Lightspeed Launches First Wireless Aviation Headset

Lightspeed Aviation showed off the newest addition to its aviation headset family at NBAA on Tuesday. Announced last week via live webcast, Tango is the first premium wireless aviation headset to hit the market.

Using a patent-pending combination of analog and digital technologies called Lightspeed Link, each Tango headset creates its own secure wireless signal that Lightspeed says is better performing than Bluetooth or Wifi.

"One of the greatest challenges was to develop technologies that offered the audio fidelity Lightspeed is known for with the reliable signal connections pilots require," said Allan Schrader, president and CEO of Lightspeed. "With Lightspeed Link, we developed a unique solution that accomplishes this while also delivering the excellent ANR that pilots expect from Lightspeed."

Another industry first, the headset and its panel interface are powered by rechargeable lithium ion batteries. The batteries that take two hours to fully charge and can keep the Tango headset operating for 12 hours. When the batteries run low on power, audible and visual tones signal to the pilot. Lightspeed recommends that customers keep a spare pair of charged batteries ($35 each) in case of emergency, but a backup cable can plug into the headset from the panel interface to allow passive communication.

Like Lightspeed's other products, the wireless headset features Bluetooth for phone and music streaming, an auxiliary jack and compatibility with FlightLink. Tango retails for $800 and is available in dual GA, LEMO and heli configurations.