SAAB340 ground handling

[Irish Steve]

Anyone out there got specific info on the headset connections for the ground interphone sockets on a SAAB 340? I'm working for a ground handler, and at the moment, we don't have a suitable headset, so we want to get a converter cable made up, but finding the info is a bit like finding hen's teeth.. .. .The aircraft in question has a "GA" style double socket in the nose wheel bay, but a converter made up by butchering an old GA headset does not work from ground to flight deck, which suggests that the microphone plug may be wired differently. Anyone any suggestions please. .. .Thanks. .. .Steve

[SkyCruiser]

Steve,. .. .I have just looked through my AOM and it doesn't give any info on what type of headset that should be used. My answer is to contact British Midland handling as they handle us, they have all the ground to cockpit communication equipment.. .. .Hope this helps.. .. .SC...... <img border="0" title="" alt="[Cool]" src="cool.gif" />

[Irish Steve]

Thanks for that, I think I have it cracked, it uses a "standard" headset as per flight deck, but also needs a PTT to make the microphone operate. I've managed to get some info from SAAB, which I think will solve the problem.. .. .Cheers. .. .Steve

[wysiwyg]

It's been a while but I seem to remember that the ground engineer could only hear the intercom and not transmit. However if you say there are 2 jacks there must be some way of adding a PTT to the system.. .. .wizzy

[fox_trot_oscar]

...it's the GPU operator who has all the 'fun' on all the SF340's I've dealt with. Let's just say if the ones you'll be seeing have the GPU socket on the underside of the fuselage behind the wings, hope that the carriers' SOP's start the engine first which doesn't barbecue poor old Bob on GPU duties...!. .. . <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" />

[Irish Steve]

PTT...... Yes, unlike any other type we handle, it needs a PTT connection, but we've got a solution that seems to be working OK, it was tested today, now all I have to do is make a version that's "ramp grunt" friendly <img border="0" title="" alt="" src="biggrin.gif" /> . .. .Been there and done that on GPU's! Did have one unfriendly so and so a few months back that insisted on starting both on ground power, and as you say, with the GPU aft of the wing, it gets "interesting". Mind you, the one we all [b]HATE is the 748, the nose gear wishbone is a bit too close to the props for comfort!. .. .Such are the joys of ground handling!

[Tinstaafl]

Are the others usually a hot mike? Or are they a voice activated intercom?. .. .If a hot mike is what you usually have, why not wire the mike plug so that it's permanently 'hot' ie simulating the effect of the PTT switch being permanently closed? That would help increase its robustness.

[Tinstaafl]

Are the others usually a hot mike? Or are they a voice activated intercom?. .. .If a hot mike is what you usually have, why not wire the mike plug so that it's permanently 'hot' ie simulating the effect of the PTT switch being permanently closed? That would help increase its robustness.