Major Airlines hire pilot with Hearing Aid/Special Headset?

[Kimber88]

Hi,

I am able to obtain my category 1 medical and am planning to finish my CPL. My goal is to become a pilot for a major airline such as Westjet or Air Canada or etc. However, I am wondering if they would still consider hiring me even though I wear hearing aids and have my own specific headset that plugs into my hearing aids for the radio and microphone.

Any opinions or comments would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[ahramin]

If you can get a Cat I medical what basis would they have to not hire you? Are there any restrictions on your medical?

[System Message]

I've removed this post for being tastless and ask that it not be repeated.

Bandaid

[4hrstovegas]

Offending comment removed by Bandaid

I said, "YOU'RE COMING IN LOUD AND IGNORANT!"

Kimber, your Cat 1 medical should be all you need. I can't speak for WJA, but AC has its own medical screening during the pre-hire stage that has an audio component (you normally wouldn't have to do one until 55 after your initial Cat 1, if things haven't changed). As long as you can pass the initial medical, regardless of whether you're using hearing aids or not, I can't imagine you'd have an issue. But I'll tell you what, when I get back to work, I'll drop a few questions and get an answer straight from the horse's mouth. I'll PM you when I hear back....

[4hrstovegas]

Kimber, your answer has been PM'd to you. I think you'll be pleased!

[PanEuropean]

Hi Kimber:

I think the key issue here is whether or not you meet the 'objective' standard, which is the ability to hold a Class 1 medical, not what the opinion of the employer is.

The only exception would be if there is a substantial and genuine reason why you could not use your hearing aid(s) and special headset while flying the aircraft. For example, if you applied for a job flying a fighter with Canadian Forces, or a helicopter with a logging company, and discovered that the helmet that those pilots must wear would not accommodate your special headset.

Way back in the last century (1960s, 1970s), the major airlines would not hire pilots who required corrective lenses (glasses) to bring their vision up to spec. That practice was abandoned around the mid 1980s. I cannot comprehend why there would be any objection to someone who uses a hearing aid or special headset to bring their hearing up to spec. You might be required to carry a spare hearing aid, though... I wear glasses, and on my European medical (JAA licence), the endorsement says 'must carry spare pair of glasses', even though the prescription for the glasses is the lowest strength that is normally issued.

Michael

[snoopy]

And... if you decided you wanted to fly helicopters, helmets are not mandatory by regulation - only by some companies as policy. Even if they were mandatory, there's nothing stopping you from having a helmet modified to suit your needs! Your special headset is simply an electronic assembly, the guts of which can be applied elsewhere. As long as you can do the job and possess a current CAT 1 medical, your path is clear!

There will always be circumstance and ignorant people trying to stand in your way, no matter who you are but if you want something bad enough you will find a way to achieve it and inspire others along the way.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Cheers,
Kirsten B

[Doc]

And now, just to rain on everybody's parade.....major airlines hire pilots with the expectation that they are in it for the long haul. This only makes sense as they're going to be spending an absolute fortune on you in the future years. While the obvious discriminatory practice of turning folks down because they're too short (happened to me..5'7", and CP Air wanted 5'8") or they wear glasses, the less obvious reasons are still in use. The majors do their own "in house" medicals. Approved "company" doctors as part of the interview/screening process. I think much would depend on why an individual has a hearing loss. If it's something that could/will get worse, I think you could be passed over by pilots with better hearing.
On the bright side.....there are lots of other paths to take in the aviation industry than the majors. Good luck.

[robertsailor1]

This is interesting stuff because after many years away from aviation I applied for my Cat 1 medical and actually failed on the hearing. There are standards that are to be met and I was told by the Doctor what they were and that no hearing aid was allowed. My file went in for review and finally was approved. I was told that if it had been rejected that I could ask that I get tested in real life situations, ie: normal conversation with an instructor and the ability to use the radio without asking for "say agains" but under no circumstances would I be allowed the use of a hearing aid. Now what I am hearing ( no pun) on this thread is that they are now allowing hearing aids...interesting!

[ahramin]

I don't know anything about either but if they allow glasses I don't see why they wouldn't allow hearing aids.

[snoopy]

Note that the OP has stated he/she is able to obtain the CAT 1. I am simply posting the below because of some of the comments made by subsequent posters. Not everything is written in stone, but there is a process...

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/r ... 2-1412.htm

Hearing Requirement
1.29 The applicant shall be required to be free from any hearing defect which could interfere with the safe performance of the applicants duties in exercising the privileges of the licence.

1.30 The applicant shall be tested on a pure tone audiometer at the initial examination for a Medical Category I and at the first medical examination after age 55, unless tested satisfactory during the five years preceding these dates, and shall not show a hearing loss, in either ear separately, of more than 35 dB at any of the frequencies 500, 1000, 2000 Hz or more than 50 dB at 3000 Hz.

