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General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Orbitson on September 17, 2012, 11:03:52 PM

Title: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Orbitson on September 17, 2012, 11:03:52 PM
Had a nice RT..as a passenger ..DTW>JAX this week. On the outbound climb out heard an unusual/scary sound I would associate with flap deployment/retraction but flaps were in cruise position already.  I'm guessing they were pumping fuel between tanks.   :headscratch:
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: FTJR on September 17, 2012, 11:30:54 PM
Slat retraction perhaps? Definately not fuel transfer. Not being there I cant tell you much more than that.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: flight17 on September 18, 2012, 01:08:36 AM
Had a nice RT..as a passenger ..DTW>JAX this week. On the outbound climb out heard an unusual/scary sound I would associate with flap deployment/retraction but flaps were in cruise position already.  I'm guessing they were pumping fuel between tanks.   :headscratch:
Could have been slats but i doubt it. How long after the takeoff was this? A better place to ask this would be airliners.net...

From that site, I have read that the A320 series is known for having abnormal sounding sounds during flight, but that it's all normal for the A320.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: nrshida on September 18, 2012, 02:03:35 AM
It's the coffee machine  :old:
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Wildcat1 on September 18, 2012, 05:30:27 AM
Hyde, I know what you're talking about. I heard the same noises during a recent flight of mine, and I was told it was normal. The flight attendants call it "the dogs". Apparently, it has something to do with the APU, or the generator, before they turn the engines on.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: cpxxx on September 18, 2012, 05:36:44 AM
Not an Bus pilot but this question comes up regularly, wondered myself at one point having flown in an A320 a few times. Actually your guess is on the right track, not fuel though. Most likely it was the PTU, Power Transfer Unit, in operation. It transfers hydraulic power between hydraulic systems. If one system is lower than the other it automatically kicks in. If it was a hacking, sawing sound that's what it was. Routine stuff.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Tupac on September 18, 2012, 08:42:59 AM
It's bowling balls rolling around under the floor.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Ripsnort on September 18, 2012, 09:56:11 AM
It's a warning to fly strictly Boeing aircraft.   :noid :airplane:
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: SEraider on September 18, 2012, 11:46:05 AM
There is a A320 that fly's above us every 2 saturdays.  It's Malaysa air.  Beautiful aircraft.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: SEraider on September 18, 2012, 11:48:01 AM
It's a warning to fly strictly Boeing aircraft.   :noid :airplane:


Boeing aircraft are aged and uncomfortable.  Embraer of Brazil is da cheeit.  Now, that's an aircraft.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Shuffler on September 18, 2012, 12:40:36 PM
Snakes?
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Orbitson on September 18, 2012, 03:49:57 PM
Not an Bus pilot but this question comes up regularly, wondered myself at one point having flown in an A320 a few times. Actually your guess is on the right track, not fuel though. Most likely it was the PTU, Power Transfer Unit, in operation. It transfers hydraulic power between hydraulic systems. If one system is lower than the other it automatically kicks in. If it was a hacking, sawing sound that's what it was. Routine stuff.

That's it...and Wildcat jogged my memory with his post.  It was during taxi with the flaps full out so the sound was definitely not related to flap deployment.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Babalonian on September 18, 2012, 05:38:45 PM
Not an Bus pilot but this question comes up regularly, wondered myself at one point having flown in an A320 a few times. Actually your guess is on the right track, not fuel though. Most likely it was the PTU, Power Transfer Unit, in operation. It transfers hydraulic power between hydraulic systems. If one system is lower than the other it automatically kicks in. If it was a hacking, sawing sound that's what it was. Routine stuff.

This is likely what it was if you're certain all the flaps and slats were already retracted. 


It's a warning to fly strictly Boeing aircraft.   :noid :airplane:


Also, applicable.  :devil
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Wildcat1 on September 18, 2012, 06:23:48 PM
That's it...and Wildcat jogged my memory with his post.  It was during taxi with the flaps full out so the sound was definitely not related to flap deployment.

yeah, i remember hearing it, looking out the window to see the flaps at 5, not moving, and thinking "man, that's weird"
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: nrshida on September 18, 2012, 07:10:17 PM
It's a warning to fly strictly Boeing aircraft.   :noid :airplane:

Don't make me Coombz you.  :old:

The noise is the hydraulic Power Transfer Unit, like cpxxx said.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Tupac on September 18, 2012, 07:23:37 PM
Don't make me Coombz you.  :old:

The noise is the hydraulic Power Transfer Unit, like cpxxx said.

Ripsnort works for Boeing, so he is biased.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: phatzo on September 18, 2012, 07:27:10 PM
Ripsnort works for Boeing, so he is biased.
He's the chief airbus fault designer.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: nrshida on September 18, 2012, 07:31:13 PM
Ripsnort works for Boeing, so he is biased.

 :rofl :aok
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Orbitson on September 18, 2012, 09:21:30 PM
yeah, i remember hearing it, looking out the window to see the flaps at 5, not moving, and thinking "man, that's weird"

Exactly my experience.  The noise lasted at least two minutes and the guy across the aisle looked at me with a wtf face and I'm sure I had the same look.  I offered my fuel pumping theory and all was good.  Next time I'll have the correct HPTU answer. 

