Nowadays aviation noise significantly affects a number of people over the world. This paper is mainly focused on the effect of temporary and permanent hearing loss of cockpit crew, flight attendants, passengers, persons in communities exposed to aircraft overflight. Also this paper describes the human hearing mechanism and the processes of temporary and permanent hearing loss. The results of research are presented and the potential for hearing loss in aviation noise environments evaluated. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hearing protection criteria are also addressed.