FAA paper Noise Attenuation Properties of Noise-Canceling Headsets

On Tue, 09 Jan 2007 12:34:25 -0500, Ron Natalie
wrote in :

Larry Dighera wrote:

That might be an adequate number of inputs in most cases, but it's
still going to require equipment manufacturers of stall warning
systems, autopilots, etc to provide the audio outputs in addition to
their horns and bells.

Have you ever used an ANR headphone?

Yes. Exclusively since 1996.

Most don't attentuate frequencies that the various alarms (my gear alarm,
the cessna stall party horn, etc...) much more than the passive headphones
do.

Even engine noises are frequently enhanced by ANR. I kept hearing
a clanking noise in the ANR. I pulled off my headphones for a "better
listen" and couldn't hear it. With the ANR I heard it. On landing
I found my exhaust pipe had busted a weld and was flapping around.

Well, that's your experience. It's a data point for sure, but not a
comprehensive study.

If the FAA has found issues as a result of the popularity of ANR
headsets, who am I to dispute it. Certainly most legacy alarms were
tested and approved for use before ANR technology existed, hence my
suggestion for "piping" alarms into the headphone audio in addition to
the ambient cockpit environment.

Larry,

If the FAA has found issues as a result of the popularity of ANR
headsets,


I don't think it says that anywhere in that INFO. It says us pilots
should go and find out.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)