It takes a lot of personal equipment to learn to fly. It’s frustrating when you don’t have something you need—especially if no one told you that you’d need it. You may have noticed that pilots carry specialized gear bags, referred to as “flight bags.” They are designed with padded pockets for delicate items, such as headsets and tablets, along with multiple straps in which to store items so that they can be located readily in flight.

FLYING has a few suggestions for what to put in your flight bag so you are prepared for the best training experience possible.

Headset

Aviation can be loud. Hearing loss can be a common affliction among pilots, so protect what you have. An aviation headset, preferably one with a noise-canceling function, should be your first purchase to put in your bag. In fact, the padded pocket of most bags fits this purpose precisely. If the headset uses batteries, always make sure you carry spares and keep them in the original packing until use. This protects them from interacting with metal (like keys or clips on pens), which can lead to electric arcing and fire.

Flashlight

An aviation flashlight should have a white lens and at least one colored lens—be it green, red, blue, or amber—to protect your night vision. Some pilots carry multiple flashlights. For example, one could be an L-shaped, military-issue C-cell battery strapped to a shoulder harness so it projects on the instrument panel during night flights.

Kneeboard

A kneeboard is like a lap desk you use in the airplane. Make sure it can be secured to your leg and is stable. Also, ensure it does not get in the way of the yoke or stick when installed on your leg. It should have room for your notebook or tablet and a means to hold writing implements.

Charts and Chart Supplement

You may use ForeFlight or another app in the aircraft on a tablet, but you may find the paper versions of this information—in the form of charts—come in handy. Paper doesn’t break when you drop it on a hard surface like the ramp, and you can read paper charts easily in direct sunlight. Sectionals and terminal area charts (TACs) can also be turned into sunshades if you need them. Make sure they are current if you intend to use them in the aircraft.

Fuel Strainer/Pipette or Gauge

You will use these tools during every preflight to check the fuel for impurities (a strainer) and the actual amount in the tanks (a pipette or gauge). Many flight schools have these on board the aircraft, but they tend to go missing. Make sure you put your name on yours and that the pipette/gauge is the correct one to use for the fuel tanks on the airplane you fly.

POH/AFM

There is supposed to be a pilot’s operating handbook (POH) or aircraft flight manual (AFM) aboard your training airplane. It covers the “O” in the “ARROW” mnemonic pilots use to recall the necessary documentation for the aircraft, in fact, because it includes the “operating limitations” referenced by that letter. In addition to the one found in the aircraft, you should have a POH/AFM of your own for reference. You will be using this book for every flight to determine takeoff and landing distance, fuel burn, etc.

E6-B Flight Computer

The flight computer is a must-have. They come in an electronic form (think calculator on steroids) or the mechanical E6-B, which is a circular slide rule and looks intimidating until you realize the instructions for use are printed on it. For primary pilots, I like the manual E6-B because the wind side helps with visualization of crosswinds and learning about VORs. You will use the E6-B during your knowledge test. Although there are apps for E6-Bs, you won’t be allowed to use your smartphone during the knowledge test, so get used to using something else.

Syllabus

Bring the syllabus with you to every lesson. Every. Lesson. Find an instructor who knows how to use one and will use one. It’s the best way to keep your training on course.

Multitool

This is a “just-in-case” device. You may need a tool to adjust your headset fit, trim a piece of rope, open a bottle of oil, or reseat a screw if the FBO and/or school policies permit.

Notebook and Pen

There is a lot of note taking as a pilot. You should make notes during the pre-lesson and post-lesson briefing with your instructor. You will also be writing down things in the cockpit—for example, the information from the automated weather. While there are many who choose to record information electronically, you may find paper more expedient as it does not require batteries and can be used as fire fuel in an emergency situation. Make sure you have several writing implements as well.

This feature first appeared in the March 2024/Issue 946 of FLYING’s print edition.

The post Pointers for Packing Your First Flight Bag appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The A20 is set to cease production in less than a year. More and more professional cockpits are ditching the molded earpiece and boom mic for a ProFlight, but the model generates fewer sales because of its defined market.

