Can someone recommend a good head set for a new pilot? I will be starting my PPL training with the eventual hope of going all the way to ATP. I checked a few online pilot shops and had no idea what to look for in a unit. Any advice would be great.

If you can stand what your school uses, stick with that for awhile. Look at what others are using - maybe even try some if the owners will let you. The longer you wait, the better feel you'll have for what you want / need. Take your time and concentrate on learning to fly first.

There will be plenty of time later to buy a bunch of expensive baubles that you probably can't afford anyway.

I use this one. Very comfortable and is easy to spot if everyone around you flies with a green David Clark. I paid $260 for passive one. If you want the ANR (Active noise reduction), you can pay the extra $280.

Denali Headsets - Flightcom


If you really want to go all out, Bose is offering no interest on their $1000 ANR headset, but I don't see myself ever spending that much on a headset.
http://www.bose.com/controller?url=/...et_x/index.jsp

I tried one of these (Lightspeed Zulu) and they feel just like the one I have.
http://www.allspectrum.com/aviation-...oducts_id=2103 The bluetooth and AUXin is cool though.

I've got the LightSpeed Zulu and love it! The Bose is a quality product as well. You'll get the LightSpeed cheaper and there is no difference as I can see and the bluetooth and AUX port is nice to have...

Don't go the most expensive until you know that you are going to stick with it but don't go the cheapest either. A good headset for beginners should provide hearing protection, be comfortable, and be durable.

Here are a few that I would recommend:

David Clark H10-60 Headset - "Top-Of-The-Line" standard headset. This is the headset I used from Private Pilot till I got in the right seat of the Brasilia at Express Jet. Very comfortable pad for the top of your head and the mic is easy to work with. And, I still have it! Still love it!

David Clark H10-13.4 Headset - Best Selling David Clark Headset. Extremely Lightweight - only 13.4 oz.!

David Clark H10-30 Headset - This one always hurt the top of my head and the mic is difficult to work with.

LightSPEED Zulu Headset and LightSPEED Thirty 3G Headset - These are both GREAT headsets, but the Zulu is too expensive for where you are at and the Thirty 3G is terrific but again, more than you need at this point. The David-Clarks are more durable than these.

Flightcom 4DLX - I do not recommend this one. Very inexpensive but I've worn one and they get VERY uncomfortable after about an hour.

AV COMM AC200 Headset - Again, not very expensive but very uncomfortable.

My personal headset of choice and the one I bought myself when I got hired by SkyWest and started flying the CRJ200 was a refurbished Sennheiser HMEC-25-KA ANR Headset. Still have it and still love it!

Hope that helps,

Jeff

Almost the Speed of Sound blog - flycrj.com
Follow me on Twitter - twitter.com/flycrj

I started with a set of Sigtronics, which are wayyy on the low-end.

It worked pretty well for me; I currently own a set of Bose X (the cliche pricey set) so I have something to compare them to. I would definitely go with the David Clark line to begin with...

No matter what you do, you have to choose something that offers value in hearing protection and comfort.

No matter what anyone tells you, you have to assume that longterm exposure to typical propeller aircraft will eventually take its toll on your hearing...

Beyond that, noise reduction and comfort can greatly reduce fatigue.

My vote: David Clark or Sigtronics to start.

Whatever you get, make sure to write your name on it with permanent marker too. Especially if it's a David Clark. For some reason headsets seem to like to migrate to other airplanes and flight school file cabinets.

5 years of flawless use out of the Lightspeed 15XLC's I own ($275). The ear pads frayed at one point and they sent me another set for about $20. There is not a single negative thing I can say about them.

David Clarks or similair from Ebay: under $100. Don't get expensive ANR headsets. If your DC's are too loud, buy $.50 ear plugs, not $1000.00 headsets. You can wear ear plugs under your headset. I never did with the DC's but I did with the Telex 750's. You can also get "comfort" kits for your DC's. Spend your money on flying, not expensive headsets.

I started with a Telex headset, I wouldn't spend too much money on your first headset. Pick something comfortable, I spent a little more money to get a higher noise reduction rating, around $250. As you fly more often or need a second headset for a passenger you can then consider the Lightspeed or the Bose headsets. I now fly with the Bose and they are a great headset, my only issue with them has been the batteries dying during a CFI check ride (If you buy an ANR carry extra batteries).