Communications Helmet

A PPG helmet with built-in communications has the ability to communicate using a cell phone, FRS radio, and Aviation radio.  Other features are inflight music and GoPro voice recording.  Helmets are available as off the shelf products or DIY helmet building projects. Below are vendors who sell quality helmet options.  Cielo PPG helmets are available with various options and built for performance to reduce the risk of damaged wires and other known issues regarding helmet construction.

After several redesigns, Cielo PPG has a quality solution for PPG pilots.  Cielo PPG helmets use tactical style helmets with adjustable modular earmuff attachments, and GoPro mount.  The helmet includes hook and loop (velcro) for temporarily attachment of items like a portable USB charger for GoPro camera.  The helmets have been tested inflight to ensure audio quality and usability.

Build Quality of PPG communications helmets.

Following the guidence of YouTube, I built my own PPG communications helmet using the Sena SMH10 Bluetooth helmet system.  I was pleased with how well it worked and I was able to accomplish most of the communication methods I wanted.  Including Bluetooth phone, Bluetooth Aviation radio, with the Sena SR10 Bluetooth adatper, I was able to use a variety of FRS/GMRS Radios with the helmet.  With so many devices, I needed to be sure to charge my devices and radios before each flight.  I’m sure many pilots can relate.  One day, the speaker and microphone wire from the helmet into the earmuff freyed and I wasn’t able to hear in one of the earmuffs.  That is when I realized that I needed to fix the build quality problem.  My pilot friends have similar experiences including a broken microphone and other helmet malfunctions.  I decided that this should not happen with aviation equipment.  I fixed my helmet and my pilot friends’ helmets to ensure they will not fail due to wires breaking.  This prompted others to become interested in what I was doing to improve the quality in these helmet builds.  This has become more than a DIY project and now I am able to build quality helmets that hold up to the demands of PPG Pilots.  In addition to fixing the quality issues, I added the wired radio to the helmets so there is no need to charge anything but the radio when flying.  This is especially nice for PPG instructors since they need to be able to communicate with students and do not need to deal with Bluetooth pairing with phones and radios, just connect the radio and go fly.

• Radio assembly kit, integrated to the helmet with quality cables to ensure no chafing between helmet and earmuffs.
• Removable microphone, easily replace a damaged microphone.
• 5pin mini XLR radio cable connection, plug in the radio go, no pairing necessary.
• Bluetooth (connect phone, radio or bluetooth intercom).

Bluetooth helmet options are Sena 10R and FodSports FX8.

• Sena 10R is a commonly used bluetooth helmet kit for PPG pilots.  I built my first helmet using a Sena SMH10, and it performs very well.  I built my second helmet with the Sena 10R, with more options and features including an app for changing settings.  I feel these features are worth having in a PPG helmet and want to offer the Sena 10R in Cielo PPG helmets.  The Sena 10R Bluetooth kit along with the FRS radio cable connection option allows for all possible means of communications while flying.
• FodSports FX8 is a worthy alternative to the tried and true Sena brand of helmet kits.  The FX8 is compatible with Sena intercom, the range is said to be 2000m with integrated external antenna, and offers a 3.5mm audio input cable, so you can listen to the audio of an Airband radio (or other audio input) while using bluetooth.  This same audio input supports a 2 way radio cable with remote PTT.  This option will replace the need to have additional wiring for an FRS radio.  Order your helmet and select Bluetooth only, the FodSports FX8, and the optional FodSports FRS radio cable.

Communications only option comes with everything you need to outfit your own helmet with FRS and Bluetooth, (helmet not included).

If the pilot is right handed throttle and would like the remote PTT cable on the left side, there are 2 ways to accomplish this with Quentin PPG helmets.

1. The earmuffs are reversible, you are able to remove the communications from the helmet and reverse the mic and PTT button on the earmuff.  Once reversed, the earmuff can be installed on the right side.  Please call for support if you are unsure about how to reverse the earmuffs.
2. The PTT button and remote PTT cable connection is reversible, simply disconnect the PTT button and the remote PTT cable connector, and install them in reverse.  Now the PTT cable is where the PTT button was, and the PTT button is where the cable connection was.  Please call for support if you are unsure about how to reverse the PTT button, and remote PTT cable connector.

Helmet communication use cases:

• Tandem flights where 2 people are flying in the same aircraft, using the Bluetooth intercom system between helmets, there is no need to press a radio transmit button.
• Bluetooth intercom range is limited, but can be used between pilots on separate aircraft within range of less than 2000 ft.
• Flying separate aircraft 2 or more pilots communicate using FRS radios.
• Flying separate aircraft 2-3 pilots can use cell phone to communicate with each other.
• Flying and accepting cell phone calls with people on the ground using the Bluetooth phone connection, most people can’t tell your flying when on a phone call.
• Listening to air traffic over Aviation Band Radio connected using audio cable.
• Listening and transmitting over Aviation Band Radio connected using Bluetooth.

Recording audio to GoPro camera:

• GoPro audio is recorded from the boom mic and an internal earcup mic on right and left audio channels.  This allows for editing audio between pilot (right channel) and other pilots (left channel) editing software will let you choose which audio will be included in the video product.
• Using any communication method, all helmet audio is recorded to GoPro camera.

Helmet Communications options:

• Communications options
  • Bluetooth (FodSprots FX8 or Sena 10R), no FRS.
  • no Bluetooth (FRS only).
  • Bluetooth (FodSprots FX8 or Sena 10R), and FRS.
• Left or Right position of microphone
  • PTT, and radio cable connection on same side as microphone.
  • remote PTT on opposite side of microphone.