Although Chris Wuerfl, Bose’s business development manager, did not reveal a new aviation product, he expressed a general wish that one would be forthcoming. However, it would seem that the one-year anniversary of the Bose A30 headset was reason alone for the company to celebrate here at the Sun ’n Fun Aerospace Expo (SNF) this week. According to Wuerfl, the product has been well received. 

• READ MORE: Bose A30 Aviation Headset Review

Like all of the company’s headsets, the A30 was designed to reduce noise fatigue. Bose claims that the unit has a slightly higher degree of effectiveness. A touted 20 percent reduction in clamping force, in addition to a headband with larger cushions that span a greater area, are also attributes. The clamping attribute is a game-changer for me, because for whatever reason, Bose headsets eventually begin to pinch the top of my head.

One feature of the A30 that the competition hasn’t added is the ability to swap the position of the mic from one side to the other. The headset allows this to be performed gracefully by simply pulling and replugging without the use of a tool. Although for GA use this feature isn’t a must, after more than four decades of flying professionally, it just seems awkward to have the boom mic always on the left side no matter what seat you occupy in the cockpit.

• READ MORE: Bose A30 Takes the Pressure Off

Testing the unit at SNF was a good experience, considering the volume of ambient noise. The quality of sound was superb. In addition to the standard volume controls, the A30 control box contained a slide switch that allowed for the ambient noise reception to be increased or decreased by selecting low, medium, or high. Movement of the slide didn’t dramatically change the reception with my degraded hearing, but perhaps a noisy cockpit would make it more apparent. Simply tapping a couple of times on either headset cup accomplishes the same task. This feature is probably more of an asset in a professional environment when you need to hear another pilot, flight attendant, or mechanic.

Bose maintains a five-year warranty on all of its headsets. If a headset is out of warranty, $225 is a one-size-fits-all refurbishment fee. The consumables, like ear cushions and mic covers, can be purchased as a service kit for $49.95. (The SNF show special is $35)

No one can argue that Bose set the standard for ANR equipment. The A30 continues to maintain that standard.  

The post One Year After Debut, Bose A30 Headset Well Received appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

On February 29 around 3:45 p.m., the aircraft owner and a friend launched from the airpark with the intent of heading to a nontowered airport about an hour away. The route entailed a flight over the Puget Sound. They did not make it. I am not mentioning his name because his family doesn’t need to relive that experience, but suffice to say they reported him missing, instigating a search.

Fifteen days later, the aircraft and the occupants were found underwater approximately 10 miles west of the Tacoma Narrows Airport (KTIW). According to one of the search and rescue divers who is also a pilot, the aircraft entered the water in a controlled descent. I will spare you the details, but he said it was obvious that the pilot and passenger had succumbed to carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. The report from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concurred, as the medical examiner stated the cause of death was CO poisoning and drowning.

What Is Carbon Monoxide?

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas, and a byproduct of combustion. It can enter the cabin of your general aviation aircraft through damaged or defective firewalls, door seals, landing gear compartments, or by the combination of cracks in the exhaust system and the activation of cabin heat since the air is heated as it passes over the engine manifold then ducted into the cockpit via a mechanical door. As you might expect, there are more instances of CO poisoning in the winter months.

Many flight schools and aircraft owners install one-time-use cardboard carbon monoxide detectors in their aircraft as a means of detecting the deadly gas. These units turn dark when CO is present, however, by the time they change color, the pilot may already be incapacitated. Carbon monoxide poisoning is more common than you would think.

According to a report published by the NTSB in January 2022, between 1982 and 2020 there were 31 accidents attributed to carbon monoxide poisoning.

“Twenty-three of those accidents were fatal, killing 42 people and seriously injuring four more,” the report said. “A CO detector was found in only one of the airplanes, and it was not designed to provide an active audible or visual alert to the pilot, features the NTSB also recommended.” In 2004 and again in 2022 the NTSB called on the FAA to require CO detectors in aircraft with enclosed cabins and forward-mounted engines. This has not happened yet.

