Jake056 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 291 posts, RR: 0 Posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 3748 times:
Hey folks:
I am looking to purchase ear protection. I do not work in this industry (am an aviation enthusiast!!). I do use a lot of power tools and have very sensitive hearing. I've tried the soft foam ear plugs and the head sets from Sears, but still am not satisfied. I thought maybe the ear protection you guys on the ground use must be better. You know, industrial strength. Am I wrong? If your headsets are better, who makes them? Where can I buy them?
If this isn't the right forum, apologies. I'm just trying to find any info on REALLY TOP NOTCH ear protection.
DeltaGuy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 3747 times:
I prefer some good quality foam/rubber-ish earplugs, while using my Blisten (sp?) 717 earmuffs...comfortable yet durable, I can drop them all the time and nothing happens. Get around those 737-200's, they get loud, but it helps block out alot of it. Now to find something to block out the jetblast
ORDflyer From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 511 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 3740 times:
When I was working on the ramp I just used the cheapy foam disposable earplugs that were given free to us...the ramp noise never really bothered me. However, at home I also use a lot of power tools and occasionally go target shooting. For those purposes I use a set of Remington headphones that I got at Gander Mountain. You can pick them or something similar to them up at any gun store or outdoor store probably.
If you really want to see some good ear protection I would suggest stopping by an indoor pistol range. Yes, a bit weird ...but the noise inside them is incredible that good ear protection is a must
MD11Engineer From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 13334 posts, RR: 64 Reply 3, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 3734 times:
I usually have a pack of these disposable yellow ear plugs in my pocket, just in case, but normally on the ramp I´m using my David Clark headset, with the wire unplugged.
UAcsOKC From United States of America, joined Dec 2004, 107 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 8 hours ago) and read 3735 times:
Look for the NRR, noise reduction rating, on the sets you are looking at. the higher the number, the better sound protection they afford. Earplugs are usually better than muffs, with a high of 33,34, while muffs usually have a high of around 29,30. by the way, doubling up doesn't do much good, because sound comes in through your skull too. Hope this helps, Chris
I love the rumble of a 727 takeoff in the morning!
DeltaGuy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 3716 times:
Quoting UAcsOKC (Reply 4): Earplugs are usually better than muffs
That's not what they told us in training....they told us wearing both will reduce sound by up to 7dB, but using muffs alone gives alot more protection than plugs, if worn correctly. I can definately tell a difference with the muffs.
Silver1SWA From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 4536 posts, RR: 26 Reply 6, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 3596 times:
Southwest provides us with three types of hearing protection. There is the foam one wich have the highest dB rating, plugs on a plastic band that can go from resting on your neck to in your ears in a flash, and then ear muff-like protection which I think has the lowest protection.
I dont like the foam ones becuase they take too long to put in correctly and I like being able to take my plugs off and put them on at any instant depending on where I am. Plus I dont think my ears are shaped right inside. I can never get those foam earplugs to stay all the way in correctly. They only reduce noise to safe levels if inserted correctly. it bugs the hell out of me.
Also, protection can be a tough thing to deal with. Of course for ear protection, you want the highest dB reduction. But if you have too much protection, it becomes a safety issue as too much reduction keeps you from hearing things you need to be able to hear for situation awareness. And there are times when you need to be able to hear others speak to you out there. It's tough to hear someone when you have maximum protection.
ALL views, opinions expressed are mine ONLY and are NOT representative of those shared by Southwest Airlines Co.
CaptOveur From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 3585 times:
Think electronic noise reduction.
The new earmuffs with electronic noise reduction are starting to be quite reasonably priced but the real benefit is being able to carry on a normal conversation with them on and still be protected.
Every time I go shooting more and more people have these things, I am going to get a pair myself pretty soon.
Currently I have a set of cost-effective ruger muffs with gel ear cups, they keep the noise out pretty well from shooting, they are just hot and uncomfortable. but it beats being deaf.
HAWK21M From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, RR: 58 Reply 8, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 3580 times:
Ear Plugs are Easier to use,But Defenders are def more reliable in Cutting out certain frequencies.[Remember all sounds should not be Eliminated]. Ear Defenders
regds
MEL
Jeb94 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 588 posts, RR: 5 Reply 9, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 3571 times:
Check sporting goods stores, gun stores, and hardware stores. Most of the hearing protection used on the ramps are nothing special, though some companies and departments do provide for headsets that plug into two-way radios which are somewhat pricey and the ones that plug into the aircraft which are somewhat specialized.
Pilotpip From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3082 posts, RR: 12 Reply 10, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 3570 times:
I double up. Wearing my DC muffs and a pair of foam plugs under them.
If your eally want to dump the money, go to a hearing aid specialist or your ear, nose and throad doctor. They sell custom made plugs that have filters for different noise cancellation ratings. My friend is a tour manager for a promotions company and is at concerts a bunch. He paid for some of these becuase he was starting to get some hearing loss. You can have a conversation at an "inside" voice level while standing next to a speaker at a concert. In the four years since he purchased them he has had no more hearing loss at his annual test. They're well worth it if you have extra money laying around.
Jeb94 From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 588 posts, RR: 5 Reply 11, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days ago) and read 3558 times:
Thanks Pilotpip. Now you have me thinking. I did used to be a musician and was supposed to have been fitted for something like that while in the Marine Corps. Never did happen though. Maybe now would be a good time.
NORTHSEATIGER From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 432 posts, RR: 5 Reply 12, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 3530 times:
Working as an Engineer round large helicopters and having to do ground runs etc I find the Peltor ear defenders very good, they are made by the same people who make the crew headsets.
