# SAIB CE-16-08: Noise Cancelling Headsets

- Type: Special airworthiness information bulletin (advisory, not mandatory)
- Status: Current
- Revision: 0
- Issued: November 20, 2015
- Products: General Noise Cancelling Headsets
- Product type: Appliance
- PDF: https://openairdocs.org/files/sha256/39/4a/394ad40b4bce2f9d6e80e23f60ee92a0e55f7dc7ad91558188b63c9055ede7ef
- FAA DRS: https://drs.faa.gov/browse/excelExternalWindow/69F3304C9FDEFA9186257F03007B6986.0001
- DRS record last changed: November 20, 2015
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-16-08

## Text

FAA Aviation Safety

**SPECIAL AIRWORTHINESS**

INFORMATION BULLETIN SUBJ: Noise Cancelling Headsets SAIB: CE-16-08 Date: November 20, 2015 This is information only. Recommendations aren’t mandatory.

Introduction

This Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) advises general aviation pilots and operators of concerns with the use of noise cancelling headsets. In many cases, pilots are using the noise cancelling headsets as supplementary equipment during operations. When wearing these headsets, the pilot may be unaware of environmental sounds and audible warning annunciations in the cockpit that do not come through the intercom system.

At this time, the airworthiness concern is not considered an unsafe condition that would warrant airworthiness directive (AD) action under Title 14 of the Code of Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR) part 39.

Background

The FAA issued Information for Operators (InFO) 07001 on January 5, 2007, to recommend that operators, directors of operations, chief pilots, and crewmembers of aircraft should evaluate their use of noise cancelling headsets.

Many general aviation pilots and operators may be unaware of the safety information presented in InFO 07001.

Recommendations

The FAA recommends that general aviation pilots and operators do the following:

• Become familiar with the safety information in FAA InFO 0700, which can be accessed at;

https://www.faa.gov/other_visit/aviation_industry/airline_operators/airline_safety/info/ all_infos/media/2007/info07001.pdf

• Elect to find other solutions to discern such alarms or sounds, or discontinue using these headsets if any audible alarms or environmental sounds cannot be discerned while wearing a noise cancelling headset.

For Further Information Contact

David Hirt, Aerospace Engineer, Continued Operational Safety Branch, ACE-113, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri, 64106; phone: (816) 329- 4050; fax: (816) 329-4090; email: david.hirt@faa.gov.

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