GA Question: Listening to Music during flight

[ViperPilot]

Howdy!

Thanks for all of the replies. I just wanted to add something to the mix:

Please keep in mind that I'm not condoning one view or the other. The reason I asked the question in the 1st place was simply as a question, not to say 'I think pilots should be able to listen to music', or 'pilots should never be distracted by any outside influence, like listening to music'.

Not being a real world pilot (just a rank amateur noob sim jockey), I honestly did not know if you could even listen to music in the cockpit, period. I didn't even think about

[Brett_Henderson]

I've gotten a speeding ticket, and even missed an exit; because I was listening to music while driving.. so I know that jamming to Tom Petty while flying an airplane is not for me. And I'd just as soon the pilot to me as a passenger not be doing it either.. 

[SaultFresh]

I've experienced something like this a few times. On my first cross-country with my old instructor, he ended up getting bored (flying up here will do that on long trips, not a whole lot to see), so he decided to tune in an AM radio station on ADF reciever, with the volume way down low, it wasn't too bad, but I've never ever tried it outside of that first cross-country. Last summer be and my buddy did our commercial cross-country out to Ottawa, and he flew the way back, I tried to listen to my iPod, putting the ear phones in my ears and such, but in the end that just hurt them, so that failed. Then more recently, me and another buddy did another cross-country up over Northern Lake Superior, and he's got the fancy headset where he can listen to music, so that's what he did for half of the way back while I flew, until we ran into some weather, then the fun and games were saved until we got back on the ground. My thoughts about it are, if you are responsible about it, and don't abuse it, than go for it, just remember to aviate, navigate, and communicate when appropriate.

[SeanTK]

Viper,

I don't think this ever turned into a shouting match or a typical online argument. You have nothing to apologize for, and I think that it was a very good and interesting question to ask.


I personally believe that I would have difficulty focusing on the expected tasks at hand in the cockpit with music playing, but that's just me. 

[Fozzer]

I just sing to myself... ....

..and with a good pair of tight fitting David Clark's, fortunately, I cant hear the result... ...!

Paul...G-BPLF...humming along quietly... 8-)...!