Originally Posted by
UAL97
Especially when a company like JetBlue has noise cancelling Sennheiser headsets in their E190's and Telex in their Airbus for pilots to use. Seems like the union could step in and claim this is a safety issue. I was dumbfounded when I came here and was told you had to purchase your own headset or use the non noise cancelling ear dick.
It IS a safety issue. Comm is 1/3 of VVM and they know what’s going on with this. The problem is if the company or the FAA were pressed to set a common standard the first step would be to prohibit ANRs while they "study" the issue. Stop with the rubber bands, no mixed comm equip, both have it or neither can use it, etc. Just a few of the many FSAP reports.
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CA...communication was degraded between us due to a loud cockpit and mixed headset use (I was using an ANR headset and the FO (First Officer) was using [an ear plug style headset] with the left plug out of his ear so he could hear me). As it turns out, this is not a good CRM setup and communication was compromised between us. I didn't realized the FO was struggling to hear me throughout the flight until we discussed it on the ground.
FO...At that point I heard the CA say something about the gear but to be honest I was having a difficult time hearing him. He was wearing an ANR headset and talking a little soft. I struggled with it the whole flight but he did not know it because I failed to tell him. That was a CRM breakdown on my part.
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Additional factor is the cockpit noise that prevents crew members from communicating effectively. The use of an intercom system (locking Push-to-talk switch or rubber band to hold down the switch or just have crew members push the intercom switch when talking) would have reduced any confusion as to what was being said/communicated. Crew members have to SHOUT to be heard because they wear ANR (Active Noise Reduction) headsets on one ear and try and communicate over the cockpit noise without use of the airplanes intercom system.
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Two things about this incident; the cockpit of this aircraft was very loud. Both of us have approved ANR headsets and may just not have heard the chimes. Or the system was malfunctioning.
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I have suggested equipping all of the affected aircraft with noise cancelling headsets and always dispatching these flights with a Relief Pilot to help mitigate the effects of noise and resulting fatigue. I was informed that this was not possible due to "manning issues." It appears that economics takes precedence over safety regarding this potentially serious issue. The fleet manager informed the pilot group over 1 year ago that this issue would be addressed and that a fix was imminent. That has not yet occurred and it is understandable that logistics may impede this process. Nonetheless, amelioration of the effects of the noise and fatigue should be addressed in the interim. Active noise reduction (ANR) headsets and the scheduling of a Relief Pilot on all ETOPS flights would be a proactive approach to safety while the aircraft are being modified.