When i am sitting in the plane as a passenger, i find the the sound level is not really loud at take-off......

Question

.... But, when in cruise and on approach (landing), I find that it is really loud. So, how can this be, because at take-off, normally, you have max. power, while on approach, your power is much less (or has this all something to do with the ears?).

Answer 1

Look up Doppler Effect-

Same as an approaching Train sounding it's whistle

Sounds louder as it approaches and changes pitch and sounds quieter once it passes.

Answer 2

I don't know, but the solution is to get some noise-cancellation headphones.

Answer 3

The answer is actually quite simple. On take off the A/C is a more aerodynamic figure. Wings are extended to a minumum and once the A/C in the air the landing gear is retracted. So there is minimum noise from air. But on landing the wings are extented further, for a slower speed, the landing gear is extended, landing lights are extented. All this causes air resistance and noise. Once you land and the A/C has to slow down they deploy the reversers. Which means they force the air going through the engine in the opposite direction of normal flow forcing more resistance and noise. Once the A/C has slowed enough the reversers are stowed and the noise disappears.

Answer 4

i noticed the same thing.

my instructor told me it had something to do with your situational awareness ie: your more attentive, more aware of everything, more alert. during approach and landing

also, she said the sound's pitch and sounds continuity may also have been a factor. ie: lower pitch when power is lower. and when you hear the same sound at the same loudness, at thte same pitch for a long time, your brain tends to expect the sound to keep coming so when it doesn't, your ears listen more closely for the sound and you notice a difference in amplitude of the sound.(loudness)

Answer 5

Well let's say you're not the most enthusiastic flyer, so at takoff you close your eyes grab the handrest, and try to not listen to the engines. While in cruise you relax get a drink and start to enjoy the flight, and at landing you are still relaxed from the previous part of the flight, so you just listen to the engines.

Another possibility is that you were in the front at takeoff, where the is less noise, and in cruise you moved to behind the engine where there is more noise.