CEP-Communication Ear Protection

[bomb]

Thought this might be a follow on for the helmets thread but I will try a new thread anyway.

CEP, does anyone use it,thoughts,pros and cons.

Thanks

Bomb

[John Eacott]

I'm sure this has been covered elsewhere, but yes, and much better than ANR

Especially for doors off ops, where ANR simply can't cope with the overpressure/wind noise, but CEP knows no difference and still copes nicely. A well fitting helmet is also essential too, in order to maximise the overall noise attenuation.

I wish something similar had been available 20 years ago to protect my hearing when it was a bit younger

[D.Curle]

Hey there Bomb, I use these under my peltor headsets and cannot praise them enough...They cut out approx 20-40db's (40db's at the higher freq's, the more damaging freq's that you can't hear)!! on top of the protection from the headset itself.....They can take a little to get used to if you are not used to using ear plugs themselves,and because more background noise is eliminated,you can turn the radio's down but still hear them better than before...
All the best,
David.

[sox6]

CEPs are excellent kit.

[sherpa]

CEPs are definitely great for hearing protection, especially doing doors of external load operations, but they’re a pain in the butt if you do frequent short runs. Also, when flying requires a lot of large altitude variations, my inner ears are starting to hurt. I think that’s do to the lack of pressure equalization.

[Gomer Pylot]

I have no problems with my ears hurting. I experience much less discomfort than with clamping headsets. I've used them as both in-the-ear lightweight headsets and installed in a helmet, and they're wonderful in both. CEPs are one of the best investments I've made in aviation gear.

[bomb]

Thanks guys for your thoughts. I fly a BK117 occasionally on long line ops and like John E probably knows they can be a terrible machine for noise especially with your head out the door.

Bomb

[spinwing]

Mmmm ....

I recently fitted several of my friends headsets with these kits obtained by a colleague in the USA.

They are EXCELLENT and I was mighty impressed with them. I was told that the US Military swear by these and they are now virtually compulsory for rotary wing use.

Installation can be a bit fiddly .... takes about an hour to install the kit properly.

Good stuff!

[Heliringer]

OK, due to me being a ham fisted mong and not being capable of fitting CEP to my own helmet. Can anyone in Australia recommend who I can send my Helmet (Gallet) to get fitted with this. I've been thinking about ANR but doors off my ANR headset is bad so I expect the Helmet would be the same with ANR fitted.
The Flight Helmet Australia guy will not do this the last time I emailed him.

Thanks
Ringer

[bomb]

Ringer

I have not bought my kit and am looking around. Is there an Australian company stocking the CEP kit or do I have to go to the US? Where did you get yours from? if I may ask.

Thanks

Bomb

[John Eacott]

Safety Equipment Technical Services P/L: 03 9878 7158

[Bladestrike]

I finally broke down and bought some after forever flying with someone who had a set. I thought it looked rather complicated with the extra wires but after numerous "what did he say?" from me after a radio or sat phone conversation I broke down and got some.

In my opinion they take some getting used to but after the first week you forget they're in. They are far superior to the ANR headsets in my opinion, which I found terrible if you opened a window. ANR seems do little for wind noise and things are significantly quieter with the CEP units. I just got some custom fitted ear plugs made and like them even more now. Since they are so inexpensive I actually got myself a spare set, and have them set up in both my helmet and an older David Clark headset (above 15 degrees celcius I wear a headset).

[wulfman76]

I had been looking at them for quite some time and broke down and bought a set about a year ago. I installed them myself, didn't really like drilling a hole in my helmet for it.

After about 400hrs flying with them I wouldn't spend the money again. Granted, they are quieter and the radio is clearer. Previously I had some oregon aero earcups and the best earplugs you can buy at walmart(200plugs for 6$ i think) and never had a problem hearing the radio or felt my hearing was being damaged.

The final straw was when i had to have somebody pick a CEP plug out of my ear canal with a needle nose pliers...twice.

They may work great for some people but i found the earplugs uncomfortable, the wire bothersome and snag prone and were a general pain in the a##.

I took them out over the winter and will be going back to my old setup.
Hope this gives you the other side of the story.
BW

[eagle 86]

Used one on my new Alpha for about 2 months until male plug failed!
GAGS
E86

[bomb]

Thanks John E for the number. Cheers guys on your comments. I am now in the process of getting a set.

Thanks
Bomb

[Gomer Pylot]

Wulfman76, you must be inserting the plugs way too far into your ears. They should still stick out a little, and you should be able to extract them with your fingers.

[wulfman76]

You're right Gomer, I probably was inserting them to far...which leads me to another reason i didn't like them. If i didn't stick them in my ear far enough my helmet earcups would snag on them pulling them out.

Sorry to be a downer on this as it is obvious most people like them. I personally dont care for them.

[John Eacott]

W76,

You should have received three different sizes of foam inserts with your CEP, which then gives a fair chance of finding a size that will fit your ear canal without the problem that you relate. There is also a "mini" version of the CEP available, designed to reduce the other problem that you have, catching on the earcup of your helmet.

And I don't get a commission on all this advice

[Bladestrike]

I should add that I had difficulty getting the included foam plugs to the right depth as well, especially if pressed for time, but I finally got some custom fitted silicon jobs (company covers the cost) and they are far superior. It's impossible to get those too deep or not deep enough.

[wmy]

Bladestrike,

Do those silicone eartips connect directly to the original CEP-Earphones?
If so, do you have a manufacturer of those custom made eartips?

Point is, i also use CEP and i got such custom moulded silicone eartips. They do a superb job in terms of noise reduction, however, as the CEP-Phones are screwed into them, they tend to loosen from time to time...

regards, walter