Headset manufacturer Lightspeed has stepped out ahead of this with the creation of the Lightspeed Delta Zulu, which includes an audible warning about CO in the cockpit well before it reaches critical and deadly levels. Company officials say since this safety wearable was introduced in September 2022 they have heard from approximately 100 people who say the CO warning feature may have saved their lives. On the company website it has testimonials from people who were warned about the potentially deadly situation—and that is just a fraction of those the company hears from, according to Eric Landry, director of marketing for Lightspeed Aviation.

“We have a number of customers who call in or talk to us at aviation events,” Landry said. “They tell us that the audible warning on the headset changed the way they operate. They say things like they got the warning about carbon monoxide in the cabin and landed right away and didn’t take off again until a mechanic had checked things out.”

Landry noted the headset is particularly popular with flight instructors who fly multiple aircraft. “They appreciate a portable CO detection system they can take with them everywhere,” he said.

• READ MORE: Lightspeed Aviation Releases Delta Zulu

Teresa DeMers, executive vice president of Lightspeed, added that pilots also like the fact that it has an audible battery low warning, and the unit can be powered by off-the-shelf AA batteries or by a rechargeable battery. The unit also has the ability for the pilot to adjust auditory acuity—a bonus if you have a bad ear ear—and it has the option to record the flight for review.

“The Lightspeed Delta Zulu is the only ANR headset on the market with built in carbon monoxide detection,” said DeMers. “We have shipped over 10,000 headsets in 15 months. This is a new frontier of headset, providing a lot more benefit than just hearing protection. The hearing acuity feature and carbon monoxide detection change the landscape of what people can expect from a headset.”

The Lightspeed Delta Zulu comes with a hard-shell carrying case, single-port wall charger, lithium-ion battery cartridge, AA battery cartridge, UAC to USB-A cable, Velcro cord shirt clip, and set of personalized icon chips so you can distinguish multiple headsets. The unit is available in different plug configurations: Dual GA, LEMO panel power, and U-174.

The unit sells for $1,099 and comes with a 60-day, money-back guarantee.

The post CO Detection on Lightspeed Delta Zulu Proves Its Worth appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

Lazzarini succeeds Lightspeed founder Allan Schrader, who will remain with the company as its CEO and chairman of the board of directors. According to Lightspeed, Lazzarini will be responsible for day-to-day operations while Schrader will focus on “developing adjacent market opportunities utilizing existing and evolving technologies.”

“I’m excited to turn over our ongoing business operations to Heider,” said Schrader. “Heider’s experience, combined with his passion and energy, provide the perfect accelerant for our expanding business opportunities.”

Lazzarini comes to Lightspeed from a position as vice president of marketing for Axiometrix Solutions brands Audio Precision, GRAS Sound and Vibration, and Imc Test & Measurement. The company noted that he brings two decades of executive experience in general management, marketing and product sales in consumer, commercial, industrial, and military/government sectors. Lazzarini holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Oregon.

“With decades of being first to market with audio and now piloting safety solutions, I believe that Lightspeed has a tremendous opportunity to deliver new value for its customers and partners,” said Lazzarini. “I am very excited to be joining this seasoned team as the company continues to evolve its latest technology platform to enhance the flying experience for the aviation market worldwide.” 

• READ MORE:  Lightspeed Aviation Releases Delta Zulu

Lightspeed launched its first headset in 1996 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In 2022, it unveiled its latest model, called Delta Zulu, which introduced features including a built-in carbon monoxide detector and app-controlled audio equalization system.

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In 2022, we introduced the Readers’ Choice Award to recognize a product or development in the GA space that resonates most with our audience—and we continue that honor this year. 

But there’s more. We also felt there was a gap—an emphasis on things—and a place we needed to make to salute a person who has contributed in a comprehensive way to the aviation community with years of commitment, expertise, and spirit. 

A New Award

That’s why for 2023 we’re inaugurating the Sean D. Tucker Award, to do just that. And for the initial award, we’re presenting it to the legend himself, Tucker.

