Ear Protection at Airshows

[Angry Turnip]

This might seem like a weird topic,but I wondered what people thought about using ear protection at airshows.

Personally I have never felt the need to use any ear protection at airshows,in fact I think the noise (esp) jets is all part of the thrill.

This is a serious issue however,and exposure to loud noises can be very damaging to hearing,even for short periods of time.

Certainly when I worked at BFS we had to wear ear protection all the time on the ramp.

I recall one of the loudest and most painful noises was a taxiing VC-10 which even with protection was high pitched shriek and very unpleasant.

On one occasion when I was doing a pushback of a Jet2 737 one of my ear plugs fell out,just for a few seconds,but the noise was horrendous,and that was with only one engine running.
I could hear a buzz in my ear for several hours afterwards.

[casper]

Never found the need for them. Any really loud noise is usually just fleeting and covering my ears with my hands usually dampens the noise.

[Angry Turnip]

At airshows I think the noise is one of the best parts-I don`t think I have ever covered my ears for any aircraft at an airshow.

I`m sure we have all seen young kids gurning and screaming when a fast jet appears at an airshow-people don`t seem to realise it can be very frighting for a small child.

Newtownards used to be great for fast jets,and car alarms could be heard going off in the car parks.

[Merlin]

Newtownards used to be great for fast jets,and car alarms could be heard going off in the car parks.

Still happens whenever there's a Tonka around 

[biggles]

HI everyone,i think ear protection at air shows is a personal thing,its good for protecting young ears,but as we all know the young ones have music in their ears from an early age which can damage ears long term.
we have all asked the kids to turn down the phone or i pod or device because all we hear is the high tinny sound.
as for me, after many years of exposure to loud noise my high pitch hearing is now non existant and have a constant whine in my ears,i struggle to hear other people talking or pick out high or low sounds.
but i still love the sound of freedom,ie fast jet noise.

biggles

[RNASMU]

Sorry what was that you said 

[ni_gaz]

After countless air shows and screaming fast movers the only aircraft that has ever actually physically hurt my ears was the B1 Lancer full power on take off.

[casper]

Have never worked at an airport but I did do a few days work experience with the British Midlands ground crew at Aldergrove when I was around 18. The one thing I always remember was how (relatively) quiet a DC-9 was when standing to the side of it, but when it started to taxi and turned tail on to me the roar of the engines was unbelievable