I'm finally done being a cheap-o and decided hearing my assigned clearance is more important than saving a few hundred bucks and schlepping another half pound of crap in my bag. I'm currently on the 717 but have no idea if I'll stay there or to where I'll move if/when I do. Are there any headsets which only work on certain airframes that I should avoid, or do all the big manufacturer headsets work on all our planes?

Obviously the Boeing birds use the two-plug connection where the airbus has a single jack, four-pin connector.

I’ve had good luck with an adapter to convert my 2-plug to Airbus but I can’t guarantee that will continue for all models of the French machines.


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I also fly the 717, and I’ve spent the last year attempting the find a solution to this very same thing. Here’s what I’ve discovered...

First of all, the Telex Airman-8 is NOT compatible with the 717. I know this from personal experience and have since read numerous online reviews stating the same. The Airman-8 seems to be unable to filter out the electrical noise that the 717’s lighting rheostats create resulting in a constant, unbearable tone.

The Telex Airman-850 works well on the 717 and by rotating the earpieces 90-degrees, it folds almost flat making it easy to find a place for it in your bag. Sound quality, however, is only slightly better than the Airman-750.

My favorite headset, and the one I am now using on the 717 is the David Clark DC Pro Passive. ($365 new) This is virtually the same headset as the DC Pro-X ANR, but does not have ANR making it half the price. It’s comfortable, well built and passively blocks quite a bit of noise on the relatively quiet 717. Most importantly, however, is that the sound quality is the best I’ve experienced from any headset. I can actually hear and understand ATC with such clarity that I don’t have to crank up the volume. It folds up nicely, however it does take up a bit more room than the Telexes.

That’s my two-cents. I hope it helps!

Spend the money and get the DC Pro-X ANR. Your hearing is well worth the extra coin, and I think the sound quality is even better with the ANR on.

I had great luck with the telex 850 on the 717

But a pair of Bose and get the Harmony mic setup from U Fly Mic. Great set up, and a great pair of headphones for commuting/DH.

Hmm, I've already got a pair of QC25s which are confined to a desk drawer since I bought my QC35s. I had no idea I could do this.

EDIT: and I see that you can send in your headset to make it TSO certified, nice!

Works awesome

The TSO requires you wear the in the ear buds under the headset. I would not bother since no one does that.

The Bose A20 is TSO-Certified with no earbuds. The ANR 5-pin connector works on Airbus and the ERJ, which I fly. That’s great because the jet powers the ANR with no batteries. I just bought an adapter to the standard GA two-plug so I can use them when jumpseating. I have seen no 5-pin ANR jumpseat plugs outside the ERJ, even in the A320. Buy the A20 with Bluetooth so you can talk on your phone or listen to music when commuting.