1.31 At each examination the applicant shall demonstrate, in a quiet room, the ability to hear a soft-whispered voice in each ear separately at a distance of two metres (six feet) from the Aviation Medical Examiner. Applicants experiencing some difficulty with routine whisper shall be tested by pure tone audiometry.
1.32 Provided that there is no greater loss than 50 dB at 3000 Hz, applicants who show an average loss on pure tone audiometry of no greater than 45 dB in the better ear shall be considered fit if they can demonstrate satisfactory hearing in the cockpit noise environment in which they normally operate. Average losses greater than 45 dB in the better ear shall be evaluated by an otolaryngologist and be subject to individual assessment according to accredited medical conclusion. NOTE: The reference zero for calibration of pure tone audiometers used is that of the International Organization of Standardization Recommendation R389, 1964 or that of the American National Standards Institute.

(2) The use of individual hearing aids during voice or practical testing is not permitted unless flexibility has previously been granted in accordance with Part IV, Subpart 4 of the CARs.

http://www.tc.gc.ca/eng/civilaviation/r ... htm#424_05

The cited examples don't mention hearing specifically, however the list is generic (such as) and not exhaustive. Of interest is this:
.....
(a) Accredited medical conclusion indicates that the applicant’s failure to meet any requirement, whether numerical or otherwise, is such that exercise of the privileges of the permit or licence applied for is not likely to affect air safety. The Licensing Authority shall be satisfied that any relevant ability, skill or experience of the applicant has been given due consideration.

(b) The permit or licence is endorsed with any special limitation or limitations when the safe performance of the permit or licence holder’s duties is dependent on compliance with such limitations or restrictions.

(c) The applicant complies with any required conditions.
.....

There are provisions for a practical test, if required, to ensure safety is not compromised.

The Regional Aviation Medical Office has a medical review board, to which anyone can petition for leniency and flexibility on the standards. Sometimes it involves being satisfied with a lesser category of license until a history of safe flight is documented. It is nice to know that with the advances in medical science, and in technology, we can open the door for more people to fly.

Cheers,
Kirsten B.

[PanEuropean]

...While the obvious discriminatory practice of turning folks down because they're too short ... or they wear glasses, the less obvious reasons are still in use.

Hello Doc:

Honestly, I don't think what you are alluding to (silent discrimination) is commonplace with the major air carriers in Canada anymore. I'm old enough to remember when wearing glasses was sufficient reason for disqualification at Air Canada, but those days are long gone. Heck, back in the early 90s, a friend of mine got hired at Air Canada the same year he turned 50, and he had no previous air carrier experience at all (he was ex RCAF, had been a fighter pilot).

If the airlines are now (and have been for close to 20 years) abiding by the laws that prohibit discrimination for non-occupational reasons to the point that they will hire a 50 year old as a F/O (the implication there being that they will only get 10 years productivity and return on investment out of him, maximum), then I don't think that they would discriminate against someone who requires hearing correction, provided that the applicant can hold a Class I medical, and they can demonstrate that they can do the job satisfactorily in the working environment that exists, and also provided that the medical condition that requires the hearing correction is stable (i.e. the candidate's hearing is not expected to degrade further).

Michael

[Sea2Sky]

Captain_Caveman_by_brant5studios.jpg (338.3 KiB) Viewed 8489 times

[Sea2Sky]

EDITED: Silly sexist comment above was removed by mod, so I've removed my response to it

[bandaid]

I have removed the sexist comments and I remind you all that this thread was about hearing loss. Please refrain from drifting off topic. If you have no more to add regarding the topic at hand then don't add anything.
Bandaid

[Doc]

//off topic post deleted by Sulako. Stay on topic, please.//

[Cloudsnme]

Has anyone had to get a SODA? I have done a couple of them. Hear (pun intended) is how it works. If you are marginal on the hearing test or wear hearing aids. The AME may clear you but you will get a registered letter from Transport stating you have to get a SODA. (Statement of demonstrated ability). Easiest way is go to a flight school and tell them you need a SODA. They will arrange for a class I flight examiner and he will tee it up with ATC. You will fly the aircraft and if you can hear and comply to all ATC instructions the results will be sent back to Transport and when you get a letter back you should be good to go. Your license will be marked but that is no problem. This is the route anyone with some sort of disability will most likely have to take.

[David545]

Hi,

I am able to obtain my category 1 medical and am planning to finish my CPL. My goal is to become a pilot for a major airline such as Westjet or Air Canada or etc. However, I am wondering if they would still consider hiring me even though I wear hearing aids and have my own specific headset that plugs into my hearing aids for the radio and microphone.

Any opinions or comments would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

How did you find the headset for the hearing aid? I use a cochlear implant was wondering where can i modify the headset to attach to the cochlear implant(baha)?