Improving intelligibility at a safety critical point: In flight cabin safety

The present study was designed to examine the impact of noise cancelling headphones on the intelligibility of auditory information, specific to the aviation industry. The majority of airlines in western countries prohibit the use of personal electronic devices which includes the use of noise cancelling headphones during the take-off and landing phase of flights. This blanket rule, may negatively impact on passengers’ ability to hear and remember important safety related information (i.e., pre-flight safety brief). 25 participants (12 male), with an average age of 25.96 years, all with ‘normal’ hearing were asked to listen to five different audio briefs under five different experimental conditions presented in an environment designed to simulate an aircraft cabin environment. Each experimental condition varied based on a combination of noise cancelling headphones (active or inactive), music (present or absent) and sound source (headphones or external speaker). At the conclusion of each audio condition, participants were asked to complete a cued recall task. The use of noise cancelling headphones improved participants’ ability to hear and recall information in a situation similar to those where pre-flight safety briefs are presented. The results indicate the use of noise cancelling headphones, without any conflicting in ear audio signal, aided participants’ ability to hear and recall information. The findings suggest if the recall of safety information, including emergency procedures are crucial to passenger safety, authorities and airlines alike should reconsider the current restrictions on the use of noise cancelling headphones during those stages of flight when safety briefings are provided.

► Aircraft engine noise impairs passengers’ ability to hear safety information.
► One method to overcome this problem is to use noise cancelling headphones.
► However, noise cancelling headphones are banned during the taxi phase of flight.
► The present study tested the utility of these headphones in reducing noise.
► Noise cancelling headphones improve the signal to noise ratio for passengers.