Flew On My First ATR

GTE

Howdy,

I had a couple of flights on the new Aer Lingus ATR 72 aircraft recently. EI-FAT and EI-FAU (I think).

I was in row 3 for the first flight. As an audio engineer on someone very concerned about hearing damage, I never expected to have such a terribly loud experience. I always have a set of ear plugs with me for emergencies (or clubs) but the sheer level of noise at take off thrust was alarming. Certainly at the point at which employers would have to supply hearing protection to employees anyway.

On the way back I was in row 12 or 14 and things were much much better. Personally, I will pay for a seat at the back of the plane if I ever have to get one again. That or see if the cabin crew can help me out.

Other points:
- Great legroom
- Comfy seats
- Interior lighting is quite white, LED white if you understand me. Struck me as a bit tiring on the night flight back home.
- Nippy wee things during taxi

So, that is just a small post about what I thought of these new planes which was mixed. I really can not say enough how disappointed I was at the volume of sound in the cabin at takeoff and would worry for the front cabin crews ears given it is their day to day job. The earplugs didnt come out till landing so it is a long term exposure that I am concerned with. The Dash 8 Q400 is a much better aircraft purely on in-flight noise alone.

The ATR looks very very smart in Aer Lingus colours too btw.

I notice some ATR 42s not in full Aer Lingus colours, are they on the way out?

bikeman1

bbk wrote: »

Howdy,

I had a couple of flights on the new Aer Lingus ATR 72 aircraft recently. EI-FAT and EI-FAU (I think).

I was in row 3 for the first flight. As an audio engineer on someone very concerned about hearing damage, I never expected to have such a terribly loud experience. I always have a set of ear plugs with me for emergencies (or clubs) but the sheer level of noise at take off thrust was alarming. Certainly at the point at which employers would have to supply hearing protection to employees anyway.

On the way back I was in row 12 or 14 and things were much much better. Personally, I will pay for a seat at the back of the plane if I ever have to get one again. That or see if the cabin crew can help me out.

Other points:
- Great legroom
- Comfy seats
- Interior lighting is quite white, LED white if you understand me. Struck me as a bit tiring on the night flight back home.
- Nippy wee things during taxi

So, that is just a small post about what I thought of these new planes which was mixed. I really can not say enough how disappointed I was at the volume of sound in the cabin at takeoff and would worry for the front cabin crews ears given it is their day to day job. The earplugs didnt come out till landing so it is a long term exposure that I am concerned with. The Dash 8 Q400 is a much better aircraft purely on in-flight noise alone.

The ATR looks very very smart in Aer Lingus colours too btw.

I notice some ATR 42s not in full Aer Lingus colours, are they on the way out?

Yes I have noticed that about the noise of the ATRs when sitting ahead of the engines / props. I was nearly deaf after flying back from Glasgow on EI-REI one night! Compared to a lovely flight out to EDI down the back with EI-REC.

I like them though. Wouldn't mind a spin on one of the brand new ones to see what they are like. Very fuel efficient as well.

FR85

bbk wrote: »

Howdy,

I had a couple of flights on the new Aer Lingus ATR 72 aircraft recently. EI-FAT and EI-FAU (I think).

I was in row 3 for the first flight. As an audio engineer on someone very concerned about hearing damage, I never expected to have such a terribly loud experience. I always have a set of ear plugs with me for emergencies (or clubs) but the sheer level of noise at take off thrust was alarming. Certainly at the point at which employers would have to supply hearing protection to employees anyway.

On the way back I was in row 12 or 14 and things were much much better. Personally, I will pay for a seat at the back of the plane if I ever have to get one again. That or see if the cabin crew can help me out.

Other points:
- Great legroom
- Comfy seats
- Interior lighting is quite white, LED white if you understand me. Struck me as a bit tiring on the night flight back home.
- Nippy wee things during taxi

So, that is just a small post about what I thought of these new planes which was mixed. I really can not say enough how disappointed I was at the volume of sound in the cabin at takeoff and would worry for the front cabin crews ears given it is their day to day job. The earplugs didnt come out till landing so it is a long term exposure that I am concerned with. The Dash 8 Q400 is a much better aircraft purely on in-flight noise alone.

The ATR looks very very smart in Aer Lingus colours too btw.

I notice some ATR 42s not in full Aer Lingus colours, are they on the way out?

Same as yourself, work with bands and like my hearing!! I was on EI-FAT the other week coming home from Aberdeen and was in row 1 and level was shocking!!! I was middle to rear on the way over and it wasn't half as bad. Perhaps TO power/wind/runway length might have something to do with it either.

Impressive little airplanes considering the combined passenger and baggage weight.........I didn't think we were going to make it!!!
Still, I prefer to see a big air scoop under a wing then a propeller!!

eusap

I have traveled on EI-FAS and EI-FAU a few times and i personally found them very quiet i always sit in row 1 or 2. The old ATR42 are deafening and the vibration is scary.

Using the decibel meter on my phone i recorded the noise level on the old ATR 42 to be 104 decibels and 90 on the new ones. Ok i know its not an accurate recording device but does give an indication of noise levels

GTE

eusap wrote: »

I have traveled on EI-FAS and EI-FAU a few times and i personally found them very quiet i always sit in row 1 or 2. The old ATR42 are deafening and the vibration is scary.

Using the decibel meter on my phone i recorded the noise level on the old ATR 42 to be 104 decibels and 90 on the new ones. Ok i know its not an accurate recording device but does give an indication of noise levels

Indeed, 104 is bad. That is around a 7 minute exposure before hearing damage. I don't trust those phone applications though. 90 is a bit low for what I heard. That said, loudness is subjective. One persons loud could be okay depending on peoples hearing health. If the figures are reliable, that's only a couple of hours exposure time.

There is something about the resonant frequency on the plane. It could be that a very small section of the plane is affected. Hmmm, would they allow me a days travel for research? Haha

eusap

bbk wrote: »

Indeed, 104 is bad. That is around a 7 minute exposure before hearing damage. I don't trust those phone applications though. 90 is a bit low for what I heard. That said, loudness is subjective. One persons loud could be okay depending on peoples hearing health. If the figures are reliable, that's only a couple of hours exposure time.

There is something about the resonant frequency on the plane. It could be that a very small section of the plane is affected. Hmmm, would they allow me a days travel for research? Haha

I know some of the ATR42 rattle so much it does make it sound louder, I am getting on one to Manchester on monday if you have some better kit to record sound

on a side note here is a small video of the ATR 72 propellor using instagram video http://instagram.com/p/eC5NpPMgia/

FWVT

I have db Noise Meter on Android and have checked it alongside a calibrated noise meter in the lab at work. It was within 1 dB at around 66 dB. Every 3 dB increase is a doubling of the sound intensity so to be within 1 is fairly good.

Standing at the southern point at the holding point (longterm carpark entrance) of R10 at Dublin I measured an A300 at 91 dB on initial takeoff.

GTE

FWVT wrote: »

I have db Noise Meter on Android and have checked it alongside a calibrated noise meter in the lab at work. It was within 1 dB at around 66 dB. Every 3 dB increase is a doubling of the sound intensity so to be within 1 is fairly good.

Standing at the southern point at the holding point (longterm carpark entrance) of R10 at Dublin I measured an A300 at 91 dB on initial takeoff.

+/- 1 dB is quite good but how did this hold through the frequency spectrum? Its the individual phone which is the sound app let down btw so let's be clear there. Once you know the good and bad points of an iPhone, they could be the most common standardised meter out there :-P Something like +/- 15 dB across the parts of the audible range. :-\

Anyway, far from the topic.