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How Can Pilots and Passengers Protect Their Hearing in Flight?

Pilots protect their hearing best by cutting the noise that reaches the ear, so the radio can be turned down instead of up. For most pilots that means a headset or in-ear headset that seals well and stays comfortable for hours. Passengers usually need less: a light filter or a soft solid plug for comfort, and more protection only around engines and propellers on the ramp.

Quick answer

  • Pilots: in one study of airline pilots, the sound under the headset was louder than the cockpit itself. A better seal lowers the background noise, so the radio can come down too.
  • In-ear headset users: a custom adapter shaped from your own ear impressions helps the earpiece seal softly and stay put.
  • On the ramp or near running engines: our approved guidance for The One is a 25 or 30 dB filter.
  • Passengers in the cabin: a lighter 9–20 dB filter, or a soft solid plug if you’d like to sleep.
  • Always: make sure you can clearly hear radio calls and aircraft alerts, and try any new setup on the ground first.

How loud is it in the cockpit?

It depends a lot on the aircraft, but even a modern airliner flight deck is not quiet. A 2017 study in BMJ Open measured cockpit noise for airline pilots and found ambient levels between 74 and 80 dB(A).

The more surprising number came from inside the headset. Under the headset, the researchers measured 84 to 88 dB(A). Pilots need the radio to sit above the background noise to understand it, and in this study the communication signal ran about 10 dB(A) above the noise. So the sound at the ear was higher than the cockpit around it.

Why does that matter? According to the NIDCD, sounds at or below 70 dBA are unlikely to cause hearing loss, while long or repeated exposure at or above 85 dBA can. NIOSH sets its recommended exposure limit at 85 dBA averaged over an eight-hour workday, and for each 3 dBA increase it recommends cutting the time in half. A long day of flying can add up.

Why does a better seal help pilots most?

Think of it as a tug of war between the radio and the noise. If a lot of engine and wind noise leaks into your ear, you turn the radio up to win. If less noise leaks in, the radio wins at a lower volume.

The BMJ Open authors made the same point about headsets that reduce noise: lowering the noise lets the communication signal sit below 85 dB(A), and makes for a more relaxed working environment. They also found a pattern worth knowing about. Pilots who mostly used their left ear for radio work showed poorer high-frequency hearing in that ear than in the right, and the gap grew with age.

A good seal is where custom shines. NIOSH describes custom hearing protection as made from an impression of your ear, so the device is fitted to you alone. NIOSH also says comfort is the key to wearing protection consistently. On a three-hour leg, comfort decides whether the seal stays where it should.

What about passengers and cabin crew?

Good news here. When NIOSH looked at noise in aircraft passenger cabins on a commuter airline, testing four turboprops and two regional jets, individual flights were not loud enough to raise the risk of noise-induced hearing loss for flight attendants. Overexposure was possible if the aircraft’s noise and vibration suppression system wasn’t working, and the cabin noise could get in the way of conversation between passengers and crew.

The NIOSH investigator suggested flight attendants consider flat-response earplugs of the kind musicians use, pending approval from aviation authorities. That idea works for many passengers too. A cabin is mostly about comfort: hearing the person next to you and the announcements, with the drone turned down a notch. If you’d rather sleep, a soft solid plug does that job.

The ramp is a different story. Standing near running engines or rotors is a different noise job from sitting in the cabin, and that’s where our strongest filters come in.

Which hearing protection fits each seat in the aircraft?

Here’s a simple way to match protection to where you are. It’s a starting point, not a rule, and every pilot setup should be tested on the ground before you fly with it.

Where you are What usually helps Big Ear option
Pilot seat with an in-ear headset A soft, sealed fit so the radio can be set lower Custom aviation headset adapters, $189.95
Pilot seat with an over-ear headset A comfortable, sealed headset; plugs underneath only if radio stays clear Ask us; we’ll help you check radio clarity first
Ramp, line work, near running engines or rotors Strong protection The One with a 25 or 30 dB filter (NRR 25 dB with one filter installed)
Passenger cabin, awake Light protection that keeps conversation clear The One with a 9, 15 or 20 dB filter
Passenger cabin, sleeping A soft solid plug Full Stop Super-Soft, NRR 32 dB, $168.95

How can you check the noise on your own flights?

You don’t have to guess. The free NIOSH Sound Level Meter app for iOS measures noise and shows whether it reaches hazardous levels. Let a passenger take a reading during cruise, or measure on the ramp, and you’ll have real numbers for your aircraft.

NIOSH also gives a handy ear test with no phone at all. At 85 dBA you often need to raise your voice to be heard by someone 3 feet away. At 95 dBA or more, you likely have to shout. If you’re shouting to your passenger without the intercom, it’s loud.

One thing to watch: NIOSH notes that too much sound reduction can make people less aware of their surroundings. In the cockpit, awareness is everything. Whatever you wear, you should hear radio calls, warning tones and your passengers clearly.

How does Big Ear handle aviation hearing protection?

We hand-build everything in the USA from impressions of your own ears. For pilots, there are two main paths.

If you fly with an in-ear headset, our custom aviation headset adapters ($189.95) replace the stock tips with a soft adapter shaped to your ear, so the earpiece seals and stays put through a long leg. Tell us your headset model and we’ll match the adapter to it.

If you work around aircraft, or you’re a passenger who wants control over how much you hear, The One is our filtered earplug. It uses a two-part, analog, non-electronic filter system with interchangeable flat filters of 9, 15, 20, 25 or 30 dB that swap in seconds. It carries an NRR of 25 dB with one filter installed. For around aircraft, our guidance is the 25 or 30 dB filter; for quieter settings like the cabin, 9 to 20 dB.

  • The One Standard, $224.95: one filter set.
  • The One Select, $299.95: two filter sets, so one pair covers the ramp and the cabin. It’s our best value.
  • The One Premium, $574.95: all five filters, plus a hole plug, solid plugs, a tactical piece and a case.

For sleeping on long flights, Full Stop Super-Soft ($168.95) is made in platinum-cure silicone at Shore A 25, which is very soft, with an NRR of 32 dB.

Frequently asked questions

Can I wear earplugs under my aviation headset?

You can, as long as you can still hear everything you need to. Test on the ground first and make sure radio calls and warning tones are still clear. If you have to turn the radio way up to hear it, the combination is too much.

Is cabin noise harmful for passengers?

In NIOSH’s evaluation of a commuter airline (turboprops and regional jets), individual flights were not loud enough to raise the risk of noise-induced hearing loss for flight attendants. For a passenger, earplugs on a flight are often about comfort and rest.

What filter should I use around aircraft on the ramp?

For The One, our guidance around aircraft is the 25 or 30 dB filter. Use 9 to 20 dB for quieter places like the cabin.

My ears ring or feel blocked after flying. What should I do?

The NIDCD notes that loud noise can cause tinnitus, a ringing or buzzing in the ears. If ringing is new or getting worse, or you have ear pain, ear tubes or recent ear surgery, please see a doctor or audiologist.

How long does a custom order take?

We build in 40 business days from the day your impressions reach the lab. Order shipping is $10, and every pair has a 30-Day Fit Warranty.

Ready to fly a little quieter?

Order and we’ll send your free Home Impression Kit. It ships in 2–3 business days, takes about 10–15 minutes with a helper and a guided video, and the return postage is paid. Not sure which option suits your flying? Try Find my pair, or call us at (719) 271-4528 and tell us what you fly. We love talking airplanes.

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