Tucker’s resumé as an aerobatic star and air show performer is well known, and perhaps, too, his propensity to give back to the industry that has nurtured him from his modest beginnings and early struggles to the success he is today. But Tucker is a person who measures himself not by the scores on a championship run, but by the lives he’s touched through the Experimental Aviation Association’s Young Eagles program, and most recently, the Bob Hoover Academy in his hometown of Salinas, California. At BHA, he and his fellow volunteers not only introduce disadvantaged area youth to the magic of flight but also help them achieve a pilot certificate and follow-on goals.

For those contributions ongoing to improve the lives of those around him with his joy, FLYING is thrilled to launch this award in his honor.

Innovation Award: Swift Fuels UL94

While the spark of inspiration may transpire in a moment, transforming an innovative creation to a market-ready and delivered product takes time, money, and persistence. There are no shortcuts to enduring success. In the current environment where so much attention is focused on cleaner solutions for GA, the critical element of bringing a viable unleaded fuel to aviation consumers must be recognized—because it has taken more than a decade to accomplish and realize in full.

For accomplishing this with its UL94 aviation gasoline, we’re proud to bestow the 2023 FLYING Innovation Award upon the team at Swift Fuels. The company’s “mission every day for the last 10 years,” according to founder and CEO Chris D’Acosta, has been to develop “a solution to the 100LL problem” and drive that progress in a tiered approach. 

Swift debuted a lower octane unleaded fuel, UL94, in 2015. It serves as a drop-in solution for more than 130,000 aircraft on the FAA registry that can operate on a 94-octane or lower fuel. Swift accomplishes this through a supplemental type certificate that will be good for any unleaded avgas it produces in the future. 

And UL94 is not just avgas with the lead out—it’s a better fuel in many ways, according to D’Acosta. “There is a market draw to our fuel,” he says, because all Swift fuels burn cleaner, with lower toxicity overall. The need to clean lead from the engine every 50 hours no longer exists, for example.

But announcing the availability of a product, and getting it to the customer are two different things. Swift has done the legwork to ensure pilots can trust the fuel—that it meets the ASTM unleaded avgas specification—and that it reaches them in a geographically distributed way, direct to the airfield. With roughly 81 airports, universities, and private users on the U.S. map—and distribution at events like EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin—Swift continues to expand its reach.

And that’s important, because the company is far from finished. Its UL100 fuel is in the confirmation and approval process via ASTM and STC to serve the remainder of the piston market requiring a higher octane level. 

Readers’ Choice: Garmin’s Smart Glide

When we posed the question earlier this year to FLYING’s audience as to what innovation made the most impact on the community, the choice was clear among the contenders.

Garmin’s Smart Glide functionality was introduced in late 2021 and expanded through the STC process to dozens of additional single- and multiengine airplanes. Smart Glide builds upon other aftermarket GTN Xi navigator features, and the GFC 500 or 600 digital autopilot, in a wide range of airplanes. Smart Glide includes the GTN’s range ring optimized for an engine-out situation. It aviates, navigates, and communicates for the pilot—partially—and gives the option to squawk 7700, for example. If the autopilot is engaged, the sequence begins by pitching for best glide speed.

An airport glide indicator helps the pilot determine which airport to go to, setting up a direct-to course to the nearest, if one is in range, and putting the CTAF or tower frequency in the standby—or the emergency frequency of 121.5 if not within gliding distance of anything in the database. It will also tell pilots if the destination becomes unreachable according to the data. If the airplane is less than 2 nm from the airport, the autopilot will not couple, anticipating the pilot’s prompt action instead.

It’s all in the service of assisting pilots—not flying the airplane for them. With the host of “helping hands” that Smart Glide provides adding significantly to safety of flight, pilots who read FLYING confirmed Garmin’s latest tech made the best choice for innovation of the year.

Editors’ Choice Awards

Aircraft: Daher Kodiak 900

Merging two “aviation families” into one cohesive aircraft manufacturer—as Daher and Kodiak have accomplished over the past four years—deserves a round of applause. To bring forth as its first consolidated effort a backcountry beauty like the Daher Kodiak 900 within that time frame is impressive indeed—and we won’t even mention the pandemic. 

