Child sized ear plugs. EarPlanes are a patented pressure-regulating earplug inserted in the ear to help reduce discomfort often associated with air travel. They were developed by Cirrus Healthcare Products LLC in conjunction with the House Ear Institute in Los Angeles, and have been tested by US Navy aviators at the Miramar Naval Air Station in San Diego. The US Food and Drug Administration has designated EarPlanes as a "class 1" medical device, and as such, they may be purchased over the counter without a prescription.