UFlyMike revisited... What's the story? Bc it's awesome(!)

[Fubijaakr]

Do all A320s have headsets hardwired into the airplane? As I recall, NWA's did.

 

[mblackey]

PS~(Mike I didn't miss a FI or union discount code did I?

No, but we'll give you a refund when we get our small business tax incentive from the Obama administration... still waiting.

Mike

 

[mblackey]

Haven't worn my Ufly -15 for 6 months and I miss it! Went from 737 to A320 (not a single pilot has worn their own headset.)

Does anyone know if the DAL ER group wears the Ufly? I sure hope so!

Also, what's the deal w/ the TSO 'sticker?' I don't think I have that. Mine just have a worn off silver sticker on one side.

Thanks - Baja.

We make an Airbus version also an adapter for a 2-plug to Airbus.

Don't know that any aircraft have hardwired headsets. You may be looking at the single Airbus (XLR-5) plug... it looks like it's permanent but it unplugs like any other headset.

TSO labels started after Oct 8 ,2008. If you have a UFM manufactured before that, it won't have "TSO certified" on it. We can do a retrofit for $30, though. You might want to call if you're considering it... the FAA is trying to make it hard (imagine that).

Brief soap box rant: TSO labels are stupid and don't mean anything... okay, I feel better.

Thanks for all the great support! Happy New Year!

Mike

 

[Going2Baja]

We can do a retrofit for $30, though.

$30 for a sticker - really? Or is there more involved?

Baja.

 

[bluestreaking]

This very question was asked to Chuck himself when he came out to Vegas a few weeks ago for a pilot sit down. He was very honest about how the whole thing played out. Basically he could careless about what headset we wear. The only issue is that it explicitly states in the QC2 manual that "These headphones are not engineered to meet the needs of pilots or to meet civil aviation communications". Once our lawyers saw that the QC2 was done no matter the TSO or not. If Bose were to remove that from their manual we might have a chance to get it back in the cockpit. But you know as well as I do the chance of Bose doing that are excatly 0. I had to go home and look it up myself and there is was on page 9. So, after that I quit blaming the QC2 on Chuck. Blame the Captain who had a Fed on the jumpseat with the light flashing in face on a 2hr flight at night and started to ask questions.

I've got to call BS on that one. Nothing like posting random rumors like they are facts. Just like how they said using rubber bands on the intercom burns up the switch. Totally made up. It all depends on what side of the smear campaign and whose agenda you're part of.

Chuck did absolutely nothing to help us keep the UFlyMike, and that's why he takes the blame. It will be funny to see the reaction when he tells the Tranny guys they can't wear it anymore.

 

[gutshotdraw]

No, but we'll give you a refund when we get our small business tax incentive from the Obama administration... still waiting.

Mike

Mike, I think you'll be waiting, ooh, about two years and 19 days at least.

 

[LJ45]

For the TSO to be in effect you have to wear the ear buds underneath the headset correct? If so, how many people really do that?

 

[gutshotdraw]

Yes

Zero...unless a Fed or Check Airman is in the cockpit...

 

[Captzaahlie]

No, but we'll give you a refund when we get our small business tax incentive from the Obama administration... still waiting.

Mike

LOL~ Just got an email few minutes ago, that your product was shipped today, looking forward to using them!
Hey while I got you; I have a pair of BOSE q115's coming already too but I was curious about these:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=7097117&sku=A338-1060

I'm walking down to their store in a few minutes and going to scope them out, at first glance they almost look like a knock off on the BOSE.
(I already understand from your web page most others wont work.....)

Just wondering thats all, would be nice to find a less $ headset than the BOSE.

 

[Captzaahlie]

Haven't worn my Ufly -15 for 6 months and I miss it! Went from 737 to A320 (not a single pilot has worn their own headset.)

Does anyone know if the DAL ER group wears the Ufly? I sure hope so!

Also, what's the deal w/ the TSO 'sticker?' I don't think I have that. Mine just have a worn off silver sticker on one side.

Thanks - Baja.

Peel one off the pos headset that's in the a/c, & re-glue on yours........

(not that I'd ever consider doing something like that )​

 

[mblackey]

$30 for a sticker - really? Or is there more involved?

Baja.

You got it, there's more involved. We've tried to offer customers another option besides buying a new one.

Mike

 

[mblackey]

For the TSO to be in effect you have to wear the ear buds underneath the headset correct? If so, how many people really do that?

Correct-a-mundo.

If a pilot were ever questioned about it, It would also be the first time in the history of commercial aviation a pilot was inspected for compliance with the TSO Authorization. There's at least one Fed I know that does, Walt Bala, Alaska POI. He doesn't inspect any other headsets to that level of detail, just ours.... He also thinks we should still be doing ADF approaches (I made that part up).

Mike

 

[GuppyWN]

Since the feds don't care if your headset is TSO'd I really doubt they will look for a sticker.

