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Are
you concerned about the various noises that you hear
when you are sitting in a plane?
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Large
passenger jets have engines (to move), hydraulic systems
(to power flaps, and power under carriage retraction and
extension, power flight controls, and power the wheel brakes),
pneumatics (for air conditioning and some flight controls),
and electrics. All
of these can create noise at some time and are totally
normal. Systems on aeroplanes make noises just like systems
on cars make noises.
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will need a media plug-in for your browser to hear the "Play" noises. |
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Before
the plane's engines are started the
air-conditioning system can make strong wind type noises
as the crew check their various system sources
and fan enhancements.
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During
engine start you will hear the engines slowly wind up to an idle power
setting. You will then hear some engine noise until you
arrive at destination and the engines are shut down. |
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As
you taxi-out you might hear motors running that extend the wing flaps for
take-off. It is also common to hear the nose wheel steering
system groaning as the hydraulics power the steering system.
If it has been raining it is not uncommon to hear the wheels
skid on the paint markings on the runway. It sounds like
a groaning noise. |
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Take-Off. The engines will be set to the required take-off thrust
setting, and this will be loud. After the plane becomes
airborne the wheels will be retracted. You will hear hydraulic
motor noises and sometimes slight wheel out of balance
as the gear retracts. A minute or two after take-off the
pilots will start to retract the flaps, again hydraulic
and some air noise, and then climb power will be set. Temperature
is the most limiting property on an engine, so after take-off
power is reduced to reduce the engine temperature. The
full power position is always available if needed. |
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Climbing
during the flight. Without trying to bore you, for every weight
there is an optimum height to fly. It is not practical
to be constantly climbing so the optimum height is bracketed.
Every 2-3 hours a plane may climb to reach its optimum
height. During this you might hear a slight increase in
engine noise, it is not uncommon to hear an increase in
air conditioning noise as the power increases as well. |
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Descent.
Expect the engine noise to decrease as the power is reduced
to an idle position and the aircraft glides to destination. |
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Approach
and land. Again
the flaps and landing gear have to be extended, so expect
similar noises to that experienced after take-off. Sometimes
pilots have to use their "speed brakes" to conform
with Air Traffic instructions. Speed brakes are metal panels
that are located on top of the wing and allow the pilot
to create drag. Pilots use these when Air Traffic Controllers
hold the plane high to meet some requirement.
The speed brakes will cause a slight turbulent feeling throughout the plane and
can create a change in wind noise. This is totally normal. During the approach
engine noise will increase because the pilot wants to fly a constant airspeed
approach to the runway. |
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Landing. The
pilot will flare the aircraft and reduce the power to "idle"
and hence the noise will decrease momentarily.
After the wheels touch down it is usual for the pilot to
select reverse thrust to aid in stopping the plane on the
runway. The engine does not go into reverse, the air from
the back of the engine is deflected forward retarding the
plane's travel. |
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Taxi-in
and shutdown will be similar to the taxi out for take-off as
flaps are retracted. |
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Park at the gate.
Engines will be shutdown and the engine noise will decrease
to zero. |
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