BEYOND DOG BOOTIES - THE MUFF
The aviation environment is characterized by multiple sources of sound. The sound or noise is produced by a host of necessary evils: powerplants, propellers, rotors, jets, hydraulic and electrical actuators and cockpit communications equipment. It’s even produced by the interaction between air and the surface of the aircraft. Aircraft sound can be important. It allows pilots to assess and monitor the operational status of their aircraft. Pilots know what a normal-functioning aircraft should sound like. Sound becomes noise, as stated by the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, “Especially when it lacks agreeable musical quality, is noticeably unpleasant, or is too loud. In other words, noise is any unwanted or annoying sound.” So the difference of sound being a noise is like beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
All sound is measured by decibels and has three distinctive variables: frequency, intensity, and duration. Every pilot has experienced a cockpit or cabin environment that was so loud that it was necessary to shout to be heard. A typical small single engine cockpit is 70-90 dB, helicopters up to 102 dB. These sounds not only make the environment more stressful but can, over time, cause permanent hearing impairment. Noise-induced hearing impairment comes from short term and prolonged exposure to loud sounds over (>90 dB). Just several hours in the cockpit of a single engine aircraft may cause hearing impairment. Yet noise-induced hearing loss is different in one very important way... it can be reduced or prevented altogether. That is why we wear headsets.
Many of my pilot friends take their dog on flights and some notice that “Rover” sleeps most of the trip. There is a very good reason for this; they seem to be asleep trying to escape into their own little world. Most dogs can hear significantly better than we humans; many can hear 10 times our sensitivity. You can trust that if the cockpit is loud enough for you to wear a headset; your dog is probably in pain. But since 2004, a growing trend of pilots with dogs is to provide their four-legged friends a type of doggie headset, called a Mutt Muff. They were invented by a pilot, Michele McGuire, who noticed her dog Cooper acted a bit frazzled when flying in her aircraft.
Mutt Muffs offer hearing protection for dogs that fly in light aircraft and are quite useful for dog owners who engage in other activities that generate high levels of noise like attending an airshow, a 4th of July fireworks event, going boating or sport shooters that use gun dogs. The main differences between Mutt Muffs and their human use counterparts are in the curvature of the ear cups and the length of the connection band. Many unwary shoppers’ reaction to their dog wearing a headset is, “My dog would never wear these.” Yet it doesn’t take long for most dogs to “compute” cause and effect. Does this compute for your pup? “Chew dog toy = Good” - “Chew Mom’s flip-flops = Bad”, it won’t be much different with these, “Mutt Muffs = No Noise” - “No Mutt Muffs = lots of Noise.” Be sure to praise and give your dog treats while he is wearing his Mutt Muffs and he will come to associate them with good things even faster. Mutt Muffs materials were selected on the basis of their usage in human hearing protection devices that gave an average advertised reduction of 20 dB. The second consideration was the high frequency noise that is beyond the range of human hearing. They are designed not to block out all sound, but to be a passive, noise reducing device that will make a flight in an aircraft more comfortable. The device comes in several sizes because if the muff doesn’t fit well it won’t seal against the dog’s head. Mutt Muffs fit securely enough that head shaking isn’t enough to get them off. Removal takes paw power. Believe it or not; the best way to acclimate most dogs is to muff him up and takeoff. You can trust that “Rover” will get them off once or twice but that’s it. Rover learns quickly, a dog’s life in the air is better with a muff.
I asked Julie Clark, the Aerobatic Champion if she used any sound suppression with Bernie, her dog. Bernie. She told me that Bernie had over 1,400 hours flying in per personal aircraft and 3,000 hours commercially. Julie retired from commercial aviation where she started as a flight attendant and she became one of the first female airline captains. Bernie was rescued and quickly became a family member. When Julie flies, usually with Bernie aboard, she wants him to be comfortable flying too. To show me how her dog responded to a headset she called Bernie over, showing him the Mutt Muffs during the call. Tail wagging, Bernie ran to Julie as she slipped the muffs on without the dog’s slightest concern. She placed Bernie in the T-34, he jumped into his usual position and looked perfectly happy. We talked for about 30 minutes, half forgetting about Bernie, who when we remembered, was still sitting perfectly happy watching the crowds through the cockpit glass.
I have no relation with Mutt Muffs nor does Julie. If you fly with dogs and care about them spend $50-60 dollars on a set. They even come in colors to complement your dog’s fur coat! Michele invested a lot of time and thought in making her dog and thousands of others more comfortable in flight.
By John Cilio. You can contact John at: questions@vintageflyer.com