Airbus Noises
 

Hi. Whilst I fly my own (Arrow) I have the pleasure of letting BA do the flying to Edinburgh every week.

Whilst Boeings are virtually silent Airbus aircraft always seem to

(a) have some sort of pump? situated around the middle of the aircraft. This seems to make a noise like an old mini with a failing battery that will not start! Does anyone know what it is? Just came in today on an Air France plane, and it did it as well - so it is not a BA thing!

(b) Whist taxiing airbusses seem to thump and clank. Again it seems to be all of them, but some are worse than others! It sounds like to gear is going to fall off.

Any explanations would be gratefully received!

Thanks

If the 'old mini' sound is a bit like a barking dog in the hold then its the hydraulic power transfer unit, which transfers hydraulic pressure between the green and yellow hydraulic systems in the event of failure of one of the engine driven pumps. The noise is usually heard during engine start when the PTU performs a self test sequence.

Don't know the answer to part b, perhaps we're riding over the taxiway lights? I've done lots of sectors on the Airbus and haven't had the gear fall off yet, but there's a first time for everything.:eek:

Think it's probably the brakes, and the parking brake. They seem a little agricultural after the B737.

Wasn't the clunking noise covered in this forum some time ago? I think the experts said brakes.

By the way, both noises are common on this side of the pond. I've experienced them on Air Canuck, Canada 3000, and a few US airlines.

Fly Boeing...No noise, just another relaxing flying experience!:)

Here we go again.:(

Had a dinner with a FA a couple of days ago. She said she doesn't like to fly on Airbus because of the strange sounds this aircraft makes... :D :p

:D lol

Hey,
Just looking through the ADRES for the A320......there is quite alot of things in the middle of the plane from...flap-right-hand-gearboxes to fuel pumps....so theres a lot of things to make a noise..
Been on an A320 recently...the brakes to tend to make a clunk as they are applied...you can feel it quite alot in the cabin whilst braking...the parking brake makes a noise as it goes off....
aah the joys of the Airbus......

Regards,
Matthew

I'd really like to know what makes the loud popping noises during climb. Sounds like the doors "seating" as the differential pressure increases. Unnerving to say the least. After the first experience, I left the cockpit door closed for all subsequent ferry flights.

GreenArc

Hey,
Popping..hmm..ur ears hahaha...no really...I don't know what it could have been.....maybe because the aircraft was light..cos it was on a positioning flight...right? went i have been on the A320 the last time..on the outbound flight I was sitting at seat 2F...two rows from the front doors..never heard a popping..ont he return flight..I was sitting right next to the emergency exit..no popping either...hmm

Hi all,
To my mind, the sounds at the centre section of the aircraft are usually the hydraulic motors that power the wing flaps, most of the other sounds are constant, ie fuel pumps etc, but the flaps only run during taxi, after take-off, on approach and after landing, for short periods at a time, no problem!
Cheers

There was a similar thread a while back:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthr...ghlight=oilcan

The main doors make a loud cracking noise as the aircraft climbs, loud enough to be heard in the flight deck through a closed door and an ANR headset! Sounds like somebody slamming the cupboard doors in the galley!

777-thingy

Boeing - quiet???

You obviously haven't had 'the pleasure' of the 737 NG (I've realised this stands for 'No Good' contrary to Boeing propaganda).

Sorry, I said:

'YOU OBVIOUSLY HAVEN'T HAD THE PLEASURE OF THE 737 NG!!!'

The loudest flight deck in my experience. It's taught me to look back favourably on turboprop days because the flight deck was quieter!

No wonder the Orange boys are buying the quality product - not the 1950s aircraft with posh ICE!

(Forgive me Father for I have sinned... I tried to stop myself but couldn't... I opened up the old 'bus versus Boeing debate on PPRuNE again...)

I have ridden in the A320 a lot, when I was working in Munich and going back and forth with LH for 18 months.

I have sat all over the place and never heard no popping!!! Of course, I might simply have ascribed the noise to the gear doors closing and so have thought nothing to it. :)

The flaps are no noiser than on 737s, I would say. The noise that most people comment on (and there was a thread recently) is the particular engine noise at t/o. I cannot recall which manufacturers engines it is, but there is a highly distinctive whine when they spool up. Also, on final. As I say, I know what they are, so it doesn't bother me and I will tell any anxious pax next to me.

Now, what about the noise of BAe 146/RJ flaps in transit? Not to mention their gear doors. ;)

Hey,
Could be the packs/a/c ducts! - but dont pilots switch the packs off for t/o?? hmmm

No.

Can only answer q1 part a
 

The noise is the PTU as mentioned earlier,

It does a self test between engine starts, and also ops during gnd handling procedures, i.e. opening of the cargo doors!

Ta:)

If you want to hear just how many noses an Airbus can make - fly down the back when it's empty!!!! Sounds like the haunted house at Alton Towers with all those clunks, bangs and creaks!!!! And before anyone starts - yes I do fly the bus and love it with all my heart!

Sorry - a bit off topic, but in answer to paxboy's question about the 146 noise - I am informed that it is air going supersonic between the flap and the wing as they retract. Hope this helps.:)