Singapore Expats

Airbus A380 operator Emirates has encountered an unexpected problem with the aircraft - it's "too quiet" for pilots to enjoy a quick kip in the crew rest area.

According to Flight International, the company's flyboys complain the lack of background engine noise means they can hear every wailing infant and flush of the vaccuum toilets from their sanctuary situated at the back of the cattle-class main deck. To add to pilots' woes, passengers also mistake the rest area for a toilet and continually pull on the door handle.

Full article at... http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/12/09/quiet_a380/

Travelling with an infant was harder on the A380 as we were acutely aware of exactly how disturbing our noises were to everyone else - give me a nice rumbly 747 every time!

Ahh...that's why the 737's were always a dream to fly (as tech crew) - there is a noisy recirculation fan on the flight deck...hard to hear all the SLF (Self Loading Freight!), unless someone was being ill in the head (toilet) behind the flight deck...that made conversation a little difficult on occasion, though

P.

durain wrote:Airbus A380 operator Emirates has encountered an unexpected problem with the aircraft - it's "too quiet" for pilots to enjoy a quick kip in the crew rest area.

....that's so they don't hear the thump when they crash into a mountain.

Most Airbus's are happy to fly themselves into forests as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5NXpar4Ouw

OK, so I'm ex-Boeing - and this probably isn't fair of me!

Capt. P