An Excerpt from                                                                                     Copyright © FPSI  Publications

The Miracle of Flight

by Mark Friedman

First time fliers are sometimes surprised by the astonishing number of noises which airplanes make. These noises actually have a simple explanation. The airplane is in the process of coming apart in mid flight. Every sound you hear is one more bit of wear and tear on an old piece of machinery which has no business being 35,000 feet above Mother Earth.

There is really nothing to worry about. FAA regulators have a system in place for assuring the regular maintenance and repair of every airplane in service. This system involves analyzing crashes and making sure that that particular crash never happens again. This means that only new crashes will occur. Eventually the airline industry will run out of ways to make airplanes crash and everything will be all right. Unfortunately this will not happen in your lifetime.

Some of the most common noises which you may hear on your next flight include:

Shudder and vibration right after takeoff: This is the airplane expressing the thought, "Not again. I just did this." Machines have funny ways of expressing themselves.

Grating and grinding sound just before landing: This is the pilot extending or lowering the flaps of the airplane. Flaps are parts of the wing that make it bigger and more stable during slower flight The sound of lowering flaps should be music to a travelers ears. It means "We're almost there." It also means you are about to enter the most dangerous part of the flight. It's pretty easy to make an airplane take off. Point it down the runway. Run up the engines and it pretty much takes off by itself. Landing is another matter. It requires that some fatigued older (read experienced) person find this little tiny strip of concrete and lightly set down some 20 ton contraption. Nothing to worry about.

Dull thud, also just before landing: This is the pilot lowering the landing gear. It feels like someone just punched the airplane in the stomach. It is accompanied by a jolt as the airplane slows down due to increased drag. This sound should alarm you only if you don't hear it. If for some reason you believe the pilot has forgotten to lower the landing gear then you should inform the flight crew by gesturing to them. The international signal for "the pilot forgot to lower the landing gear" is both arms crossed in an "x" above your head while you bounce up and down in your seat.

Low moan during descent: This is the sound of all the passengers on the plane experiencing pain in their ears. This is caused by the change in pressure on the inner and outer ear causing the inner ear to think seriously about exploding. This sound has nothing to do with the airplane itself. And it should gradually go away as you lose your hearing from all the air travel you do.