Aviation Headsets Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Noise Cancellation Mode (Active Noise Reduction (ANR) Aviation Headsets, and Passive Noise Reduction (PNR) Aviation Headsets), By Design Type (On-Ear, and In-Ear), By Application (Commercial Aviation, Military Aviation, Flight Schools, Helicopters, and Recreational Activities), and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028

The global aviation headsets market size was USD 47.6 million in 2020. The global impact of COVID-19 has been unprecedented and staggering, with these headsets witnessing a negative impact on demand across all regions amid the pandemic. Based on our analysis, the global market exhibited a lower growth in 2020 as compared to the average year-on-year growth during 2017-2019. The market is projected to grow from USD 51.1 million in 2021 to USD 83.6 million in 2028 at a CAGR of 7.30% in the 2021-2028 period. The rise in CAGR is attributable to this market’s demand and growth, returning to pre-pandemic levels once the pandemic is over.

According to the Aviation Tribune, the governments worldwide has been emphasizing on aviation infrastructure enhancements and ensuring better connectivity through new airports. This development is anticipated to compel the airliners to increase the fleet and new pilot recruitments which will influence the market growth. These headsets are generally marketed to flight schools, commercial airlines, and defense aviation services and also for recreational activities. These factors are influencing the market growth.

Covid-19 Pandemic: Declining Demand from Commercial and Military Domain to Impact Market

The aviation industry has been impacted majorly due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic-led global travel restriction which had to ground the aircraft fleets and social distancing norms. It influenced the aviation industry with the reduced aircraft orders and deliveries for OEMs and MRO providers which witnessed the decline in the market growth. The OEMs have borne the brunt on themselves.

• As per the research study of the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the demand reduction of international passengers by 75.6% in 2020, and the domestic market slipped 48.8% compared to 2019.


• According to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) yearly report, the manufacturers have witnessed a reduction in aircraft orders and delays in aircraft deliveries which are anticipated to impact on new pilot recruitments worldwide.

LATEST TRENDS

High Demand for Digital and Bluetooth Enabled Active Noise Reduction Headsets to Accelerate Market Growth

Recently, the new digital noise reduction (DNR) aviation headset is the elevated ANR aviation headset version which facilitates features such as Bluetooth connectivity, extreme comfort, advanced microphone, lightweight among others. DNR aerospace headsets process the surrounding noise to reduce it to safe levels. It utilizes external microphones to gauge the noise in the external environment. Enhanced noise reduction can be achieved through more external microphones for better clarity in the communication during flight. Also, the high adoption rate of wireless communication systems and its components has fueled the demand for the Bluetooth aviation headsets.

DRIVING FACTORS

High Demand for Active Noise Reduction Headsets to Propel Market Growth

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic situation has adversely impacted the market share of the aviation market. Therefore, the market has witnessed the grounding of the aircraft fleets of airliners worldwide. It also reduced the hiring of the new pilots by the airline operators. The factors such as rising fleet of helicopters, military aviation fleet expansion worldwide, and rise in the recreational activities requirement are the factors influencing the demand for active noise reduction headsets. For instance, David Clark Company produces DC PRO-2 Series headsets in both variants such as active and passive aviation headsets and comes with a dedicated headset bag.

Growing Demand in Business and Military Aviation to Impact Market Growth Post 2022

The increment in the cross-border disputes, anti-terror operations, and the expansion of army aviation as a part of army modernization worldwide are other influencing factors for the market growth. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the nature of air travel, worldwide travel restrictions, social distancing norms and high demand for business aviation. This development has impacted the demand worldwide. In November 2020, according to CAE, Canadian training and simulator provider, despite mass pilot lay-offs, the global commercial aviation will require an estimated 27,000 new pilots in 2021 and 264,000 in the upcoming decade.

RESTRAINING FACTORS

Integration of Aircraft Autopilot System to Impact New Pilot Recruitment and Restrain Market Growth

The rise in the level of automation of the aircraft flight management system such as the aircraft autopilot system, as the airline operators are relying on the increased rate of the aircraft automation for their aircraft fleets. This development is anticipated to impact on the new pilot recruitment by the airline operators globally. Also, the headsets are highly complex and is required to meet the minimum performance standards by regional aviation agencies. This requirement impacts on the costing of airborne platform-based headsets which restrain the aviation headsets market growth.

SEGMENTATION

By Noise Cancellation Mode Analysis

High Demand for Active Noise Reduction Aviation Headsets May Propel Market Growth

Based on Noise Cancellation Mode, the market is segmented into active noise reduction (ANR) aviation headsets and passive noise reduction (PNR) aviation headsets.

Active noise reduction headsets segment is anticipated to hold the dominant market share in 2020. This is attributable to high demand for the active noise cancellation technology amongst the pilots. Thus, technological advancements such as digital active noise reduction systems and embedded headsets are being used for hearing protection and clear communications.

Passive noise reduction headsets are anticipated to grow at a steady growth rate where low noise cancellation is required during air transportation, as it utilizes ear pads for physically blocking cockpit noise by creating a tight seal.

By Design Type Analysis

On-ear Segment to Witness Growth

The market is bifurcated into on-ear and in-ear.

