Originally Posted by
Macjet
Yes, and then sit over there with the speaker as loud as it will go, miss half the calls, and still not hear what I say. Sorry, my hearing is more important than being social. UFluyMike's for me from T/O to cruise in the bus.
Uh, I've honestly met basically no one as deaf as you describe in any cockpit. I suppose the old 727 pilots who spent twenty years in that thing might've been that deaf, but they're mostly retired now.
And before you say I haven't flown with old guys, I've flown with pilots near retirement age - pilots who've been with AA for 30-plus years. Their hearing has been fine.
So, protect your hearing with an A-20 in a modern widebody jet if it makes you feel better, but it is basically unnecessary in today's newest jets, such as the 787 the OP mentioned.
For most people in one of today's jets - 737 excluded - the Telex 850 ANR is more than ample.