Errr, incorrect young padawan. The erase button (if it functions by writing over existing audio, which I believe it does) would completely destroy the audio recording. The CVR in the CRJ is a magnetic tape sound recording format which is nothing like a computer hard drive or other digital storage devices. In the CVR's case, it records audio onto Ferric Oxide and Cobalt coated tape in an analog format. True, there is never a way to completely 100% destroy recorded audio. Theoretically every conversation ever recorded on a 30 minute CVR infiniloop is never 100% destroyed, but it is virtually unreadable. I would venture to say in the 99.99% range.

In other words, unless your company plans to send the CVR to an FBI audiologist and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars and months of time retrieving overdubbed audio, you're probably pretty safe hitting the erase button. So really, the button does do something. Now whether it's legal or not...

 

I've been using the QC2 w/UflyMike adapter since I started working at Colgan, and it is wonderful!! If you want it to be a little quieter, just put in some earplugs and you're good to go. Works like a charm for listening to your iPod/iPhone as well!! Oh, and as far as the TSO issue, UflyMike is now TSO approved ... check out their website. I think it's a new development.

In short, if you want a good Bose headset without paying $1k to get one, the QC2 w/UflyMike adapter is definitely the way to go! Very light weight as well!

 

Sure UflyMike is TSO'ed but that doesn't mean much. You see, in order for the whole unit to be approved by the feds both Ufly Mike AND Bose QC2 would have to be certified TOGETHER - and that's never going to happen.

For one, Bose does not want to TSO a product it is not making on it's own (a mistake in my view).
However the bigger issue is that the FAA will NEVER certify a pilot headset that was designed for passengers and now with a modification can be used by the pilots as well. Their biggest gripe? You see, it’s the part when a Bose QC2 loses all ATC audio once the battery dies!!! I tiny blinking warning light will not cut it for the feds.

IF that headset was to revert to a regular headset once the battery dies (no ANR capabilities - in other words the way all ANR headsets approved for pilots are designed) it'd be be a totally different story however that's not how it works. This headset simply goes dead when the battery dies; in other words the ATC might be screaming at you and you'll have no idea. I know that those risks are very minuscule, etc, etc - does not matter - by default this headset is not a pilot approved headset.

Yes, thousands and thousands of pilots are using it every day and I did too for a while. I loved it and felt it was a great product and I still feel that way - however, once the feds came out with their warnings to the airlines and my airline sent out a Must Read Bulletin ‘reminding’ everyone that all headsets need to be TSO'ed - I stopped using it.

To say that it’s legal to use Bose QC2 headset in the cockpit simply because the UFlyMike is now TSO'ed is sort of like saying the China made Cherry pickup trucks do not need an approved from the DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration simply because the sparkplugs in their engines were previously approved by the US authorities.

I know I’m offend many Ufly Mike aficionados but I am yet to see how a UflyMike + Bose QC2 combination can possibly be legal.



I correct myself, after viewing Mike's website this is what I found:

Is an earbud required with the TSO'd version?

Yes. In order to provide continuous audio, independent of the battery powered QC2, an earbud must be used to meet TSO ANR headset requirements. We offer earbuds at a discounted price as part of a "package" TSO'd headset; we also offer them separately. The earbud plugs into the existing 3.5mm audio jack on any UFM adapter (except the Duo version - no longer available). The earbud(s) may be placed in the ear(s) or simply put inside the QC2 earcup. The QC2 continues to provide full audio plus ANR capability, so you actually have REDUNDANT audio, a first for aviation headsets. In this configuration, the QC2 functions as nothing more than a mechanical headband which happens to have audio and ANR capability when used in the TSO'd configuration.

 

After that long rant ... you were wrong ... That's a lot of typing for you not to have read the website like I said to begin with

Oh, and as for the headset audio completely cutting out when the battery dies ... you know there are TWO pilots up there! hehe, jk

 

You can call it "rant" all you want I was simply explaining my position on the subject because I'd discussed it before since I am a former Uflymike user myself.

Either way, the TSO applies to u2Mike attachment not the headset itself. On another message board a while back someone said that only a manufacturer can apply for a TSO for his/her own product - I seriously doubt Bose will ever apply to have their headset TSO'ed.

I know Mike lurks on this message board so maybe he will give his take on it.

I do hope that both the headset AND the attachment will get approved because like I stated earlier, I did enjoy the headset when I used it in the past. However, I do not want to get in trouble if I ever get ramp checked, etc. so until I am 100% sure I won't use it...

As far as having two pilots up there - yeah tell that to the feds, I'm sure they'll approve anything you want approved right away because after all there are two of us (at least) in the cockpit...

 

I'd like to say the Feds have more important things to do than violate me for having a non-TSO'ed headset ... but I think we all know that's a bunch of BS. You catch a Fed on a bad day he'll violate you if you sneeze incorrectly

 

All I have to say is that this TSO stuff is a slippery slope. Where does it stop? I mean, I'm allowed to take off my headsets above FL180. What if I then donned my unapproved Bose headset and the cockpit speakers went belly up, what then? What about my contact lenses? Are they TSO'd? God forbid my unapproved writing utensil (ballpoint pen) were to quit.

 

I agree and that's why I decided to err on the side of caution... Our must read bulletin said "all headsets" had to be TSO approved, it didn't mention "attachments" for those headsets...

I know I'm not the only one being cautious over this, I jump on SWA weekly and have been for years. In the past at least 40-45% of the time I'd see at least one person using that Bose +Uflymike combination in the cockpit, more often than not both of them were. In the last 12 months though I think I've only seen 4 or 5 pilots use it.

I will look into it though and trust me if I get a clear go-ahead I'll be the first one to post it here as I do think it's a good combination.

 

If the audio dies while using the head set have you.....um I dont know....thought about takinig it off and using the overhead speaker and mike?

 

If a fed asked me why I had a non TSO'd headset up inthe cockpit I would just ask him if he had a better way for me to listen to my Ipod!