HeadSet on Cruise ???

[freightmover]

Do u keep your headset on during cruise phase of flight ?

What does your company policies say ?

[MasterBates]

My company rules call for headsets in all phases but cruise.
I always wear headsets throught the flight (well they´re ANR Sennheisers) but working purely in HF areas with positive SELCAL I sometimes take them off, just to relax from the clamps.

[Fly3]

My company says headsets on below 10,000ft. I should mention that we have flights which last over 18 hours and use CPDLC for most of that time so no communications by RT are required.

[SMOC]

On until 15,000 in climb and on again for descent and HF calls.

[411A]

I never ever allowed crew to use speakers...headsets only, all the time.

After all, how are you going to listen to the BBC financial report without bothering the other guys?

And a few tried to complete HF comms with speaker...what a complete waste of time.

The large airlines that I worked for didn't
have a policy, strangly enough.

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

Working in ATC at Heathrow it was always noticeable which crews were using hand mics. A number of US pilots used them plus the crews of one or two European and African airlines. I never could understand why; surely it's more convenient to have both hands free at a time when pilots say they have a high cockpit workload?

[Max Angle]

Always keep mine on, I have a lightweight headset that you can hardly feel and I find cockpit speakers very intrusive.

The Air Navigation Order prohibits the crew of UK registered public transport aircraft using hand mics. below 15,000ft in controlled airspace and during take-off and landing.

[BlueEagle]

Left ear 'on' all the time, right ear open for cross flight-deck talk.

Very noticeable to me that when crew are on speakers ATC calls get missed more often.

Company policy as per ANO.

[seat 0A]

About the use of the handmike:

Supposing the PNF does the comms:
During manual flight (very often the last 3000 ft or so), it is rather annoying for the PF, if the PNF uses the toggle switch on the yoke. It is also quite awkward for the PNF to use the toggle switch on the audi selector panel, as this is the same hand he needs to operate the gear/flaps/MCP etc.
This is the reason why I always use the handmike, with headset on. Handmike is in my left hand, and my right hand is free to operate the levers and switches. (me being in the left seat;-))

Headsets on below FL100 is the rule in our comp.

[The Greaser]

We have had virtually all hand mikes removed due to the fact that they were either falling off their clips onto the floor with the PTT subsequently and inadvertently getting stuck in transmit or sometimes the pilots leg or bag etc would push the PTT. (Small cockpit the 737)

[Gin Slinger]

We have noise reduction headsets, so obviously to get the full effect the headset has to be worn over both ears, and the intercom has to be used. It's a right pain in the butt flying with someone how insists on not wearing a headset. Depending on my mood at the time I might take one ear 'off', or make them repeat themselves constantly until they get the message.

It's very noticeable that colleagues who fly with their headsets off in the cruise miss far more radio calls.

Just at a tangent, can anyone explain why PA's (in our 737-500s at least) come across clearer through the handmic than the headset?

[HEATHROW DIRECTOR]

<<It's a right pain in the butt flying with someone how insists on not wearing a headset. >>

Same in ATC. There are some controllers who, the moment traffic loading drops from 100% to 99%, take off their headsets and use speakers and handsets!! They plainly had not the slightest regard for those sitting either side AND the handsets are not noise-cancelling so the transmissions were dreadful.

[GlueBall]

Captain's discretion, but I never allow speakers to be used. Most crewmembers bring along their own lightweight headsets/boom mics instead of using the ship's bulkier equipment.

[Jerricho]

Although for those that do leave their head-sets on.........after you've drunk you coffee, it helps to remember to put the mike back in front of your mouth

It's so much easier to hear your readback.

[FlyinWithoutWings]

... And even MORE IMPORTANT... to move the MIC out of the way BEFORE you try and sip the coffee...........

[Smoozesailing]

My company poilcy says headsets must be worn from taxi to TOC and TOD until parked. I usually take my headset off for long cruises.

One the point of missing radio calls, I can't say if headsets or speakers make any difference. I think it all depends if you're paying attention or not. The cockpit gets a bit more chatty during the crz, so the missing of radio calls could be due to the speakers or lack of attention. I don't have any facts to support either supposition.

[Gin Slinger]

I don't know what sort of aircraft you fly Smoozesailing, but in the ageing 737s I fly, the quality of the flightdeck speakers isn't so great, with the relatively high background noise levels, IMHO use of heatsets in the cruise does reduce the number of 'say agains' and so on.

[srjumbo]

If you can think of a civilised manner in which to make your point, please feel free to restate it. Otherwise, please also feel free to stay out of this forum.

Regards,
Captain Stable

[Gin Slinger]

I would guess cruising across the pond with your SELCAL-whatnot in use, headsets off might be appropriate, but in the busy European arena, at peak times, with a noisy flightdeck with fitted with crappy speakers it probably isn't.

[Bokomoko]

...but sometimes some pilots don't know how to use it. They speak so close to the boom mike and their transmissions come full of annoying noises.