Headsets - When and Where ?
 

I recently flew on long range biz jet from 2 main international airports. The Captain never put on a headset the whole trip - is this legal and what are the rules ?

ATP

In the UK the law states that on a public transport flight the pilots and flight engineer shall not use hand held mics. whilst in controlled airspace below FL150 or whilst taking off or landing. Not sure about other countries and if it's a biz jet operation it may not fall under the same rules anyway.

Does that apply to only UK carriers or any carrier operating to/from UK?

They don't use headsets very much in France either

Are you guys for real?
What happens if your buddy goes to the toilet and you have to do a ACAS/ TCAS RA avoiding action? Or even some more severe abnormal procedure? Are you flying with one hand, and holding your mic in the other? Ore are you grabbing for your headset first and then doing the action later?
What a strange world it is...

Dani

TCAS and GPWS hard wired to cockpit speakers- no option to turn down volume.

Our SOP allowes us to keep the headsets off during cruise. Most often,one or both pilots will keep headsets on during all flight.I keep them off during cruise ,cause my ears hurt after 1-2 hours of using heasets.

If you're doing a TCAS RA or GPWS avoidance I would say that R/T is your second priority. Even if you do have a headset, especially if your alone in the cockpit.
No matter what ATC tells you your supposed to fly according to TCAS or (E)GPWS instructions.

My question still stands; Is this mandatory only for UK airlines or for all that fly in UK airspace?

It's a shame they have moved this post as the replies have dried up. I thought that there was regulation world wide concerning use of headset in the lower levels amd tma's but it seems not. What I saw/heard in Bejing TMA yesterday makes me wonder why some proffessional pilots think its better to use hand mikes and speakers in busy airspace than head sets.?

I suggest reading CAA doc CAP 293 - ANO 2/2003 part V article46
For all you Commanders out there who havent memorised the above document - shame on you! The brief version says NO use of handheld mics below FL150 or for T/O, LDG if higher on all UK rgistered aircraft. :8

What? TO or LDG above FL150? :D

Good thing I'm not on a UK reg aircraft then. I still have a choise.

There is no contest, we operate both G and VP reg a/c and all must use headset - far safer, less likely to disturb pax and you can hold pen whilst doing crossword and talking at the same time! simple really!

Headsets - When and Where ?
 

OK, guys, let's get some common sense in this issue.
You definetly need both hands to fly, select frecuencies, change of alt., ATC code changes, TCAS, GPWS alerts, smaking the copilot, etc. and keep in contact with ATC, above FL150 on climb and bellow FL150 on descend, so PUT IT ON.
What is the big deal????
Besides it will keep you in the loop of what is hapening in the area ... right?
If you whant to loose it during cruse, that is fine, there is not a lot to do up there when you have to go for 5, 6, or 10 hours, but... put it back on congested areas ... it will help!!:rolleyes:

I agree that wearing headphones increases safety in terminal areas but it leads to funny situation on my ATR-42 when skipper decides to have a go at manual flight. Now I have to make selections on ACP with left hand and only F/O's PTT toggle switch which isn't mounted on yoke is on center pedestal - two left hands are definitively advantage here. What I do is leave hot boom mike to talk to capt and talk to ATC via hand held mike in right hand. Second PTT switch on right side panel or right side of coaming would make my life a bit easier but I guess that adding one switch and five feet of wiring would require too expensive certification to make economical sense.

Airbus SOP
 

Vol. 3, Ch. 3.03.1, pag. 2, Communication

“The flight crew must use headsets from engine startup to top of climb, and from top of descent until the aircraft is parked”

When. All the time:ok:
Where. On your head.:rolleyes:

headsets
 

Never let the captain hand fly...

Always wear your headset, even if only the off side ear in the cruise...

It is too much unnecessary noise in biz jets, for the pax, and unprofessional for pax to hear atc screaming for you to answer...

However check the hand mic still works, make the first ATC call on the ground with the hand mic, and set any relevent audio levels...I can not use the P1 side hand mic, with speaker, as there is too much audio feedback, so renders the mic US, with onside speaker.

Bumz

Lucky Buggers. My longest time on cans in a non-aviation situation has been 17 hoiurs with 2x 15 min breaks. ( Beyer DT108, none of this DC luxury)

Hand mics in cockpits are a bl**dy menace on the ground, too. The majorityof jammers on Ground are not from vehicles, but from a/c, where someone has slung the mic on the pedestal & then dropped a manual on it.

It seems some silly macho thing with some crews, like a headset's too woosy for them.

Another really irritating thing is people using a mic with the speaker turned up on a different receiver, so there's a huge whistly feedback. It's bad enough having to listen to it when you're in a vehicle, must be really 'orrible for ATC with a headset on!

The Odd One