Deaf Pilots

[CYQT]

Has anyone ever heard of pilots flying for airlines in Canada who are deaf in ONE ear? Is this a definite loss of medical? even if the other ear still has perfect hearing? just wondering.
thanks.

[rayban]

Say again?

[1000 HP]

I gave up my shooting hobby in an attempt to avoid the deafness thing. Also, there are waaaay too many people that need to be shot and it was just too tempting. I do know a guy who flew commercially and couldn't hear alot. I think he just turned his hearing aids down to avoid chit chat though.

[Invertago]

Not sure about deaf airline pilots, but I have seen hearing aids in pilots working as instructors and charter pilots. Seems if you can hear enough to hear the radio, you can get your medical, at least in the little leagues.

[xsbank]

Eh?

Every pilot I know has some hearing damage. When I started, there were no noise-cancelling headphones - we made our own with a pair of Safety Supply ear defenders and a pair of microphone cartridges, the only elements that used to work at 600 ohms. Bought the coil cord and plug, wired them up in the hangar.

Try flying a Beav without hearing protection. Even those little foam plugs weren't invented yet. Gawd things were so difficult back then we used to shoot squirrels and wad their little tails in our ears! Problem was, you had to shoot first and that was dang loud! The second squirrel was better coz you could put your finger in your other ear.

I got my hearing damage listening to Bobby Taylor and the Vancouvers at the Grooveyard in New Westminster and Country Joe and the Fish and the original Fleetwood Mac at the Coliseum.

[linecrew]

...Gawd things were so difficult back then we used to shoot squirrels and wad their little tails in our ears! Problem was, you had to shoot first and that was dang loud! The second squirrel was better coz you could put your finger in your other ear...

[PopnChipper]

I barely got my first Cat 1 due to hearing loss, but the nice thing is that there isn't another audiogram until you are 55. There are plenty of airline pilots out there with hearing aids, I am afraid I do not know the extent of their loss. If you are trying to get your initial Cat 1, this chart can really help to understand the restrictions if you know how to read your audiogram.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/CivilAviation/Regse ... t42402.htm

Scroll about two thirds of the way down the page, and you will see the section for hearing requirements. Once you hold the Cat 1, you should be all set. If a company were to refuse work to you based on the fact you can't hear perfectly, but still meet all requirements for Cat 1, that seems a could case for discrimintion.

Other than being made fun of for being pretty loud on the radio, I don't have any problem, and I am nearly deaf in one ear. Good luck

PnC

[1000 HP]

Say Again? The 1000 HP polski is loud also. The Caravan seems quiet but I think I'm just losing my hearing in a whole new range. I've got 14 years left before my next hearing test though. It'll be nice not to be able to hear the touristas...

[Hedley]

Never figured out why a pilot needs to have good
hearing. All he's going to do is wreck it anyways.

As long as you can crank the radio volume up
far enough ... older pilots like ANR headsets
which improve the signal-to-noise ratio.

[dangerous]

You shouldn't need good hearing to become a pilot. You should need good hearing to hold a radio operator's certificate. Funny eh? You have to be able to hear to fly a noisy plane with no radio, but you can be deaf and still obtain a radio license. Strange.

[Canoehead]

I know of a WJA driver who is deaf in one ear.

[snowshoe]

Popinchipper:

are you sure that the 55yr. audiogram is still done?

[PopnChipper]

Snowshoe;

I actually had the question on one of my ATPL exams this past fall. I am only 25 right now, so I can't say for sure if that is still in practice, but as far as I know its still law. I try to follow that kind of thing pretty closely since my the way I make my living is on the line, but I would be really glad if they got rid of it all together.

Well, I guess there's always all you can eat chicken wing contest for making a living...

PnC

[Sky Bound]

.

[Jaques Strappe]

Has anyone ever heard of pilots flying for airlines in Canada who are deaf in ONE ear? Is this a definite loss of medical? even if the other ear still has perfect hearing? just wondering.
thanks.

To answer your question, at AC we have a guy who had a brain tumor and to get at it, they went through the ear leaving him deaf in one ear. He got his medical back and is flying today.

[Canoehead]

What about tinnitus (ringing in the ears)?

I have that. No....wait.... it's just my wife again

[FamilyGuy]

It's not like eyesight - you don't need to be 20/20 (corrected) in both ears.

As long as you declare it during you medical and they do the appropriate tests (and You pass) you can have a Cat 1 while being technically "deaf" in one ear.

Been there done that.

[beaverbob]

I had to have an audiogram a couple of years ago and due to hearing loss I had to have a special hearing test in an aircraft of my choise with an instructor. I chose a C172 for an obvious reason and passed. I had to read back tower communications to the instructor and ident NDB's, VOR's etc. I also have Tinitis 24 hours a day, as most pilots or equipment operators, etc. eventually develope. Carefull with your ears ladies and gentlemen.
My favourite word is fast becoming "HUH" It is too bad I never used earphones in my early flying days.
BB