BlueSkies

Earplugs are good. In a previous life I did 12-15 hour legs frequently and wore earplugs from push to shutdown since only about 50% of the pilot group were enlightened on hot mic and the rest were ear-uncovered-yell-back-and-forthers. Eventually my ears got really tired of having earplugs in for such long stretches and I almost couldn't stand earplugs for more than 30 mins.

Then I came to Delta, got some real DC ANR headsets and have been way more comfortable. I did actually get some professionally made custom ear plugs right around the time I got my DC headsets, but haven't used them much since they take a bit longer to put in than foam ones and I prefer headsets to earplugs.

If you haven't already Goggles, I'd suggest you look into custom earplugs as they are a lot more comfy for long stretches. Mine cost ~$150 including fitting.

GogglesPisano

Thanks. But I've grown accustomed to the free ones.

I also use them in hotels and never have to worry about noise. I sleep much more soundly.

YMMV.

OOfff

because if I take it off I can’t listen to music and have to listen to boomer telling their life stories at me.

saturn

I fly Airbii. I do understand why folks remove their headsets at 18k. Habit & ignorance. If your very first flying cultural standard was wearing a lightweight ANR in cruise, like it is for most regional pilots, you'd never find reason to ditch them for ear plugs+loud speakers 🔊+yell-talking. Invest $400 in a QC35 with a Uflymic. Try it for a trip. Tell me if your head or ears hurt after wearing it for hours. If you miss a radio call. If the lower Dbs reduces mental fatigue. I've tried the other way, I cringe when the other guy wants me to take my headset off.

contrails

The reason I don't do that is you still have things in your ears and the sound is right near your eardrums.

On loudspeaker, I have nothing touching my head, no wire to my side. My comfort is excellent and my qi is superior; something on my head/ears would interfere with that.

If I'm with someone talkative then my musician earplugs are in, filtering out the gentle air/fan noise of Fifi and allowing me to clearly hear voice and radio.

If I'm with someone who's very quiet most of the time in cruise, the orange earplugs may stay in (they've been cut in half and washed in hot water, so they are comfortable to the point that I cannot feel them whatsoever).

Seriously, try that for a trip. The A321 isn't loud to begin with; I've brought an actual decibel meter from my local library. But hours add up, and 319/320s aren't always as quiet, and there's no way I'd want any kind of ear piece with a boom mic on my face for a transcon!

1Taco

While we anxiously await the results, what’s everyone’s estimate on the most junior UNA to return? I’m going to say 11,569 NYC 220 and the 73N/Bus going 11,420.

BlueSkies

I swear by earplugs at night. The next morning when everyone is talking about that loud party that woke them up I usually slept right through it and never heard a thing.

Gone Flying

Assuming they backfill at least 400 positions...11,720 on the Jan seniority list to NYC220

i bet 73N/320 does not go jr to 11,500

My guess is affected pilots go only to NYC 220/320/73N/7ER ,maybe ATL/DTW 717. I think it’s hard to imagine any affected pilot getting much else.

i think a fair number may bypass if it involves the 220 just to avoid 2 training events in a year (I hear people don’t like it on Virginia ave)

Flying Monkey

In 12 years of staying at the Va Ave HI, I’ve only had my truck stolen once and seen one shoot out in the parking lot. At 3 in the afternoon. What’s the big deal?

XJ86

No the original argument said I dont wana come back to commute to a 73n. Commuting transcontinental for a pos 737 is not worth an extra 70k in pay.. ill gladly give that up for my kids everyday.. as well as my own personal health