Can planes be quieter?

It might surprise you that today, aircraft are dramatically quieter than 50 years ago. A number of advancements have each helped to reduce aircraft noise, including: The introduction of modern turbojets and turbofan engines. The retirement of older and noisier aircraft.



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A moving aircraft causes friction and turbulence, which triggers sound waves. Generally, the faster the aircraft is flying, the more turbulence and friction will occur. When the aircraft's landing gear and flaps are used, more noise is made because more resistance is being created.

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One of the main sources of noise is wind. So during the design phase of modern aircraft, computational tools model the aerodynamics of the aeroplane to highlight areas of high airflow that are likely to increase cabin noise.

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Jet airliners, on the inside, are loudest in the last few rows at the rear. Outside, right at the engine exhausts, but you're in serious danger from the engine if you're anywhere near that. Most of the noise goes backwards away from the plane.

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Jet airliners, on the inside, are loudest in the last few rows at the rear. Outside, right at the engine exhausts, but you're in serious danger from the engine if you're anywhere near that. Most of the noise goes backwards away from the plane.

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Departures tend to be louder than arrivals since the pilot is using more power to the engine to achieve lift.

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The MLW is set in order to ensure safe landings; if an aircraft weighs too heavy during touchdown, it may suffer structural damage or even break apart upon landing.

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Since it is preferable to crash land on solid ground, and ideally close to an airport where emergency services are accessible, most airlines prefer to fly over land. Most flights are intended to spend as little time as possible over water, since storms are more common over the ocean than on land.

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During the day, when the air is warmer than the ground, noise energy from an airplane staying in the air, so while you can still hear it, it seems quieter. Conversely, at night, when the ground is warmer than the air, the noise is drawn down, making it seem louder.

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Take off requires much more thrust than level flight at steady speed. In order to accelerate the aeroplane, the engine throttles are at a very high setting on take off, which means you get the most noise.

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Airlines find that fuel dumping can actually be cheaper than not dumping in certain circumstances. But it's not something pilots do on a routine basis. We spoke with Alison Duquette, spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), who assured us that it doesn't happen very often.

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Question: Right after takeoff, it often seems that the pilot slows down and the plane drops somewhat. Why is that? I have noticed that it is pretty consistent. Answer: The sensation of slowing down is really one of slowing the rate of acceleration; this is due to reducing the thrust after takeoff to the climb setting.

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An altitude of 500 feet above the surface, except over open water or sparsely populated areas. In those cases, the aircraft may not be operated closer than 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure.

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Takeoff and landing are widely considered the most dangerous parts of a flight.

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What is the safest seat on an airplane? According to a TIME investigation from 2015 that examined 35 years of aircraft accident data, the middle seats at the back of the plane had the lowest fatality rate at 28%.

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However, statistically speaking, a seat close to an exit in the front or rear, or a middle seat in the back third of the plane offers the lowest fatality rate. That said, flying is still the safest form of transport.

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