Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
Quiet plane keeps Airbus A380 pilots awake
I can never sleep on planes. But it's not because of crying babies, the lack of leg room, or the smelly, shifty guy that I always seem to sit next to. No, above all else, I blame the deafening rumble of the engines for keeping me awake.
So that's why I was surprised to see that some pilots are complaining that they can't sleep on the massive Airbus A380 because the plane is-- get this-- too quiet. "We're getting a lot of complaints. It's not something we expected," says Emirates Vice President Ed Davidson.
On most long flights where pilots need to catch some shut-eye, the loud engines drown out the sound of passenger noise, flushing toilets, and the inevitable "dings." But on the surprisingly quiet A380, pilots say they're being kept awake by all the cabin noise, which travels right through their ear plugs.
Unsolicited tip: Get some better ear plugs. Problem solved.
More here. Slate reviews the best ear plugs here.
Other tales from the skies
Amazing and insane stories from a real-life flight attendant and co-pilot
Filed under: Airlines, Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
DJ Dec 14th 2008 2:58PM
Here's a tip,,,STAY AWAKE AND FLY THE FREAKING PLANE
wolf Dec 15th 2008 8:27PM
On multi leg or extremely long trips pilots "rotate" on and off duty... or do you want your pilot to be tired on landing?
Brenda SFO Dec 15th 2008 10:03PM
Wolf, what is it Mark Twain said? I think it was something along the lines of "It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid, than to open it and remove all doubt."
Obviously there are people here unfamiliar with the A380, the size of that beast, or the distances and hours it flies. Uh...duh...
Willy Duer Dec 15th 2008 11:11PM
Brenda here's another great quote by me..."DO SOME F*CKING RESEARCH!" before you type anything about something you know nothing about. I fly for a living and frankly the engine noise is like a lullaby to me! Eventhough that plane can pretty much land itself, you still need an alert pilot to take over the controls incase something happens...besides...if im going to get paid to sleep for 3 or 4 hours...i want it to be a good dang sleep!
JD Dec 15th 2008 11:47PM
DJ-SHUT UP! You know where you should stick your tips?
You're obviously an IDIOT! and not a pilot. You don't think the captain sits in his chair and flies the plane on 11 hour (or longer) flights do you? Ever heard of the Co-Pilot or second seat or second officer or auto-pilot for that matter. Landing is when you want your pilot at his/her MOST ALERT. What a dumb ass you are.
Brenda SFO Dec 16th 2008 1:08AM
Hey Willy Duer - get over yourself and re-read my post before you go shooting out of your pie hole! Obviously you have an issue with reading comprehension and can't see that I was defending pilots. Pilots like you are the very reason why I have to defend my "intelligent" pilot friends.
Joe Dec 15th 2008 5:48AM
I know how that feels, the droning of the engines (car, plane, or train) usually knock me out after an hour or so. The only time I stayed awake was when I was seated in first. The moodlighting, and silence just made it eery.
Alan Dec 15th 2008 8:19PM
I know what they mean. I had new mufflers put on my car and now I can't sleep at all.
les Dec 15th 2008 8:34PM
i am a capt. on a tugboat and if the engines are to quiet i can't sleep either. it's something you get used to after riding planes, trains and boats. it's really not the outside noise that keeps me awake it's the outside quiet. new vessels have so much insulation you can barely hear thousands of horsepower right under your head.
Joey Dec 16th 2008 1:02AM
I know how it is i am a over the road truck driver . I cant sleep unless truck is running i am so used to noise and vibration.
susie q Dec 15th 2008 8:41PM
how about those people that pass gas on the plane. that could keep anyone awake
Rocky Dec 15th 2008 9:16PM
Are you supposed to be paid for sleeping or flying the plane, I do believe it is flying the plane, try sleeping when off from flying instead of chasing the stewardesses around.
lunamorgan Dec 15th 2008 10:11PM
As the commenter above mentioned, pilots are SUPPOSED to rotate shifts and sleep during long flights because a pilot without sleep on a 14 hour flight is a danger to everyone on board. So if you'd like to die in a crash incident, complain about them sleeping, but if you'd like to land safely, learn a little something about how these things work before shouting out the first thing that comes to mind.
albino_monkey Dec 15th 2008 9:37PM
Fairly amusing! Poor things!!!
Bill Dec 15th 2008 9:55PM
Try sticking your head out the window.
Laun Dec 16th 2008 2:05AM
try sticking your head out the exhaust.
Za Dec 15th 2008 10:19PM
QUIT
Za Dec 15th 2008 10:22PM
Force everyone to shutup!
Hugh Dec 15th 2008 10:32PM
Cuz you have an infection.
mark Dec 15th 2008 10:44PM
Whats the difference between a pilot and a jet engine?.......A jet engine quits whinning when it reaches the gate.