A new lightweight headset has been specifically developed for air traffic control (ATC) or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) control-room applications.

Based on Sennheiser’s ATC-qualified HME 46 product, the new headset has been modified to incorporate an Azdec infra-red transceiver and yet weighs only 330g, making it extremely comfortable to wear for long periods of time.

Azdec systems provide totally secure, wire-free, short-range voice communications, giving personnel the freedom to roam unhindered from their base positions. There are no RF emissions and the infra-red signals cannot be detected by any conventional method, so it is impossible for anyone to eavesdrop on what is being said.

The systems support multiple users in either a control centre or control tower environment. In a control centre, they can be configured to provide a communications cell associated with each desk, while in a control tower multiple channels allow the free movement of several controllers throughout the coverage area.

The new headset is about half the weight of a standard Azdec headset – a reduction that has been achieved by transferring some of the electronics to the belt-mounted battery pack. Employing low-level infra-red digital encoding technology, the lightweight headset produces exceptional quality audio, and there are no ocular or other health hazards.

Available options include a VOX level control – enabling the user to optimise the setting for VOX trip - and split headset operation, which allows the controller to communicate selectively with aircraft or other controllers or to make and receive external telephone calls.