Airlite 100 headset

[Mooncrest]

I've just bought a used example of this headset. I guess it's an ex Air Traffic model judging by the Lemon plug. Are these still being used for ATC in the UK or have the Sennheiser models supplanted them ? Thankyou.

[Gonzo]

I still guard my Airlite jealously. Being a weaker of specs, the Sennheiser gives me a head after 45 mins or so.

[Mooncrest]

Gonzo. I assume you mean 'wearer'. Thanks for your reply. I seem to remember reading on PPRUNE that the Airlite 100 was generally more popular than the Sennheiser.

May I ask which unit you work at ?

[Gonzo]

Yes, wearer!

LHR, most people use the Sennheiser, but quite a few still use Airlites as they are quite a bit lighter and seem more comfortable to wear.

[Mooncrest]

Thanks Gonzo. I don't know what I'll do with this 100 when I get it. I'm still curious as to how it got on to the market in the first place. I might be able to use it in our deice trucks in the winter. Otherwise just another collection piece !

[Lon More]

Still got a couple of Minilites, as made famous in sci-fi films. Ours had an earpiece on each side and could supposedly be fitted onto a pair of glasses. If you had anything other than a short back and sides you'd leave a tuft of hair behind everytime you took it off


http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y204/Badyin/naamloos%2057_zpseqdbx5wq.png (http://s6.photobucket.com/user/Badyin/media/naamloos%2057_zpseqdbx5wq.png.html)

[Satellite Man]

broad question about headsets for air traffic control.. is there any ANSP giving controllers the old earmuff like headsets?

I have never tried them but I would love to.. where I work we have ****ty soundproofing and we actually hear the planes a lot.. and we have been provided with... open headsets or the usual speakers plus phone

[hammerthrower]

An ANSP here in the UK has had to rethink their procurement of headsets after they realised their towers were so old and noisy that the ACC style headsets they purchased were absolutely unless. They'll probably be going back to AirLites.

Sennheiser's are far superior technically than the AirLites but they are considerably less comfortable to wear.

[hammerthrower]

Depending on what type of radio you have in your deicer, you might be able to bodge something together but you'll need to know the pin-out of the headset which depends on what sort of Limo plug is on it...

You definitely won't find any mobile UHF's with a limo input though.

[Mooncrest]

Thankyou for your replies everyone. The Mini lite was used in the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars. I think it might have been used in ATC in continental Europe as well.

Should be able to use the 100 with the deicer comms. I've plenty of experience with Lemo connectors and I already have a plug - in amplifier/adaptor for a similar Racal Jetlite.

Speaking of Racal I'm amazed they stopped production of the Astrolite. It was used almost everywhere for ATC in the UK as well as abroad.

[Lon More]

I think it might have been used in ATC in continental Europe as well.

see my post