The 900 began as a Kodiak 2.0 vision years ago within the original Quest team. Daher’s horsepower in advanced aircraft design and manufacturing propelled the project into FAA type certification in July 2022. The new model took the high-performing, short-field wing of the 100 series, stretched the fuselage, incorporated the cargo pod cohesively into the belly, powered it with a new Pratt & Whitney PT6A-140A turboprop, and streamlined it all behind a cowl that performs wonders in reducing drag.

The answer to the question, “What’s next in town-and-country flying?” has been firmly answered with the Kodiak 900, which is why we gave it our Editors’ Choice Award this year. With the 900, Daher has opened up a new market segment—and kept the good habits of the series from which it has been born.

Avionics and Apps: ForeFlight Terrain Awareness

It’s common to chase “feature fever” in app development, adding gee-whiz elements to already robust programs that do little more than clog up the works. Not so with the folks at ForeFlight, who continue to evolve their flight planning and navigation app in ways that truly add safety and efficiency benefits.

In our estimation, one feature added last year to ForeFlight’s palette is the Hazard Advisor suite, which takes terrain and obstacle data it first launched 10 years ago and repackages it in a way that truly adds to the pilot’s situational awareness. For those using ForeFlight Pro Plus, Hazard Advisor altitude preview allows them to manually control Hazard Advisor’s altitude before flight, and Auto Hazard Advisor, which transitions HA into auto mode after takeoff, following the current altitude for a view of the surrounding terrain. 

Combined with per leg altitude planning—giving pilots the ability to select multiple attitudes within a flight plan—ForeFlight starts situational awareness early during the flight planning process. The upshot? We feel it makes a bold move toward combating a perennial cause of GA accidents, controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). 

Gear: Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Our editors do a lot of their own flying, both in aircraft they own as well as rent or use for instruction, and the investment in a headset is a real debate amongst the team. But for the last year one option has stood head and shoulders—intended—above the rest, and that’s the latest from Lightspeed Aviation, the Delta Zulu.

The active noise reduction (ANR) Bluetooth-enabled headset gives the pilot the ability to customize its auditory acuity with the help of an app, and it also has a built-in carbon monoxide detector that provides an auditory warning if there is CO present in the cockpit. The free Lightspeed app allows the pilot to check the CO sensor data visually during flight and review it later. The app also makes it possible for the user of the headset to fine-tune the device to meet the wearer’s hearing needs. 

And how does it wear? According to our testers, it’s one of the lightest-feeling ANR headsets out there, with ear seals comfortable enough that one tester noted she “forgot it was there.” That’s awesome praise for a vital pilot tool.

Training: Redbird Flight Simulations for Redbird Pro 

Known for its low-cost, full-motion flight training devices, Redbird Flight Simulations expanded its remit in the training arena last year with the launch of a pilot proficiency app called Redbird Pro. The app is designed to assess pilot knowledge and tailor training options through artificial intelligence to help them improve their weak points. The app utilizes articles, simulator scenarios, and quizzes as training tools. 

Many of the training scenarios are drawn from I.L.A.F.F.T. and Chart Wise content from FLYING, as well as content from the AOPA Air Safety Institute. Yes, Redbird Pro is aimed directly at those GA pilots who don’t typically spend the hours logged between flight reviews practicing toward proficiency. The gist? We’re really not as good at retaining that proficiency as we could be. Just as an app such as Duolingo encourages you to daily practice a language, Redbird Pro gamifies the proficiency quest and rewards you for frequent engagement. 

For giving shape and life to that practice—and making it fun—Redbird deserves a nod for making real strides toward improving pilot competence and confidence.

The post FLYING Reveals Innovation Award Series for 2023 appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

According to Sporty’s, this recently released design is an upgrade, driven by customer requests. FLYING noted the original PJ2 as a contender for its Editors Choice Award in 2020. One of the big requests they perennially get at Sporty’s is for a handheld radio that doesn’t require a special adapter for headset/com interface.

“An emergency is no time to be searching for a headset adapter or a user manual to figure out how to turn your radio on,” said Sporty’s director of aviation products and marketing Doug Ranly. “Our focus has always been on making simple and reliable radios, and we think we’ve raised the bar with the upgraded PJ2+.”

