SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS
INFORMATION BULLETIN
FAA
Aviation Safety
SUBJ: Noise Cancelling Headsets
This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.
SAIB:
Date:
CE-16-08
November 20, 2015
Introduction
This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advises general aviation pilots and operators
of concerns with the use of noise cancelling headsets. In many cases, pilots are using the noise
cancelling headsets as supplementary equipment during operations. When wearing these headsets,
the pilot may be unaware of environmental sounds and audible warning annunciations in the
cockpit that do not come through the intercom system.
At this time, the airworthiness concern is not considered an unsafe condition that would warrant
airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations
(14 CFR) part 39.
Background
The FAA issued Information for Operators (InFO) 07001 on January 5, 2007, to recommend that
operators, directors of operations, chief pilots, and crewmembers of aircraft should evaluate their
use of noise cancelling headsets.
Many general aviation pilots and operators may be unaware of the safety information presented
in InFO 07001.
Recommendations
The FAA recommends that general aviation pilots and operators do the following:
•
Become familiar with the safety information in FAA InFO 0700, which can be
accessed at;
https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/
all_infos/media/2007/info07001.pdf
•
Elect to find other solutions to discern such alarms or sounds, or discontinue using these
headsets if any audible alarms or environmental sounds cannot be discerned while
wearing a noise cancelling headset.
For Further Information Contact
David Hirt, Aerospace Engineer, Continued Operational Safety Branch, ACE-113, FAA, Small
Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106; phone: (816) 3294050; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: [email protected].
Cessna Pilots Association -January 2016
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