HAWK21M From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, RR: 58 Reply 13, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 3515 times:
Quoting NORTHSEATIGER (Reply 12): Working as an Engineer round large helicopters and having to do ground runs etc
Do you perform Grd runs on Rotorcrafts.Do you need a Pilots rating for doing a Ground run on a Rotorcraft even as an AME or is the Main rotor disconnect Available.
regds
MEL
NORTHSEATIGER From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 432 posts, RR: 5 Reply 14, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 3508 times:
I personnally do not start the aircraft and run it, I will be performing engineering tasks i.e using vibration analasys test equipment whilst a pilot is at the controls, but having said that at some of my companies European bases licencsed engineers do start and run the aircraft with rotors engaged, they are trained by flight crew and have to visit the simulator annually to keep their ground running rating current. There is talk of engineers at my base being trained so I will be there at the front of que.
HAWK21M From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, RR: 58 Reply 15, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 3471 times:
Quoting NORTHSEATIGER (Reply 14): they are trained by flight crew and have to visit the simulator annually to keep their ground running rating current.
Staffan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 16, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 17 hours ago) and read 3471 times:
Peltor muffs, usually in combination with plugs. The muffs were okay, but it's easy to tear them off while crawling around beneath a/c so plugs were more of a back-up just in case..
SkydrolBoy From Canada, joined Sep 2003, 341 posts, RR: 2 Reply 17, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 9 hours ago) and read 3425 times:
I have custom made ear plugs that I wear all the time, I got them made at Costco for $50. They have two different styles that you can get, ones that are solid and block out more noise or ones with a small hole in them designed so that you can hear voices. They are 10x easier to put in than foam ear plugs. In the winter I wear Peltor Ear Muffs over top of the plugs to help keep my ears warm when its really cold out.
CO2BGR From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 558 posts, RR: 4 Reply 18, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 6 hours ago) and read 3408 times:
Pilotpip From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3082 posts, RR: 12 Reply 20, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 3378 times:
Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 19): What about Disinfection of the Plugs.Any solution used
This is why I haven't purchased any custom plugs. I just use the foam cheapies under my muffs. On a busy day my hands end up nearly black with dirt and grime. Add a little jet fuel to this mix and I really don't think it's something I want to be cramming in my ear. On a busy day I'll go through two or three sets of plugs because they get dirty.
TimT From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 168 posts, RR: 0 Reply 21, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 3337 times:
I use the "christmas tree" style plugs on a solid band. Wear them around my neck and they're ready all the time. When I worked in the engine test cell I used those same plugs and muffs. After almost 20 years the only frequency loss I've noticed and the hearing tests confirm, the frequency is exactly the same as my wife's voice. One of the only "Fringe Benefits" in aviation.
Cancidas From Poland, joined Jul 2003, 4112 posts, RR: 13 Reply 22, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 1 day 3 hours ago) and read 3336 times:
definately plugs. i use the rubber disposables since that's what the company provides. i used to use a pair of DCs, but they became a hassle last summer. now that i've moved up into managment i don't need to wear them at all times as i don't spend my entire day outside. the rubber disposables cane be bought from most mail-order stores and catalogs. try http://www.galls.com
"...cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home."
Cancidas From Poland, joined Jul 2003, 4112 posts, RR: 13 Reply 24, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 hours ago) and read 3284 times:
no, after each day i toss them, unless i lose them during the shift.
"...cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home."
25 AC_B777: On the ramp I wear the David Clarke Model 10A headphones. I find them to be really good with noise reduction. They were not company issued by AC, a fr
26 DC8FriendShip: A properly fitting pair of earplugs will reduce the noise better than muffs, because they will fill all the space and are much denser than the deaden
27 HAWK21M: What about High power runs.Which are preffered/more effective.Plugs or Muffs. regds MEL
28 Airplanepics: Ear Muffs/Defender or a tug to sit in!
29 Jamesbuk: i went to the silverstone f1 grand prix and i tried one day with ear plugs and one day with decent muffs and i gotta tell you that the muffs are way b
30 HAWK21M: Any location to pick up Foldable Ear Defenders. regds MEL
31 Avt007: I have custom earplugs. The guy came to the hangar and made molds of our ears. A couple weeks later the plugs came. I love them. I can wear them for h
32 HAWK21M: What procedure did they use. regds MEL
33 JAGflyer: At work we have what I think are "Elvex" ear protectors. They are the standard over ear muffs. I also learnt that at the outside/base of the ear are s
34 Avt007: The guy puts some kind of oil in your ear to stop the goop from sticking, then he fills your whole ear with a silicone type gel. You need to sit perf
35 N766UA: I just use the soft foam rubbery earplugs we have by the door on the way out to the ramp... and sometimes I forget entirely and spend 30 mins next to
36 EMBQA: I use the soft plus as well. Keep in mind that they are not all alike. You need to read the db rating to be sure. If in a high noise area I will wear
37 L-188: I swear by my David Clarke hearing protectors, they are about 30 bucks for a set and will take normal David Clarke headset accessories like the gel e
38 HAWK21M: Interesting.If possible Pls upload a Pic. regds MEL
39 Avt007: http://www.protectear.com/ I have red ones, you can pick the colour. Also, my employer paid half the cost.
40 KBFIspotter: I have never had a problem with my Peltor hearing protection... They are very comfortable, and ave lasted me quite a while (three years). While I lov
41 SB: We have Peltor muffs at work wich do an excellent job - and keep my ears warm too. Sometimes I'll wear my pilot headset plugged to the radio .. especi
42 HAWK21M: Any link to the Peltor type. regds MEL
43 G4LASRamper: Our company supplies both the disposable foam-plugs-on-a-string type and the more effective foam plugs that are mounted on a plastic band. I use the p
45 HAWK21M: Is it worth ordering thru the net or preferable to get someone to pick it up.How reliable is their service. Are there any Foldable options. regds MEL
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