Decibel Readings I Took While Flying This Past Month

[JurgenG]

@Foncky, I use Howard Leight Laser Lite, not Max. But it looks like Max is worth a try as well.

Anyway I like the Laser Lite plugs because I can twist them into really flat and thin shapes that fit into my tiny ear canals. And once they're in, they tend to stay for much longer in there unlike the 3M ones which seem to pop out every few minutes.

My only gripe is that the Laser Lite plugs come in this attention-grabbing neon yellow and hot pink color combination.

Have you tried costum made earplugs?

 

[Foncky]

My only gripe is that the Laser Lite plugs come in this attention-grabbing neon yellow and hot pink color combination.

I think you completely deserve the hot pink color

 

[Juan]

I travel a lot, and with my newly increased T was freaked out about the effects flying would have on my ears. This is in no ways scientific but are the readings I was able to take with an iPhone app I have. True to the article I posted last month, the closer to the front and the closer to the aisle you are the better. I know these readings are not complete by any means, but it's what I was able to record. Hope some of you find it useful.

I included the seat number, airline and plane type so you can look up the location on seatguru.com

United Airlines, 747-400, Seat 20G Aisle - This seat is over the wing just in front of the engines.
Cruising noise 83-84 db.
Take off peak noise 99 db.
Landing peak noise 103 db.

United Airlines 747-400, Seat 56G Aisle - This seat is one of the last rows.
Cruising noise 87-88 db.

United Airlines 747-400, Seat 14K Windows (upper deck) - This seat is far forward of the engines.
Cruising noise 78-79 db
Landing peak noise 85 db

American Airlines 737-800 Seat 11A Window - This seat is next to the engine.
Cruising noise 85-86 db.
Take off peak noise 101 db.
Landing peak noise 107 db

American Airlines 767-300, Seat 23C - This seat is in the middle of the plane over the wing.
Cruising noise 81-82 db.
I walked up and down the aisle and surprisingly the noise level was constant throughout the aircraft from the middle to the back of the plane.

Actually, getting on the plane may be a lot noisier than the plane ride itself. The terminal is going to be full of loudspeakers; many airports use them a lot less these days, than they did in the past, when almost all flights and boarding calls where announced over the PA system.

Boarding the plane may be complicated in airports where passengers board on foot, or are taken to the plane on buses and therefore have to set foot on the platform, with planes taxiing around and some aircrafts departing further away. The ideal situation would be boarding through a jetty.

The landing noise you refer to may be setting the plane engine on reverse, for instance trying to avoid to miss a quick exit from the runway. That can be a lot noisier than the usual engine noise when cruising.

 

[devonlee]

Numbers seem high

Anyway a good pair of muffs will work

Most airlines won't let you wear them I thought?

 

[JurgenG]

Actually, getting on the plane may be a lot noisier than the plane ride itself. The terminal is going to be full of loudspeakers; many airports use them a lot less these days, than they did in the past, when almost all flights and boarding calls where announced over the PA system.

Boarding the plane may be complicated in airports where passengers board on foot, or are taken to the plane on buses and therefore have to set foot on the platform, with planes taxiing around and some aircrafts departing further away. The ideal situation would be boarding through a jetty.

The landing noise you refer to may be setting the plane engine on reverse, for instance trying to avoid to miss a quick exit from the runway. That can be a lot noisier than the usual engine noise when cruising.

You mean the thrust-reverser? It's quite common for any landing.

Getting on the plane is indeed sometimes louder, the engines are sometimes warming up etc.

 

[NimQ]

Most airlines won't let you wear them I thought?

Really? I haven't heard of that, odd. I wonder what the reason to that would be.

 

[Champ]

I travel a lot, and with my newly increased T was freaked out about the effects flying would have on my ears. This is in no ways scientific but are the readings I was able to take with an iPhone app I have. True to the article I posted last month, the closer to the front and the closer to the aisle you are the better. I know these readings are not complete by any means, but it's what I was able to record. Hope some of you find it useful.

I included the seat number, airline and plane type so you can look up the location on seatguru.com

United Airlines, 747-400, Seat 20G Aisle - This seat is over the wing just in front of the engines.
Cruising noise 83-84 db.
Take off peak noise 99 db.
Landing peak noise 103 db.

United Airlines 747-400, Seat 56G Aisle - This seat is one of the last rows.
Cruising noise 87-88 db.