Gup

 

[mike51135]

Just had a fed on my jumpseat the other day while wearing mine...he never said a word.

I forgot to put in my earbuds also...

 

[Fubijaakr]

There's at least one Fed I know that does, Walt Bala, Alaska POI. He doesn't inspect any other headsets to that level of detail, just ours.... He also thinks we should still be doing ADF approaches

Actually he thinks we should be doing radio range approaches.

 

[SMcC]

Why spend your own money on something the company provides?
...I assume your airlines equip the flight decks with headsets.

 

[Captzaahlie]

Interestingly enough I'll be situation like mike51135 and will share the results. With speaker on low during the below 10k portion what could be an issue? In cruise you can just use a speaker & hand mic. right?
(just some simple logic, {which never applies in this industry} and yes I'll keep my old ear tube h/s in my bag just in case.)

This brings me to my next long (sorry) question for all you Uflymike users
I just found both a newly ordered Bose qc15 & UFM boom waiting for me when I got home from trip 2 days ago and love them both already.

(Very nicely constructed product Mblackey! :beer:).​

I plan on using the headset "side saddle" by that meaning leaving the left ear slightly off so I can hear the guy in the left seat bark at me when I screw up. (not that that's a usual situation.... anyhow, using the intercom between us in not an option because the cockpit is very quiet in cruise). The only problem I see with this set up is that the left side of the h/s is where the boom unit plugs in so it's a little awkward to speak into the mic. if you want to slide the ear cup back to hear the boss (a little longer boom would make it work better for an fo to do this).
The other thing I could do is just flip (turn) the headset around and bend the boom backwards and use it that way, but once again the boom length is just a good inch too short, it'll prob work but I've alway like having the boom in front of my mouth instead of parked by my cheek. The easiest solution would be to just upgrade and get in the left seat all the time instead of once in a while for IRO duties but that won't happen for a while. I'm considering lengthening the boom to be the easiest option but I hoping someone has found a simple work around that I'm missing. Mike? Any other FO's? Thanks! Z.

 

[Captzaahlie]

Why spend your own money on something the company provides?
...I assume your airlines equip the flight decks with headsets.

I used junk for years too....

But an alternate and equal use of the BOSE will be for listing to tunes, drowning out crying babies, and plugging them into my laptop to watch movies during international dead heading. You need to hear these things plugged into your favorite CD..... the rest of the world disappears in some pretty amazing sound! This is coming from a guy that doesn't even own an mp3 player, all though I guess my smart phone qualifies... haven't tried them in the phone yet. For my first flying job (flt instructing/135 charter) my Dad treated me to a pair of David Clark for my birthday. Which I sold after moving to the regionals, since then I've used what's been provided and they suck in comparison. Amazingly, even my wife agreed I deserved a quality h/s after all these years despite the $500 (tax deductible) investment.

 

[Captzaahlie]

Just had a fed on my jumpseat the other day while wearing mine...he never said a word.

I forgot to put in my earbuds also...

I "forgot" to purchase the earbuds~ lol
(on purpose)

 

[mblackey]

Interestingly enough I'll be situation like mike51135 and will share the results. With speaker on low during the below 10k portion what could be an issue? In cruise you can just use a speaker & hand mic. right?
(just some simple logic, {which never applies in this industry} and yes I'll keep my old ear tube h/s in my bag just in case.)

This brings me to my next long (sorry) question for all you Uflymike users
I just found both a newly ordered Bose qc15 & UFM boom waiting for me when I got home from trip 2 days ago and love them both already.

(Very nicely constructed product Mblackey! :beer:).​

I plan on using the headset "side saddle" by that meaning leaving the left ear slightly off so I can hear the guy in the left seat bark at me when I screw up. (not that that's a usual situation.... anyhow, using the intercom between us in not an option because the cockpit is very quiet in cruise). The only problem I see with this set up is that the left side of the h/s is where the boom unit plugs in so it's a little awkward to speak into the mic. if you want to slide the ear cup back to hear the boss (a little longer boom would make it work better for an fo to do this).
The other thing I could do is just flip (turn) the headset around and bend the boom backwards and use it that way, but once again the boom length is just a good inch too short, it'll prob work but I've alway like having the boom in front of my mouth instead of parked by my cheek. The easiest solution would be to just upgrade and get in the left seat all the time instead of once in a while for IRO duties but that won't happen for a while. I'm considering lengthening the boom to be the easiest option but I hoping someone has found a simple work around that I'm missing. Mike? Any other FO's? Thanks! Z.

First, you're welcome! We've not found a good solution for those that have issue with the mic on the left. We DO have a longer mic, though, about two inches longer. I always kept both ears covered in the left seat. When the boss said something, I figured it was likely about his investment strategy or one of his ex-wives... I just smiled and nodded. Figured if it was important, he would call back...

Mike