The PJ2+ includes a new 3.5 mm jack, 6-watt-peak transmit power, an automatic noise limiter, and a high contrast backlit screen. The 3.5 mm jack can also accommodate wired earbuds along with computer-style headsets, so it can be used at air shows and fly-ins.

Since listening is only half the function, the transmit power has been increased to 6 watts to maximize the radio’s range—something that will likely be greatly appreciated if the pilot finds themself in a remote area following an off-airport landing.

The screen of the radio has been improved to feature a brighter display with a glare-reducing face so it is easier to read in direct sunlight. The keypad is larger, making it easier to hit the right buttons, and the display has improved contrast to make it easier to read when mounted in the cockpit.

Accessories

The PJ2+, which sells for $249, includes an alkaline battery pack, antenna, 100-240 volt wall plug, USB-A to USB-C power cable, a belt clip, and an operator’s manual. The radio can be operated directly from the USB-C plug, utilizing either a cigarette lighter plug or backup battery pack.

Headsets with standard twin plugs (PJ-055 and PJ-068) require no adapter, for Lemo/6-pin plug headsets, an adapter (6123A) is available for $39.95.

The post Sportys Unveils PJ2+ Handheld Radio appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

1. Headset

The headset is often the most important piece of equipment a pilot carries. If you don’t think you need one, try conducting a flight in an enclosed-cockpit airplane without one—about 20 minutes into it, the noise and the vibration will leave you feeling like you’ve been flying all day. Don’t forget extra batteries for the headset if required. Add a flight helmet or leather cap for your headset if you’re flying an open-cockpit airplane.

• READ MORE: What Makes a Good Pilot Headset?

2. Kneeboard

The kneeboard is sort of a lap-desk that a pilot uses in flight. If you are using paper, this is where the pad or the navlog goes. If you are using an electronic device, this is where it lives if you don’t have a mount for the unit. You can also clip paper charts to a kneeboard with ease.

3. Writing Implements/Paper

There is a lot of writing in aviation. You will be copying down weather information, IFR clearances, instructions from ATC, etc. Even if you are doing this electronically on a tablet, it doesn’t hurt to have a back up. Paper is also handy to leave notes, like letting the owner of the FBO know you require fuel for your airplane—or if you do not want fuel.

4. Current Sectionals/TACs/Chart Supplement and/or Digital Equivalent

Notice the word “current.” Frequencies change, airspace changes, airports get towers—these are things you want to know. Many pilots use electronic information in the cockpit but carry the paper as backup.

Double-check the expiration dates. Electronic publications can be updated with a keystroke. Paper charts need to be replaced. When the paper charts expire, they become useful teaching tools on the ground—and of course they are excellent for gift wrapping.

If you use a tablet for navigation, be sure to have an extra power cord and/or batteries.

5. Aviation Flashlight

The flashlight should have a white light and a colored lens (green, red. or yellow) for night flight. You’d be amazed at how many pilots say they won’t be out after dark… and then it happens. Make sure you have spare batteries as well.

6. Multitool

You’ll want one with a knife blade and at least a flathead or Phillips head screwdriver. Get one that also has pliers large enough to give you leverage when and if you need it. The little multitools, the ones that fit on keychains are cute—and great for opening beverages—but seriously, Barbie called because she wants her tool back.

7. Flight Computer/Mechanical E6B/App

Use this to determine aircraft performance, ground speed, time en route, etc. You may have GPS in the airplane, but if something goes wrong, you’ll want the backup.

8. Fuel Strainer/Dipstick

Both of these items have a habit of wandering out of aircraft, especially when they are rental aircraft. Carry your own.

9. Survival Kit

Never leave home without one. Make sure it contains a first-aid kit, duct tape, a plastic bag, handi-wipes, parachute cord, knives, fire starting material, and so on. You never know when you’re going to need this stuff.

10. Cash for Vending Machines

Have you been that pilot who got to the airport after hours and the only source of food was a vending machine? I have. Carry some crisp $1 bills and quarters so you can eat.

11. A Handheld Radio

When your radio fails it can ruin your whole day. Use it as a backup in the cockpit, or on the ramp when you’re waiting for a friend to arrive, or (for CFIs) when you are watching a learner on their first solo. Make sure to bring the charging cord or extra batteries.

