Pilots wear headsets when flying to help them communicate with air traffic controllers and with passengers in the aircraft, and to protect their hearing from the noisy aircraft environment. Headsets have a variety of features and capabilities that pilots can choose from when looking for the right headset to fit their needs. Comfort, function and hearing protection are areas of consideration for pilots when looking at available aviation headsets.
Aviation headsets are available with a variety of features that relate to comfort, function and communication options. Most headsets include two ear speakers in a cupped cover. This is where communication is amplified for the pilot to hear. Most headsets have adjustable volume on the ear cups. Some have separate volume controls on either ear, while some have one master volume control. A few headsets include a "push to talk" button which the pilot presses to communicate outside the aircraft using aircraft radios. While a few headsets do not incorporate a microphone and are only intended to be used for listening, most have a microphone for the pilot to communicate into. These booms are made of a variety of materials and have varying degrees of adjustability.
Most general headsets have a degree of passive noise cancelling. This is derived from the design and materials used in the ear cup of the headset. Some headsets have greater degrees of passive noise cancelling ability than others. Many headsets that have greater passive noise cancelling abilities have larger ear cups and include much more padding in the ear seals.
Modern and higher-end aviation headsets incorporate active noise cancelling technology. This is an electronic noise cancelling function that matches frequencies and drowns out common engine and flight noises. These headsets offer greater noise reduction for hearing protection and require batteries or an alternate power source to power the electronic noise cancelling function. If the power source is interrupted or the batteries die, the noise cancelling ability of the headset can be seriously degraded.
Headsets may have features making them more comfortable for long-term usage. Headsets have varying amonts of cushioning on the top of the head band that supports the headset on the wearer's head. Ear seals vary in comfort depending on thickness and composition of the ear seals. Some headsets have thicker, softer, or gel-filled ear seals that can allow the fit of the ear cups to be softer and more comfortable. Weight can be a consideration in comfort. Headsets that have more features or are larger may be heavier and this can cause discomfort over time. Comfort features such as more padding in the head band or a thicker ear seal can add to the weight of headsets and so can counteract their benefits.
Most modern headsets are made with many plastic parts. If dropped, banged or crunched, these pieces can be easily damaged. More durable headsets have a combination of materials that may include metal parts, composite materials or even carbon fiber. Some headset manufacturers, such as David Clark, are known for durability.