 :salute Thanks to all for the input
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: nrshida on September 19, 2012, 01:51:53 AM
The real reason for the noise is to weedle out the Boeing fans by their frightened faces so they get the cold coffee  :old:
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: MrRiplEy[H] on September 19, 2012, 05:18:52 AM
Had a nice RT..as a passenger ..DTW>JAX this week. On the outbound climb out heard an unusual/scary sound I would associate with flap deployment/retraction but flaps were in cruise position already.  I'm guessing they were pumping fuel between tanks.   :headscratch:

The Avro RJ-85 sounds also freaky by default. When it 'goes clean' the windflow on the flaps/slats makes a loud howling noise during retraction. Same thing happens in reverse on landing. It was a bit unnerving on the first time I experienced it - I haven't seen this happen on any other plane model.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Golfer on September 19, 2012, 09:00:43 AM
"What noise? I didn't hear anything."
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Tracerfi on September 19, 2012, 05:40:46 PM
Snakes?
Snakes on the Plane
  :cry
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: rogwar on September 19, 2012, 05:48:03 PM
There is a A320 that fly's above us every 2 saturdays.  It's Malaysa air.  Beautiful aircraft.

I doubt it's an A320 from Malaysia all the way to Southern California.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: flight17 on September 19, 2012, 06:09:08 PM
I doubt it's an A320 from Malaysia all the way to Southern California.
Lol, was thinking same thing when I read that last night... But was gonna let it slip...
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Dago on September 19, 2012, 08:54:54 PM
I happen to know the A320 quite well, including the systems operations.  You won't hear them transferring fuel between tanks in flight, as this cannot be done.  Fuel can be fed from any tank to either engine, but this is not audible.

The Hydraulic system does have a PTU that can transfer pressure (or energy if you will) between two of the hydraulic systems, but this isn't typically heard in normal flight as it requires difference in pressure that is larger than normally occurs with both engines running at or above idle.  It can happen though.  On the A318-A321 series aircraft you can often hear the PTU loudest during engine shutdown/spool down when the pilot kills the engines in a staggered manner.  If he kills them simultaneously it isn't always heard.  When it is heard, it makes a sound that is often compared to a barking dog, declining in frequency and volume as the engines slow to a stop.

Could you have heard the speed brakes being extended?
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Babalonian on September 20, 2012, 04:48:36 PM
I doubt it's an A320 from Malaysia all the way to Southern California.
Via Tokyo, duh. :neener:  They fly from KLIA to LAX with a stop there to gas up and of/on load passengers only going for one leg.

Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: flight17 on September 20, 2012, 08:58:56 PM
I doubt it's an A320 from Malaysia all the way to Southern California.
Via Tokyo, duh. :neener:  They fly from KLIA to LAX with a stop there to gas up and of/on load passengers only going for one leg.



Then again, sun country flew their 737-800s from MSP to Europe a couple of times a few years ago and a few other North American carriers send A320s across the pond. I know air Canada has flights from Newfoundland Direct to Europe on their A320 or A319 and I want to say delta has done the same through the NE US but I can't say that for sure. I swear I have seen pics of the delta birds doing this, but maybe not.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: rogwar on September 21, 2012, 12:14:14 AM
Via Tokyo, duh. :neener:  They fly from KLIA to LAX with a stop there to gas up and of/on load passengers only going for one leg.


Went to Malaysia Airlines site and looked up the flight to LAX.

It's a Boeing 777-200.

 :ahand
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Vulcan on September 21, 2012, 12:42:51 AM
I happen to know the A320 quite well, including the systems operations.  You won't hear them transferring fuel between tanks in flight, as this cannot be done.  Fuel can be fed from any tank to either engine, but this is not audible.

The Hydraulic system does have a PTU that can transfer pressure (or energy if you will) between two of the hydraulic systems, but this isn't typically heard in normal flight as it requires difference in pressure that is larger than normally occurs with both engines running at or above idle.  It can happen though.  On the A318-A321 series aircraft you can often hear the PTU loudest during engine shutdown/spool down when the pilot kills the engines in a staggered manner.  If he kills them simultaneously it isn't always heard.  When it is heard, it makes a sound that is often compared to a barking dog, declining in frequency and volume as the engines slow to a stop.

Could you have heard the speed brakes being extended?

None of the above, I hear it all the time. It sort of sounds like a car starter motor turning over with a flat battery, except it repeats for about a minute.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: rogwar on September 21, 2012, 08:10:28 AM
None of the above, I hear it all the time. It sort of sounds like a car starter motor turning over with a flat battery, except it repeats for about a minute.

I travel on the A320 and family pretty often on LAN in South America. I notice the same thing as well. Always wondered if it was related to the gear or maybe flaps.
Title: Re: Airbus A320 pilots??
Post by: Babalonian on September 21, 2012, 05:54:13 PM
Went to Malaysia Airlines site and looked up the flight to LAX.

It's a Boeing 777-200.

 :ahand

 :headscratch:  Ummm... I wouldn't expect any less competent intelligence than to use the most trusty-reliable work-horses in the fleet with greater capabilities on one primary routes on one of your busier travel days of the week...?

I'm actually a very big fan on Malaysia Air as a commercial airlines company, their entire fleet is I think ~ 3/4-2/3 Boeings  :rock AND (by coincidence, I think not  :neener: ) they have one of the highest standards (and record) for maintenance and safety quality in the world today still, if I recall.  They also, previously, had the class/style/swager to operate DC-3s and Super Connies (and I think they still do operate DC-3s in Malaysia).


They're also ordering I think ~50 new boeings if I remember the recent news reels.