Student Accessories
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Student Accessories
Hi,
I'm going to start my integrated ATPL course in a few months and heard getting a good noise cancelling headset will help when it comes communicating with ATC.
The Bose A20 seem to have raving reviews but also cost more that flight school itself
Can anyone recommend a cheaper alternative which will still be clear and comfortable?
Thanks.
I'm going to start my integrated ATPL course in a few months and heard getting a good noise cancelling headset will help when it comes communicating with ATC.
The Bose A20 seem to have raving reviews but also cost more that flight school itself
Can anyone recommend a cheaper alternative which will still be clear and comfortable?
Thanks.
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You simply do not need noise cancelling in a light aeroplane. It may be nice, a luxury, (though perhaps not quite as pointless as a huge TAG/Breitling watch) but it most certainly ain't necessary. Modern standard headsets are perfectly adequate audio-wise for their purpose though some are more or less confortable. By far the most important thing in a headset is comfort - and I agree that the ubiquitous David Clarke is an utter nightmare to have clamped onto your head, far worse than a helmet.
I suggest you wait and find out what's provided and if what the school provides isn't good enough I'd buy a standard Peltor headset. Light, comfortable, robust, a third/quarter *edit - a sixth* of the cost and very nearly as quiet. No batteries, no complexity to go wrong, less likely to walk. I used them in helcopters for years, never needed noise canx though at the end of a long day it is nice, but your flights are going to be just an hour long. If you really must have noise canx again look at a Peltor. The only downside of a Peltor is the absence of swank factor, if that is the sort of thing that impresses you or you imagine impresses others.
Hard to imagine how you'd justify the cost of noise canx as a stude who probably won't use it more than 100hrs or so, but that's a personal view.
I've just looked up the cost of a Bose A20 and am simply gobsmacked that any one, let alone a stude, would contemplate paying a grand for a headset. That's crazy unless you're so awash with money it doesn't matter.
Last edited by noflynomore; 12th Jul 2017 at 10:36.
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I went through the integrated ATPL a while ago with a bog standard headset. As above, ANC is a luxury and at this point I wouldn't bother.
Your communication issues will come from trying to fly and do anything else at the same time- a slightly quieter background will do little to change that!
I recommend you spend the additional cash on decent coffee to drink whilst you study phraseology and comms procedures on the ground. That will make the difference.
Your communication issues will come from trying to fly and do anything else at the same time- a slightly quieter background will do little to change that!
I recommend you spend the additional cash on decent coffee to drink whilst you study phraseology and comms procedures on the ground. That will make the difference.
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Thanks @noflynomore and @Huntaway.
The rumour I heard was that noise cancelling headphones will allow you to hear ATC clearer, and therefore making it easier to understand what you need to do first time round.
Because there are so many different models available, I thought the DC headsets would be okay, but shall have a look at the Peltor ones.
Should I buy brand new or are second hand headsets equally as good? Needless to say, I don't have £000's sitting in the bank — despite being 26 and deciding on a change in career from accounting to being a pilot.
Haven't actually been up in a light aircraft before so don't know how loud/quiet. My first trial flight is tomorrow, really looking forward to it.
Thanks.
The rumour I heard was that noise cancelling headphones will allow you to hear ATC clearer, and therefore making it easier to understand what you need to do first time round.
Because there are so many different models available, I thought the DC headsets would be okay, but shall have a look at the Peltor ones.
Should I buy brand new or are second hand headsets equally as good? Needless to say, I don't have £000's sitting in the bank — despite being 26 and deciding on a change in career from accounting to being a pilot.
Haven't actually been up in a light aircraft before so don't know how loud/quiet. My first trial flight is tomorrow, really looking forward to it.
Thanks.
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OK, lets try to expand on the whys and wherefores.
You'll see how noisy it is when you do that trial flight. Rather like being in an old sports car. Even so communication with ATC is seldom if ever a problem due to ambient noise, at least, I've never heard people having problems unless the school headsets are really lousy. If its hard to hear just turn up the volume. RT will be hard to understand at first until you learn the jargon - it isn't hard - and a headset won't help you do that!
There is a bizarre modern trend where complete beginners seem to feel the need for absolutely top end equipment, I think its a function of too much money, modern insecurity, image and willy-waving. It certainly doesn't make your learning tennis any easier or make you a better player because you start with a $5000 racket, does it? For a start how would you know whether it suits you with no experience, and the pearls/swine analogy comes to mind (with no intention of being rude) Top end kit is pretty pointless (some might say wasted) on a newbie. "All the gear, no idea"
Concentrate on learning to fly, the accessories will come later, at the start they are all provided.
David Clarke. Yes, I dislike them, others swear by them. They are bulky, heavy and clamp your head like a vise and their noise attenuation is not the best. In my experience they also tend to fall apart. Peltor is light, tough, sits easily on the head and has excellent noise attenuation - there are many other makes out there too of course, you'll come across these in time and if - if - you want to spend out on your own headset decide with the advantage of a bit of experience. Buying second hand - big savings but the usual second-hand risks. Cable connections both inside the headset and more commonly at the plug/s are delicate but easily fixed if you can solder. If you ebay one make sure there is a promise it is in 100% working order. A good light but tight fit around the ear is essential, gaps around the earpad let in noise. See how quiet the world gets when you put one on, there shoulf be a fairly strong feeling of isolation from backgraound noise. Some do it better than others so you do need to know what you are buying.
New earpads and a mic-sock take care of any hygiene concerns and are usually prety cheap, and some people use earpiece covers and mic socks on school headsets too.