The post 11 Things You Should Carry in Your Flight Bag appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The company—based in Oswego, Oregon—describes the Delta Zulu headset as a “safety wearable.”

An App Makes It Possible

Lightspeed Aviation has been producing ANR headsets since 1996. With each headset, the technology advances. In the case of the Delta Zulu, the device features Kanari smart alert technology that measures cabin carbon monoxide levels and provides an audible warning to help keep the pilot and passengers safe. The free Lightspeed app allows the pilot to also check the CO sensor data visually during flight and review it later if they want to.

The App also makes it possible for the user of the headset to fine-tune the device to meet the wearer’s hearing needs. Unfortunately, hearing loss is a common experience as pilots age, and very rarely is it uniform in both ears.

To adjust the headset, the app uses a built-in audio equalization system called HearingEQity. The user engages in an automated 12-frequency hearing test (similar to one given by an audiologist, where you are asked if you hear a tone) through the Lightspeed app. HearingEQity sets the level in each ear of the headset to address the individual hearing profile, thus compensating for any variations.

The Lightspeed app also has functions that will likely be useful in the training environment, such as the ability for the pilot to record radio conversations, playback transmissions, draw diagrams, and archive flight recordings for post-flight briefing. These recordings can be reviewed on your phone or mobile device.  

• READ MORE: Why the Hearing Protection ANR Delivers is So Important

Lightspeed adds that “Delta Zulu features Bluetooth wireless technology with A2DP technology enabled cell phone communications and stereo music streaming along with alerts from aviation apps,” so you can be entertained, yet maintain situational awareness on those long flights. Delta Zulu also comes equipped with ComPriority, which automatically lowers the volume of any auxiliary device when there is a radio or intercom transmission.

For the pilot who utilizes many electronic devices during flight, Delta Zulu has an Ultra Accessory Connection (UAC) plug, allowing the user to connect to other devices directly from the headset for charging, data communications, and auxiliary audio.

As high-tech and evolved as Delta Zulu is, the headset does not need to be paired with a smart device to work, says Eric Landry, the director of marketing for Lightspeed Aviation.

“But the app unlocks capabilities and personalization that helps you expand your flying freedom,” Landry says. “The headset will detect carbon monoxide without using the app. If the pilot does not have an iOS device, using a friend’s iOS device for a one-time HearingEQity test will save the pilot’s customized hearing profile in their own Delta Zulu, and the Lightspeed app is no longer needed.”

Carbon Monoxide Warning

Carbon monoxide—a by-product of internal combustion—is a silent killer of pilots. It can leak into the cockpit through cracks in firewalls, engine manifolds, or faulty door seals. Because it is odorless and tasteless, a pilot may not realize the danger until it is too late. Delta Zulu provides the pilot with an automatic auditory warning, letting the pilot know that CO is detected, and how much there is in relation to parts per million. As the carbon monoxide increases, the warnings become more frequent. Just an FYI, the reading of 10 to 50 parts per million will result in a warning caution level.

• READ MORE: NTSB to FAA: Make Interactive Carbon Monoxide Detectors Mandatory

We Test Fly Delta Zulu

I took Delta Zulu into the air over the last week to evaluate it. The first thing I noticed was the comfort factor. Over the years, I have tried several full-ear coverage headsets. Like many pilots, I started my career with the student-pilot-friendly David Clark headset and eventually upgraded to ANR designs. 

The first test for the Delta Zulu: “Would the stainless steel headband interface well with my baseball cap that still has the button on the top?” The answer was yes, it did. It was also one of the lightest aviation headsets I have ever worn. According to Lightspeed, Delta Zulu weighs in at 14.9 ounces and the headband was designed to follow the curve of the human head for “more comfortable distribution of weight and side pressure.”

The next step was to adjust the ear seals. They are smaller than the ones on the David Clark or Bose headsets I’ve worn, and tapered to hug the wearer’s face. I tried the headset with both sunglasses on and sunglasses off—because that can make a difference in headset fit—and in both cases, the ear seals covered my entire ear and stayed in place even when I chewed gum. They were also comfortable enough that I did not really feel them during the 2.3 hours I spent in the air.

