Airliners: Engine Noise in the Cockpit

[Xyn_Air]

I realize that there are several different types of passenger airliners out there, all with different types of engines.  So, the answer to my following question may be dependent upon the type of aircraft involved.  Therefore, I will humbly accept answers from the specific to the general.

I was wondering, in passenger airliners (from the MD-11 to the 737 to the A320, from the 747 to the A340 to the A380), how much engine noise is there in the cockpit?  Especially, how much engine noise is there in the cockpit relative to radio communications?

The reason I am asking this is because I want to try and tweak my FS settings to match the level of sound a pilot would expect to hear in the real world.  As it is, it seems like engine noise is terribly loud compared to ATC communication volume level.  But, then again, as I have never  piloted a passenger airliner myself (  ;D ), what do I know?

When flying as a passenger in various airliners, except for take-offs and landings the engine noise was minimal.  But, I could imagine that the passenger cabin could be designed with more sound-proofing than the flight deck (which reminds me of another question for another post).

So, anybody know how much noise is in the cockpit?  I am going deaf here!  :o

Thanks for the help,
~Darrin

[expat]

As far as the 737 goes, you can have a conversation without a headset in the cockpit during flight.

Matt

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Good Morning Darrin...

Could you please retype your post as I didn't hear what you had to say.

[Xyn_Air]

Matt and Doug, thanks very much for your replies.  It was definitely food for thought, and I think I may try reducing the volume of my engine noise on the airliners.  If I turned up the volume in general until ATC was at a normal conversation level of volume, the engine noise would be rattling the windows.  I may have something set a little off, yes?  ;D

And, Doug, thank you for that wonderful recounting of your experiences with the DC-3.  I always love to hear what pilots' first hand experiences are like.  And, the DC-3 is, of course, a beaut' of an airplane (notice me siggy?)!

Thanks again,
~Darrin

[C]

From my experience it is possible to have a conversation quite easily. The difficulty is finding a comparison - I'd probably compare it to being in a room with a noisy aircon unit, so a fair but of ambient noise.

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

My pleasure Sir:  

That is what makes "Simviation" the wonderful site it is.

A member can learn at least one new thing a day and that is what life is all about.

From a wonderful food menu/meal to how to trobleshooting this electronic thingy, to enjoying pictures of locations/aircraft/shows members are at or have visited. The Theory of Flight, Airmanship right down to Tall Tales, it's all here and done in a fantastic friendly manner.
I guess that is why I have never visited another site on the internet, there is no need to for me.  

Now Darrin there is one thing about Simviation that I am not sure is present anywhere else, now please don't tell anyone and I shall just speak real low.
It is the things they call "Moderators", strange folks, I hear they even have a dungeon where they do strange things to members, they even have their own drinking room and they can even move members all about here.  I bet some haven't been seen or heard from in years.  :-X

Well best go before they hear me and phone the old girl and have me stand in the corner of the barn for a week or...or maybe something worse.     :-/

Cheers...Happy Landings...Doug

[expat]

As far as the 737 goes, you can have a conversation without a headset in the cockpit during flight.

Matt

What I should have added about the 737, is that you don't really hear the engines, but more feel them. 99% of the cockpit noise is the sound of the cabin conditioning and cooling air/fans for the screens/instruments, plus a little wind noise too.

Matt

[beaky]

I'd imagine even in a noisier ship like the 727, you're way out front away from the engines, with your back to them... and there's a bulkhead with a door behind you.
Add to that the noise-cancelling qualities of even old-school passive headsets, and I'll bet you wouldn't hear much except comms.

You may have noticed the latest breed of jetliner crew headsets are very minimal... they don't need much hearing protection or isolation to hear comms. The newer flight decks are pretty quiet, I think.

But in the back row in an MD-88, that's a different story...

[Xyn_Air]

Now Darrin there is one thing about Simviation that I am not sure is present anywhere else, now please don't tell anyone and I shall just speak real low.
It is the things they call "Moderators", strange folks, I hear they even have a dungeon where they do strange things to members, they even have their own drinking room and they can even move members all about here.  I bet some haven't been seen or heard from in years.  :-X

But in the back row in an MD-88, that's a different story...

Hm, could there be a connection?!?!?  :-X



Anyway, many thanks again to everyone's comments.  It is just more information that helps me tweak FS performance to better match real-world conditions.  Today I got to do a multiplayer flight with my father, and his engines were so loud he could barely hear me yelling over the speakers.  A bit of adjustment, and all was good.

From videos I have watched of real-life tutorials or documentaries, there never seemed to be that much engine noise.  But, I was not sure if this was due to the sound recording, or the simple fact that it just that noisy inside the cockpits of modern airliners.

Maybe the default volume level engine if FS is to simulate the rumbly feel you would otherwise have.  I know things rumble about in my flat if the speakers are up too much.  ;D  Sub-woofer by Rolls Royce?  ::)

Anyway, all your replies have been a great read.  Thanks again.

Gratefully yours,
~Darrin

[Ivan]

Really depends on what plane youre flying

In Rear engined planes you usually dont hear the engines (even on the tupolev) but the instruments make a huge load of noise

[C]

Really depends on what plane youre flying

In Rear engined planes you usually dont hear the engines (even on the tupolev) but the instruments make a huge load of noise

Apart from on take off when you've got four first generation turbofans at the back doing their best fighter impression!

[EGNX]

Apart from on take off when you've got four first generation turbofans at the back doing their best fighter impression!

Constant thrust variable noise, eh Charlie?  ;D

[C]

Apart from on take off when you've got four first generation turbofans at the back doing their best fighter impression!

Constant thrust variable noise, eh Charlie?  ;D

I think that sums up the Jet Provost from what I've heard. However the engines I'm on about certainly don't do the constant thrust bit - noise:thrust is just about a linear relationship!

[Chris_F]

How noisy is the flight deck compared to the passenger compartment?

I recently flew on a 757 with a passenger entertainment system that allowed you to listen in to the comms traffic.  (Pretty cool.)  The thing I noticed, with quality headphones (not the junk the airline provides), was that the audio channel was very noisy.  There was a constant buzz like a car's alternator whine, and buzzes and whistles of various types depending on who was keying their mic.