewheel and then the 'follow me' type walk, Guppy
. Oh I forgot. you don't go out, you have a man for that
Carrying defenders about the person is as mandatory on some aprons as hi-viz vests, but I guess visiting aircrew often don't know the local ear defender rules as well as the universal vest rule.
Sometimes, passengers are exposed to excessive apron levels too through plain ignorance I guess. Even happened unusually at Stansted with a Ryanair flight a couple of months ago. First sector of the day, passengers let on to apron and then held at the bottom of the steps for several minutes front and back with APU running.
By the way, am I right in thinking that sometimes a suitable noise reducing headset for the cockpit on a particular type may offer poor protection as a defender when walking round outside? In particular, several people have mentioned Telex 850 now - they wouldn't be much good on a busy apron even for a few minutes, so are they actually any good for the cockpits of older turboprops e.g. F50 as well as quieter fans?
One would assume not from the shape of them - so is something with proper deep cups needed in an F50 cockpit, or is it not as bad in there as it would appear to be from outside? I think the very best ear defenders must be required to go near F50 at startup, which I think is one of the noisiest types I still come across in recent years.
But you pilots don't carry defenders as a rule?