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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.
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Filed under: Airlines, Transportation
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
o Dec 15th 2008 10:57PM
...ain't that a bitch!
PartyMarty2000 Dec 15th 2008 11:29PM
Its called white noise... Similar to the noise my ex-wife use to make
Heidi Dietrich Dec 15th 2008 11:58PM
I sleep better when there is noise around too. I am one of nine and quiet drives me nuts. And all you idiots who spout off, grow the hell up.
otrpu Dec 16th 2008 12:31AM
Ya, think I prefer my pilots stay awake also.
otrpu Dec 16th 2008 12:48AM
Ya, think I prefer my pilots stay awake also.
Tommy Dec 16th 2008 1:05AM
When I was in the Navy the ships I sailed on were powered by LM 2500 jet turbines, if we lost power I would wake up. I still sleep with a fan on so that things are not too quite. I know what the guys are saying.
Nancy Dec 16th 2008 4:19AM
Some of you obviously have never traveled on intercontinental flights. You'd better HOPE your pilots are getting some nap time en route on long-haul legs. There's either an RFO (Reserve First Officer), who can step in and relieve either captain or copilot, or there's a second separate full crew, who relieves the first crew. Either way, there's someone relatively fresh at the controls upon landing. You think that if a pilot naps, one of the seats in the cockpit is sitting empty? As if. Beware of shooting your mouth off on subjects you know nothing about -- you can shoot off a few toes in the process.
DJ Dec 16th 2008 6:04AM
Wow, JD, are you always so rude and touchy? You are welcome to call me a "dumb ass", but you are the one showing your true colors...shame on you. Sad that you can't understand what being "facetious" is....I think you may want to re-evaluate who's the "dumb ass".
Bryan Dec 17th 2008 3:31PM
Boeing should take note then, cus the 787 is supposed to be even quieter than the A380. This isn't Airbus's fault, its Emirates for configuring their plane the way they did and putting their crew rest at the back of the plane instead of where SIA and Qantas put it. But of course, Airbus will have to help solve it somehow cus you can't tell one of your biggest customers to f**k off and fix it themselves.