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have just returned from a weeks snowboarding in Austria flew into Salzburg with Air 2000 on the A321 both ways. outbound to SZG the approach was quite noisy and it was very noticeable when undercarriage lowered, but going into STN I did not hear any undercarriage noise only small amount of flap noise...
so my question is do they use a different approach config into SZG which results in increased noise??
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Nope. Unless they're not operating to Airbus SOPs they'll be landing with Flap Full (and gear down, natch!) It could be that flaps and gear were selected at different times (ie speeds) on the two approaches, or that what you heard wasn't the gear; the speed brakes are pretty noisy and cause a very noticeable rumble. Lastly, where you are sitting, relative to the wing, will make an enormous difference.
seating was fairly similar on both directions... row 22 and 16 i think.... .speedbrakes might be the answer.. it was a bit strange as the STN approach was sufficiently noiseless for me to wonder as to whether the gear had been lowered! ( unlikely, yes... unknown, no!!) but obviously had that been the case the TD would have been somewhat firmer and a bit more would have been written about it here.
also i found the A321 unnaturally long, it seemed to need another aisle... a bit more in proportion... oh well, the mumblings of a mad man no doubt!
The difference of just a few rows can make all the difference. The positions of the actuators etc. A320/321 actuators are renowned for their noisiness.
[ 22 January 2002: Message edited by: loggerhead ]</p>
A321 speedbrakes are not the most effective in the industry. They are 1/2 the angle of the A320 and can only be used through Flap 2. If you are in a slam/dunk situation, the gear is the only way you can make a rapid descent. Depending upon speed restrictions, the gear may be extended before flaps to slow down and increase the descent rate. The latter situaiton was probably normal when the gear is extended after Flap2 or 3, depending upon company procedures and you do not get the wind noise of the higher speed extension.
Is it me or is the 757-200 the quitest plane??!! I went on one with Britannia to Malta last August ( Friom Birmingham)and i was so surprised how smooth it was. The takeoff was so smooth and we landed well too! Are Airbus known to be less comfortable than Boeing ???????
Try the A340 for size; quitest aircraft I ever had the oppertunity to pax in. Sat next to engine 3 and during cruise the only noise heard was ..... the aircon.
And noise is so very dependent on where you're sitting. Take the MD80 for example. Up the sharp end you hardly hear the engines start and during t/o they still only produce a distant roar. However, move down to the last row and be seated next to those JT8D's and it's a completely different story.
A321 Approach config.. any Air 2000 drivers...