On-ear segment holds the dominant aviation headsets market share in 2020 owing to high demand for these headsets with variable fits and better noise reduction capability. Majority in the market are on-ear headsets from the OEMs such as Bose Corporation, David Clark Company, Lightspeed Aviation and others.

 In-ear segment is anticipated to witness the market growth during the forecast period owing to the high demand for lightweight, compact and high noise isolation.

By Application Analysis

Commercial Aviation Segment to Hold as Dominant Segment

The market is classified into commercial aviation, military aviation, flight school, helicopter, and recreational activities based on application. The commercial aviation segment is anticipated to hold the dominant market share in 2020. The growth is attributed to the worldwide air transportation enhancement and new airport construction for better connectivity which has impacted on the rise in the number of aircraft fleet and new pilot recruitment amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The military aviation segment is anticipated to be the second-largest by market share in 2020 due to the expansion of the military aviation wing and the acquisition of the military transport aircraft fleet worldwide. The recreational activities segment is anticipated to be the fastest-growing segment during the forecast period attributed to rise in demand for recreational activities and aircraft for recreational activities worldwide. The helicopter segment is anticipated to grow at a significant CAGR during the forecast period due to rising number or order and deliveries of the helicopters across the globe for various commercial and healthcare applications.

REGIONAL INSIGHTS

The market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, The Middle East, and Rest of the World.

North America is the largest and dominant region globally, with a market size of USD 17.8 million in 2020. The regional growth of the aviation market is propelled by a high adoption rate of aviation grade headsets for the applications such as recreational, business, and military aviation along with a number of flight schools across the region. The presence of key drone manufacturers in the U.S. such as David Clark Company, Telex, Lightspeed Aviation, Pilot Communications USA and others have influenced the market growth within the region and worldwide.

Europe is the second-largest region, this market growth is owing to high investment rate in noise cancellation technology by OEMs and governments alike, a barrage of government initiatives for a robust air transportation infrastructure and other systems amid the ongoing pandemic. Also, the presence of the OEMs in the region are expected to propel the market growth.

Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region, the market growth in the region is attributed to the high number of the first-time flyers and the expansion of existing air transportation infrastructure and building of new airports in the region for enhanced air connectivity and the presence of emerging economies which are still relying on its pilots than auto-pilot system.

Rest of the World is evaluated to have a moderate growth rate. This growth is anticipated to be influenced by the rising adoption rate of business aviation and recreational activities and market expansion by market players.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Bose Corporation is among Leading Key Market Players Operating in Market with Worldwide Presence.

Bose Corporation is an American audio equipment manufacturer which is best known for noise cancelling headphones for various industries, professional audio products, home audio systems and speakers, and automotive sound systems.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot’s unprotected exposure to loud aviation noise for more than eight hour daily over the chronic period of exposure may damage the hearing capacity permanently. It has established guidelines to the OEMs through FAA TSO (Technical Standard Order) C-139a. It states that the OEMs should meet at least the minimum performance standards (MPS) for airborne audio systems and equipment.

The competition in the market has towered the standards for new entrants, thereby challenging the major players based on their products’ quality and price. Thus, major players such as LightSpeed, David Clark Company, Faro Aviation, Sennheiser, Bosch Security Systems are focusing on geographic reach, specifically worldwide to endure their global market position and high demand for headsets amongst pilots amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

LIST OF KEY COMPANIES PROFILED:

• David Clark Company Inc. (Worcester, U.S.)


• Sennheiser Electronic GmbH & Co. KG (Wedemark, Germany)


• Bosch Sicherheitssysteme GmbH (Bosch Security Systems GmbH) (Grasbrunn, Germany)


• Clarity Aloft Technologies Inc. (Maple Grove, Minnesota, U.S.)


• The 3M Company (Saint Paul, Minnesota, U.S.)


• Telex Communications Inc. (Burnsville, Minnesota, U.S.)


• Lightspeed Aviation Inc. (Oregon, Ohio, U.S.)


• Faro Aviation LLC (Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.)


• Pilot Communications USA (Irvine, U.S.)


• MicroAvionics UK Ltd. (Horsley, Derbyshire, U.K.)


• Flightcom Corporation (Portland, Oregon, U.S.)


• AKG Acoustics GmbH (Salzberg, Austria)


• Sonova Communications AG (formerly Phonak Communications AG) (Murten, Switzerland)


• Plantronics Inc. (Santa Cruz, California, U.S.)

KEY INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENTS:

• July 2020 – Telex Communications, a Bosch security systems subsidiary unveiled Airman 8 plus ANR aviation headset which is specially designed for business and commercial aircraft pilots.  It features more comfort, high noise reduction, and increased stability.


• July 2019 – Bose Corporation has launched the new Bose ProFlight Series 2 aviation headset which features the digital ANR capabilities, in-ear Design Type, three noise reduction mode, and lightweight for commercial aviation.

REPORT COVERAGE

The market report provides a detailed analysis of the market. It focuses on key aspects, such as leading companies, service types, and leading applications of aviation headsets. Besides this, the report offers insights into the market trends and highlights key industry developments. Moreover, the report encompasses various key factors contributing to the market's growth over recent years.

Report Scope & Segmentation