Delta Zulu comes in silver with copper badges on the ear cups—and that is your only color option. The color of the headset is probably not going to be an issue for most pilots—it certainly isn’t for me—since aviation headsets are about hearing protection and situational awareness.

Talk to Me, Delta Zulu

The activation and volume control on Delta Zulu are user friendly. I appreciated the annunciation on startup, telling us we didn’t have a CO leak in the cockpit. The volume on the headset is adjusted with slider switches.

The microphone was easy to adjust, and according to my copilot—as well as ATC—my transmissions were easy to understand. I did not have to make too much of an adjustment to get the microphone in “just the right spot,” as can happen with other headsets.

I was impressed by the clarity of sound coming through the headset. The transmissions were very crisp.

The unit also gives you an auditory update on battery level. The headset can be powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries or AA batteries in an easy-to-replace battery pack.

If you have ever accidentally left a battery powered device on and found the batteries dead when you returned, you will appreciate this: Delta Zulu has Lightspeed’s proprietary auto shutoff feature that saves battery life by automatically shutting down the headset power when the unit is not in use.

Plays Well With Others

Sometimes headsets do not work well with other brands—for example, a few years ago I had the experience of trying a new-to-the-market headset from another company that did not play well with David Clarks, which, at the time, was the headset of choice at the flight school where I worked. When I wore the new headset and the client wore DCs, there was an annoying, distracting high-pitched whine in the background. I was wary that there would be interference between the Delta Zulu and my copilot’s headset but there was no such issue.

Delta Zulu comes with a seven-year warranty, which is longer than other headsets on the market, and Lightspeed notes, “The unit is almost entirely made of stainless steel and magnesium with durable cables built around a Kevlar core.”

The only challenge I had with the Delta Zulu is that I would like to have a clip on the battery case/headset interface. The unit came with a piece of velcro for a cord clip, but I am not a pilot who likes to have anything loose in the cockpit. I like relatively heavy things—such as my flashlights, survival tool, and the battery compartment of my headset—to be secured. For the flight, I rigged a strap using a piece of parachute cord I carry for just such an occasion.

Accessories and Price Tag

Delta Zulu comes with accessories, including a hard-shell carrying case, which will be greatly appreciated if your headset was ever damaged because of poor protection from a soft-sided case and hostile gravity. Also included: a single-port wall charger, lithium-ion battery cartridge, AA battery cartridge, UAC to USB-A cable, a Velcro cord shirt clip, and a set of personalized icon chips so you can distinguish multiple headsets.

Delta Zulu carries a price tag of $1,099 and comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee.

“If you are not completely satisfied with your purchase for any reason, return the product for a full and prompt refund,” says Lightspeed. Delta Zulu is available in different plug configurations: Dual GA, LEMO panel power, and U-174.

The post Lightspeed Aviation Releases Delta Zulu appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

The elite pilot—and Art Scholl Memorial Showmanship Award winner in 2006—relies on an aviation family of folks to propel his contribution to the airshows at EAA AirVenture each year.

Goulian taps into his team at Goulian Aerosports—including crew chief Levi Fischer—along with the professionalism of air boss Wayne Boggs, deputy air bosses, and air traffic controllers, and the communications equipment provided by Bose for the comms between the airplane and show center. 

FLYING’s editor-in-chief Julie Boatman followed Goulian through his team’s preparation for the Wednesday, July 27, afternoon airshow. While Goulian didn’t fly until nearly 5 p.m., the day began at 7 a.m. as his Extra 330SC was pulled from the hangar.

The post Comms Power Goulian’s Aerobatic Dance at Oshkosh appeared first on FLYING Magazine.

I run down the One-X’s list of features and rate its sound, microphone, noise cancellation, and even its build quality. You’ll also get my thoughts on how the One-X compares to several competing headsets. 

Prospective and current professional pilots looking for a good headset for both light piston aircraft and noisier turboprops and jets will be sure to find valuable insights.

The post It’s a Headset Thing appeared first on FLYING Magazine.