Squeaky A320 Cargo Doors

[MR AIRPORT]

A320PAX Sorry about the noise but it''s just the system works. For what ever reason the European aircraft make more noises than the Boeing aircraft. They just don''t build them like they do in Seattle.

 

[LavMan]

It is the hydrolic pumps used in opening and closing of the cargo door is what you hear.

 

[A320Pax]

EVERY time I''ve been standing around waiting to deplane an A320 lately, the other pax and I are annoyed to hear what sounds like a hard-to-open or stuck cargo door. It sounds like a million dogs barking, or a creeky mattress frame, or a rap DJ scratching record. Could the pilots or F/As please announce to the pax what indeed this sound is, so we all don''t stand around looking at each other like, What the is that noise?! Thanks.

 

[AOG-N-IT]

A320pax,

The constant "ruff ruff , ruff ruff" sound you are hearing is the hydraulic system on the Airbus Family of Aircraft. You will also hear this when the flaps are being lowered or raised without engines running.

FYI...This noise is not unique to just the A320....The A319 and A321 bark too. I really never paid this much attention until I was boarded on an A321 in PIT during the Feb 16th snow storm. The Acft had problems with the flaps extending or retracting properly...So a 2 hour maintenance delay was taken for the needed repairs. Needless to say , I thought I was sitting in a Dog Kennel instead of an aircraft during the troubleshooting phase of this delay.

Never fear the bark.....it''s the bite that hurts!! (LOL)

 

[USA320Pilot]

LavMan & AOG-N-IT are correct. The issue is the Yellow Hydraulic pumps, primarily the electric versus engine driven pumps, make a "dog parking" noise when they operate.

This Airbus unique sound primarily occurs when either the forward or aft cargo doors are opened by Fleet Service personnel after gate arrival.

The sound is normal and to be expected.

Best regards,

Chip

 

[A320 Driver]

What Airbus has that Boeing doesn''t is seven layers of hydraulic redundancy as opposed to three. The Yellow system electric pump makes a "drilling " sound and the PTU (power transfer unit) makes a intermittant "zipping" or "barking" sound. Happens every time the engines are started as a self test. The PTU should not operate during cargo door ops though.
There''s been a lively argument regarding Boeing vs. Airbus hydraulic redundance and the Airbus'' lack of a fully manual backup, however I''ve flown the B-737 in manual reversion and I like the Airbus better.


A320 Driver

 

[Twicebaked]

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On 5/27/2003 12:22:56 AM A320Pax wrote:

EVERY time I''ve been standing around waiting to deplane an A320 lately, the other pax and I are annoyed to hear what sounds like a hard-to-open or stuck cargo door. It sounds like a million dogs barking, or a creeky mattress frame, or a rap DJ scratching record. Could the pilots or F/As please announce to the pax what indeed this sound is, so we all don''t stand around looking at each other like, "What the is that noise?!" Thanks.

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Flight Attendants have enough to worry about. They don''t need to make stupid annoucements on noises that are normal. If it is in the air, then they will investigate. If the plane is park and waiting, why are the pax worried about it. Flight Attendants would sound like morons if they made announcements on every little thing. "Ladies and Gentlemen...that noise was the door opening..and that noise was the compressor for the lav''s...and that noise..etc. Please!!

 

[Dea Certe]

Personally, I don''t mind answering questions my worried passengers may have to ask. If it puts their minds at ease in these troubled time, I''m happy to do so. It seems a small thing to ask.

Anytime a pax hears or sees something that might be unusual to them, I want to know about it. I can always report it to the crew if it''s not something I recognize.

I think PA''s are annoying and would prefer to answer the question in person.

Dea