Provision of headsets
 

Hi all - which airlines provide their staff with their own personal headsets. The ones I have heard of that do are First Choice, Flyjet and Thomas Cook, are there any others??
Thanks

How about a word to explain why it is important?

Rainboe

Just out of interest really is it like the flight schools where you have to put up with the dandruff, bits of hair, ear wax,snot,spit and what the previous chap had for breakfast, on the ear pieces and mike. Will start saving for another headset if it is the case!! Health at work and all that.
Who do you work for - do they issue a headset?
BF

As I am shortly starting my first jet job I too would be curious to know if bringing your own headset or using ones in the aircraft is the industry norm. It's not hugely important but if everyone brings their own I'll have to start saving as I only have a GA style David Clark number.
Any info appreciated.

I don't look too closely!
 

I'm affraid it is the norm to put up with the aforementioned unmentionables! The most common headset used by airlines appears to be the following ...

http://www.transair.co.uk/product4.a...roduct_ID=1125

A few of the Captains I have flown with bring their own (including one that uses a clunky green Dave Clark in a 737 :p ). Have a quick chat with an engineer to make sure that any non-standard headset you may select has the correct impedence for the aircraft system.

MyTravel supply pilots with own headset also.

Easyjet like many other airlines I pressume provides wipes to remove, the dandruff, bits of hair, ear wax,snot,spit and what the previous chap had for breakfast.

A cheap option might be to buy a cover to put over the microphone. Only £2 or so.

In BA we used to have our own headsets issued, but it was determined that it really wasn't so anti-social to have aircraft headsets left on board. Cleaning pads are supplied. There may be a problem with some airlines where noise attenuating equipment is fitted to the aircraft and you plug your own private headset in, but I don't really take great interest in the technicalities. The headsets are not that bad and easy to clean. I don't think they last all that long anyway before going off for repair and coming back like new.

Excel also supply pilots with their own headset.

Funny thing headsets
 

Funny thing eh? The company would not dream of asking you to share a oair of shoes - say each ops rooms had several pairs of each size 6 through 11 for either Captains (nice shiny newish shoes) and F/O's (second hand slightly scuffed oldish shoes) and some nice little shine 'tap shoes' for the undecideds and girlie pilots. Well, pretty stupid eh? Yes! But they are quite happy to try and make people share the hair, dandruff, earwax, spit, scrambled egg from breakfast etc etc.
Geeeze the bean counters have some explaining to do! Even in the military each pilot and/or crew member is issued his own helmet and flight suit(s).

Spot on MA and don't forget the spreading of cold and flu bugs during the winter. I wonder how many extra sick days are taken as a direct result.
I believe the anticeptic wipe is a waste of time and does not thoroughly clean the headset.
Imagine if all the passenger headsets were just left in the seatpockets for the next customer, would that be acceptable?
What would be the cost of an personal headset per flight over say 2 years, probably about 50p.

I use my own for 1. to protect me from the gooby gibs of others, but more importantly 2. to protect others from catching cold sores from me!

With that strain of Herpes you are contagious when you are run down and before the sensation appears on your lips. I don't know for how long the infection remains a threat on a boom mike, but I would not want to be responsible for passing it on.

I'm sure more informed contributors will be able to shed some light, but in the meantime my conscience is clear.

I'm definately with NiteKos on this....

....and knowing where some of the mouths of the guys I fly with have been after a trip, I certainly don't fancy sharing the same mike with them.... :eek:


Quite an interesting and relevant topic FWIW Rainboe.

That'll be a first then :}

Jet2
 

I don't understand your comment, except you've probably noticed I never got fitted with a conscience. It was just a figure of speech.

Our cabin crew are supposed to come in and give them a once over with antiseptic wipes, but I have noticed this is not always the case. Would they do a thorough enough job though? Mabe the flight deck crew should be issued with the wipes??