Narrative:

After using an aftermarket anr headset the past couple of yrs and now having to revert back to 1970's technology; the difference is astounding. Safety has definitely taken a back seat. The number of missed calls; the 'what did he say' happens far too frequently with the company supplied plantronics headset. This is a very inferior product which in no way enhances safety. The ear spike continually falls from your ear and the volume needed to understand ATC must be turned up way too high to be considered safe for one's hearing. The recirculation fan has to be turned off; otherwise you cannot understand ATC whatsoever. I came to realize that while using this headset you are more worried about trying to understand what is being said; rather than concentrating on the task at hand. The stress and fatigue factor at the end of the day using the plantronics with ear spike has been greatly increased. In closing; with today's technology this headset should not even be considered; let alone recommended; for use in company aircraft. The company should provide a quality headset for the pilots to use. Their choice of headsets leaves a lot to be desired. Using an ear mold is not an option. Contrary to the rbf the addition of an ear mold; is an alteration to the tso of the headset. This is in accordance with the regulations as written. This is not only a safety issue but also a health issue for the pilot's hearing. Anr headset with hot microphone can only enhance the safe operation of company aircraft.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR PLT CITES CONCERNS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF COMPANY SUPPLIED HEADSETS AND THE DISTRACTIONS ASSOCIATED WITH THEM.

Narrative: AFTER USING AN AFTERMARKET ANR HEADSET THE PAST COUPLE OF YRS AND NOW HAVING TO REVERT BACK TO 1970'S TECHNOLOGY; THE DIFFERENCE IS ASTOUNDING. SAFETY HAS DEFINITELY TAKEN A BACK SEAT. THE NUMBER OF MISSED CALLS; THE 'WHAT DID HE SAY' HAPPENS FAR TOO FREQUENTLY WITH THE COMPANY SUPPLIED PLANTRONICS HEADSET. THIS IS A VERY INFERIOR PRODUCT WHICH IN NO WAY ENHANCES SAFETY. THE EAR SPIKE CONTINUALLY FALLS FROM YOUR EAR AND THE VOLUME NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND ATC MUST BE TURNED UP WAY TOO HIGH TO BE CONSIDERED SAFE FOR ONE'S HEARING. THE RECIRCULATION FAN HAS TO BE TURNED OFF; OTHERWISE YOU CANNOT UNDERSTAND ATC WHATSOEVER. I CAME TO REALIZE THAT WHILE USING THIS HEADSET YOU ARE MORE WORRIED ABOUT TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEING SAID; RATHER THAN CONCENTRATING ON THE TASK AT HAND. THE STRESS AND FATIGUE FACTOR AT THE END OF THE DAY USING THE PLANTRONICS WITH EAR SPIKE HAS BEEN GREATLY INCREASED. IN CLOSING; WITH TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY THIS HEADSET SHOULD NOT EVEN BE CONSIDERED; LET ALONE RECOMMENDED; FOR USE IN COMPANY ACFT. THE COMPANY SHOULD PROVIDE A QUALITY HEADSET FOR THE PLTS TO USE. THEIR CHOICE OF HEADSETS LEAVES A LOT TO BE DESIRED. USING AN EAR MOLD IS NOT AN OPTION. CONTRARY TO THE RBF THE ADDITION OF AN EAR MOLD; IS AN ALTERATION TO THE TSO OF THE HEADSET. THIS IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REGS AS WRITTEN. THIS IS NOT ONLY A SAFETY ISSUE BUT ALSO A HEALTH ISSUE FOR THE PLT'S HEARING. ANR HEADSET WITH HOT MIKE CAN ONLY ENHANCE THE SAFE OP OF COMPANY ACFT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of May 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.