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Powered Paraglider Communications

We offer two options for powered paraglider pilots.  Both these options conform to and offer the safety required by the European Air Sports safety standard for Airsports Helmets EN966.

Earplug system

Here's our earplug solution... quality comfortable hearing protector earplugs with built-in speaker capability, fitted by a professional audiologist (not just normal transistor radio earplugs that don't protect your hearing), and a quality noise cancelling microphone, along with a ptt button that mounts on your helmet so you can reach it easily, and without the hassle of running finger switch lines.

Also suitable for normal paragliding operation using either a walkman style "bud" earphone or a permanently monted speaker in the helmet instead of the transducer/earplug.

Features:

  • No modifications to the helmet that invalidate safety certification.
  • Quality comfortable, custom fitted earplugs*
  • Noise Cancelling microphone 
  • PTT button mounted on helmet
  • Lead as required for most UHF radios (VHF interface also available)
  • $99 (base model, UHF interface) plus *audiologist cost (approx $220 for fitted plugs)

Earmuff system
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Our EN966-certified helmet is fitted with swing-out earmuffs with a very high noise reduction rating, a noise cancelling microphone on a stay-put boom, plus a PTT switch fitted to the earmuff as well as a socket to fit a finger mount PTT switch if you want.

The unit may be set up to suit your choice of radios, with the option of attaching more than one radio simultaeneously.

Features:

  • EN966 certified helmet used in certified configuration. Optional visor for those cold winter days.
  • Noise Cancelling microphone 
  • PTT button mounted on earmuff with remote PTT socket
  • Lead as required for most UHF radios (VHF interface also available)
  • $480 (base model, UHF interface, no visor) ready to fly.


A word on hearing protection
If you're not wearing hearing protector earplugs or using ear muffs, you are a prime candidate for hearing loss.
We are continually amazed by the number of folks flying pico/nanolights with no hearing protection.  There's a whole generation of early '80's trike and ultralight pilots who are hard of hearing because they ignored simple precautions.

Other systems: Ear Mikes and Throat Mikes:

There are commercial systems available which are an ear plug with a built-in microphone. The idea is that they pick up your voice through the eustachian tubes (these run from the throat/nasal cavity to the middle ear and serve to equalise pressure behind the eardrum). Unfortunately, these aren't designed as hearing protectors, and don't work at all for people with narrow or slightly blocked eustachian tubes.

These and Throat Mikes, which are a mike transducer that sits flat against your throat to get sounds direct from the larynx tend to provide a "nasally" sound that lacks the sibilants that make speech more legible (all the lip-based sounds are missing).