Gear Up 'ding'?
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Gear Up 'ding'?
I have often heard a 'ding' several seconds after take off. An FA told me this is the signal that the gear is up.
Is this correct and if so why is it only heard on some aircraft and not others, even aircraft of the same model seem to vary?
Is this correct and if so why is it only heard on some aircraft and not others, even aircraft of the same model seem to vary?
Dog Tired
The ding is a cabin chime which signals the no-smoking sign going out (whether or not it actually does will depend on the airline). Watch the signs next take off.
Last edited by fantom; 30th Jul 2013 at 11:41.
In many aircraft the chime will happen once the aircraft gear is fully retracted or extended to signal that the emergency lights have come on or off. Such as the emergency exit signs which will light up when the gear is extended in preparation for any possible ground evacuation. Once airborne and the gear is up these lights will switch off.
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Airbus v Boeing
I always thought it was an automatic airbus feature. When the wheels go up the exit sign lights extinguish which may or may not be accompanied by a chime and when the landing gear is extended the exit signs illuminate accompanied by a chime. In some airlines, this may also indicate the beginning of the "no contact period" when crew are not to call the flight deck for any reason due to the high work load and critical phase of flight, ie take off and final stages of landing. There are specific ways the cabin crew would be able to alert the flight crew and other cabin crew and passengers of some type of emergency situation in this instance without the distraction of making a call to the flight deck on the inter phone. It may very well be a legacy feature of the days when smoking was allowed but I think if it has any useful feature these days that would be it.
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On the Boeings I have flown the No Smoking sign was related to the gear and there was an associated 'ding' when the sign cycled between on and off, in the same way the Seat Belt sign and 'ding' was related to the flaps fully up or about to go down. In both cases the 'off' sign can be over ridden from the manual switches on the flight deck. ISTR!
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On the B747-400, the 'No Smoking' sign is controlled by a three position switch on the flight deck, 'On', 'Off' and 'Auto'. When set to 'Auto', the 'No Smoking' signs will go off when the gear is up after take-off. There is a 'ding' when this happens to let the smokers know that they can get the ciggies out. You will also notice the 'ding' when the gear goes down. The 'Seat Belt' sign also uses the same 'ding' when going on or off
Nowadays, because of the regulations, the switch is always left in the 'On' position. However, the 'ding' is controlled by a different electrical circuit to that which controls the actual signs, so still occurs.
Nowadays, because of the regulations, the switch is always left in the 'On' position. However, the 'ding' is controlled by a different electrical circuit to that which controls the actual signs, so still occurs.
LadyL2013- there is a definite reason and the answer is in the replies! When the No Smoking sign is in AUTO the EXIT signs go off when the landing gear is retracted and go on when the landing gear is extended. A low tone chime sounds (aka "ding") when the lights go on or off. The No Smoking sign switch is used for the logic because it is the one switch that doesn't need to be used throughout the flight. Next time you are flying look around you to see where the exit signs are. When you hear the ding look to see if the lights are on or off. Repeat the exercise when you are coming into land. When you witness the magic of Airbus/Boeing first hand then turn to your fellow travelers and demonstrate your knowledge by explaining why they keep hearing dings everytime the gear goes up and down.
Last edited by Lookleft; 1st Aug 2013 at 01:18.
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I am unable to sleep very well on a flight anyway but if I do manage to sleep that ding always wakes me up instantly. My little mind
always thinks it mean turbulence and that's it I am awake from then on.
always thinks it mean turbulence and that's it I am awake from then on.
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I am unable to sleep very well on a flight anyway but if I do manage to sleep that ding always wakes me up instantly
Hopefully that was an attempt at humour, but it is worth pointing out to others that one is REQUIRED to be awake at those points. They are called 'take off' and 'landing'.
You could, of course, be operating crew.......................
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It is a bit aircraft specific i'm afraid. For example on our 737s the fasten seat belt switch has the positions ON, AUTO, OFF. In AUTO it will ding and switch the fasten seat belts off when the flaps retract and vice versa when they are deployed. The no smoking switch used to do the same with the gear but has since been reconfigured into a chime switch and is used to manually signal the cabin crews for release to work during climb or the pre-landing 30 second review (at gear down). Especially the release to work after take off is not done automatically as it is situation dependent and is therefore used manually when conditions are suitable for cabin crew work.
The fasten seat belt is switched off only on the ground and used in auto in flight so that the fasten seat belts will switch on latest when configuring for final approach.
The fasten seat belt is switched off only on the ground and used in auto in flight so that the fasten seat belts will switch on latest when configuring for final approach.
Last edited by Denti; 1st Aug 2013 at 09:40.