Me, I'd waith until I had a job and knew what I was going to use 10hrs a day before deciding if I wanted to buy an expensive one. You also don't know what plugs your future employer has fitted, or even if that Bose is compatable. Many GA headsets are not compatable with commercial avionics, and most are simply unsuitable.
Concentrate on learning to fly and don't worry about the gadgets for now. Best of luck.
You'll see how noisy it is when you do that trial flight. Rather like being in an old sports car. Even so communication with ATC is seldom if ever a problem due to ambient noise, at least, I've never heard people having problems unless the school headsets are really lousy. If its hard to hear just turn up the volume. RT will be hard to understand at first until you learn the jargon - it isn't hard - and a headset won't help you do that!
There is a bizarre modern trend where complete beginners seem to feel the need for absolutely top end equipment, I think its a function of too much money, modern insecurity, image and willy-waving. It certainly doesn't make your learning tennis any easier or make you a better player because you start with a $5000 racket, does it? For a start how would you know whether it suits you with no experience, and the pearls/swine analogy comes to mind (with no intention of being rude) Top end kit is pretty pointless (some might say wasted) on a newbie. "All the gear, no idea"
Concentrate on learning to fly, the accessories will come later, at the start they are all provided.
David Clarke. Yes, I dislike them, others swear by them. They are bulky, heavy and clamp your head like a vise and their noise attenuation is not the best. In my experience they also tend to fall apart. Peltor is light, tough, sits easily on the head and has excellent noise attenuation - there are many other makes out there too of course, you'll come across these in time and if - if - you want to spend out on your own headset decide with the advantage of a bit of experience. Buying second hand - big savings but the usual second-hand risks. Cable connections both inside the headset and more commonly at the plug/s are delicate but easily fixed if you can solder. If you ebay one make sure there is a promise it is in 100% working order. A good light but tight fit around the ear is essential, gaps around the earpad let in noise. See how quiet the world gets when you put one on, there shoulf be a fairly strong feeling of isolation from backgraound noise. Some do it better than others so you do need to know what you are buying.
New earpads and a mic-sock take care of any hygiene concerns and are usually prety cheap, and some people use earpiece covers and mic socks on school headsets too.
Me, I'd waith until I had a job and knew what I was going to use 10hrs a day before deciding if I wanted to buy an expensive one. You also don't know what plugs your future employer has fitted, or even if that Bose is compatable. Many GA headsets are not compatable with commercial avionics, and most are simply unsuitable.
Concentrate on learning to fly and don't worry about the gadgets for now. Best of luck.
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Second hand is fine. But if you really want to hear more, spend time listening to ATC. When you know what to expect, listening becomes easier. Another way of saving a fortune is to spend as much time as you can swotting up on your lessons before you fly them. Being well prepared will allow you to get the most from each lesson and allow your instructor to get you up to a much higher standard than would otherwise be the case. You will also find that instructors prefer to fly with well prepared pupils. At the end of each lesson's debrief, reinforce what you have learnt by going over your lesson again.
PM
PM
HHB
To reinforce what the others said, your school can provide headsets for the first few lessons or the whole course. Don't bother buying a Bose from the off there is no need to buy something top end so early. For me the school had rubbish headsets so after the first 5 or 6 hours I bought a DC. I've only ever owned that one headset (H10-13.4) and it's fine, quality is excellent. If you want to hear ATC just turn the volume up on the radio or headset, no need for NC, the gel seals kill most of the cabin noise anyway. I have no experience of Peltor aside from the ear defenders but they're made by 3M so I'd assume are really good quality as well.
A
To reinforce what the others said, your school can provide headsets for the first few lessons or the whole course. Don't bother buying a Bose from the off there is no need to buy something top end so early. For me the school had rubbish headsets so after the first 5 or 6 hours I bought a DC. I've only ever owned that one headset (H10-13.4) and it's fine, quality is excellent. If you want to hear ATC just turn the volume up on the radio or headset, no need for NC, the gel seals kill most of the cabin noise anyway. I have no experience of Peltor aside from the ear defenders but they're made by 3M so I'd assume are really good quality as well.
A
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The Bose A20 is very good but gets through batteries at a rate of knots. If you were planning on spending the next 25 years as a flying instructor on piston engine aircraft or rotary I'd recommend a pair however if you're planning on using one of the larger ATO's, unless things have changed, they should be providing you with a pair of cans for the whole course. You should also be aware that it is meaningful to be able to clearly hear engine pitch changes during basic training to help understand correct power management.
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Hi all,
So I had my first trial flight a couple of days ago, and the flight school I went to used pretty budget DC headsets.
They cancelled enough of the noise from the engine etc for me to know that spending loads of money on a headset probably isn't worth it, at this stage.
BUT - after around 45mins I did feel uncomfortable with them on. I usually have over-ear headphones whilst listening to music etc, and can go hours without having to adjust them, but these DC ones really bugged me - not enough for me to hand over controls to the instructor, but enough to make me fiddle with the headset a few times.
Do you know of a shop/store in SE England (as near to London as possible) where you can walk in and try a variety of headsets before purchasing? I can only find online stores which means I can't try before I buy.
Thanks,
H
So I had my first trial flight a couple of days ago, and the flight school I went to used pretty budget DC headsets.
They cancelled enough of the noise from the engine etc for me to know that spending loads of money on a headset probably isn't worth it, at this stage.
BUT - after around 45mins I did feel uncomfortable with them on. I usually have over-ear headphones whilst listening to music etc, and can go hours without having to adjust them, but these DC ones really bugged me - not enough for me to hand over controls to the instructor, but enough to make me fiddle with the headset a few times.
Do you know of a shop/store in SE England (as near to London as possible) where you can walk in and try a variety of headsets before purchasing? I can only find online stores which means I can't try before I buy.
Thanks,
H
