An arrangement for at least one of communication and noise attenuation within an aircraft, the arrangement comprising: an array of first microphones disposed generally in front of a first cockpit seat and unobstructedly directed towards a first aircraft operator when the first aircraft operator is disposed in the first cockpit seat to cooperatively receive a first communication input from the first aircraft operator; and an array of first speakers directed towards the first aircraft operator when disposed in the first cockpit seat to cooperatively provide a first communication output to the first aircraft operator, an array of second microphones disposed generally in front of a second cockpit seat and unobstructedly directed towards a second aircraft operator when the second aircraft operator is disposed in the second cockpit seat to cooperatively receive a second communication input from the second aircraft operator; an array of second speakers directed towards the second aircraft operator when disposed in the second cockpit seat to cooperatively provide a second communication output to the second aircraft operator, wherein the first cockpit seat and the second cockpit seat are adjacent to each other; and a controller that is in communication with the array of first microphones , the array of second microphones , the array of first speakers , and the array of second speakers , wherein the controller is operative to use an algorithm for controlling communication, wherein the controller is configured to provide adaptive control such that the first aircraft operator can independently control the array of first microphones and the array of first speakers , and the second aircraft operator can independently control the array of second microphones and the array of second speakers to create a customized acoustic environment, independently around each of the first and second aircraft operators. an array of first microphones disposed generally in front of a first cockpit seat and unobstructedly directed towards a first aircraft operator when the first aircraft operator is disposed in the first cockpit seat to cooperatively receive a first communication input from the first aircraft operator; and an array of first speakers directed towards the first aircraft operator when disposed in the first cockpit seat to cooperatively provide a first communication output to the first aircraft operator, an array of second microphones disposed generally in front of a second cockpit seat and unobstructedly directed towards a second aircraft operator when the second aircraft operator is disposed in the second cockpit seat to cooperatively receive a second communication input from the second aircraft operator; an array of second speakers directed towards the second aircraft operator when disposed in the second cockpit seat to cooperatively provide a second communication output to the second aircraft operator, wherein the first cockpit seat and the second cockpit seat are adjacent to each other; and a controller that is in communication with the array of first microphones , the array of second microphones , the array of first speakers , and the array of second speakers , wherein the controller is operative to use an algorithm for controlling communication, wherein the controller is configured to provide adaptive control such that the first aircraft operator can independently control the array of first microphones and the array of first speakers , and the second aircraft operator can independently control the array of second microphones and the array of second speakers to create a customized acoustic environment, independently around each of the first and second aircraft operators. <EOS>