United Airlines 747-400, Seat 14K Windows (upper deck) - This seat is far forward of the engines.
Cruising noise 78-79 db
Landing peak noise 85 db

American Airlines 737-800 Seat 11A Window - This seat is next to the engine.
Cruising noise 85-86 db.
Take off peak noise 101 db.
Landing peak noise 107 db

American Airlines 767-300, Seat 23C - This seat is in the middle of the plane over the wing.
Cruising noise 81-82 db.
I walked up and down the aisle and surprisingly the noise level was constant throughout the aircraft from the middle to the back of the plane.

Everyone, bring earplugs for the plane.

 

[racerfish]

Really? I haven't heard of that, odd. I wonder what the reason to that would be.

I've been flying with earplugs for 12 years all over the world on many different airlines and have NEVER heard of this.

 

[Bobby B]

Most airlines won't let you wear them I thought?

You thought wrong

There isn't such a rule - I flew enough with muffs on and not the small ones

 

[racerfish]

Thanks for the data, @racerfish! What app did you use?

I wish I recorded the measurements when I flew on four flights late last year. They were all Airbuses. But I do remember the cruising noise was around 85-90 db using Decibel 10th. For all flights, I stayed within the first six rows of the plane. I also chose the aisle seat each time.

Airports and trains are noisier I think.

Also, I have upcoming flights on an ATR which is a turboprop. Flight is around an hour each way. I'm planning to drop the trip, even though it depresses me a lot that I have to cancel. Good idea or not?

Personally I think you'll be okay. I imagine you could get a temporary spike, but that's it. I'd still wear ear plugs though. If interior plane noise were that bad, you'd see flight attendants wearing ear plugs.

 

[Lex]

Have you tried costum made earplugs?

I plan to get those! Seems like they're better than commercially available ear plugs.

 

[Alue]

The best foam ear plugs I have tried are HEAROS Xtreme Protection.

Those are the only foam ear plugs that work on me. I have large ear canals. I wish they made more extra large earplugs.

Most airlines won't let you wear them I thought?

What? Why? I've taken more than 20 flights in the last year and they never cared. I wear the big 3M Peltor X5a's.

@Lex You could get these:

and then wear a good pare of earmuffs over them like the 3M Peltor X5a.

The earplanes are more for slowly equalizing pressure, they only offer about 15db reduction.

 

[maltese]

Most airlines won't let you wear them I thought?

Sometimes cabin crew thinks they are headphones and wants you to take them off for safety procedures presentation.

'These are not headphones and I have to wear them because of my medical condition" was enough.

 

[JurgenG]

Those are the only foam ear plugs that work on me. I have large ear canals. I wish they made more extra large earplugs.



What? Why? I've taken more than 20 flights in the last year and they never cared. I wear the big 3M Peltor X5a's.

@Lex You could get these:
View attachment 12291
and then wear a good pare of earmuffs over them like the 3M Peltor X5a.

The earplanes are more for slowly equalizing pressure, they only offer about 15db reduction.

Isn't -15 dB enough?

 

[maltese]

Isn't -15 dB enough?

You've been on this forum long enough to see that everyone has a different opinion on how much noise can our damaged ears take.

Some people want higher protection.

Frankly, I don't see a reason to *not* wear earmuffs. The engine noise is irritating, not necessarily to my ears but to my silence loving soul

...and to my ears.

well, better safe than sorry.

 

[JurgenG]

You've been on this forum long enough to see that everyone has a different opinion on how much noise can our damaged ears take.

Some people want higher protection.

Frankly, I don't see a reason to *not* wear earmuffs. The engine noise is irritating, not necessarily to my ears but to my silence loving soul

...and to my ears.

well, better safe than sorry.

Well, I know, because I am always freaking out about every noise I encounter. But I think many of us are just overdoing it. Normal T-patients don't need - 40 dB on an airplane..

 

[Tom Cnyc]

phone meters lose accuracy past 90 db and get less accurate the higher the number is.

landing is NOT 107 db even sitting next to the engine. that's front row at a metal concert. I've done both. It's not the same.

 

[maltese]

phone meters lose accuracy past 90 db and get less accurate the higher the number is.

landing is NOT 107 db even sitting next to the engine. that's front row at a metal concert. I've done both. It's not the same.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[Alue]

Well, I know, because I am always freaking out about every noise I encounter. But I think many of us are just overdoing it. Normal T-patients don't need - 40 dB on an airplane..

It wouldn't be 40 dB. Decibels are logarithmic. Prop planes are louder than most jet airplanes.

Could I have gone on all those flights without earmuffs and not make my condition permanently worse? Probably, but I know I would get temporary spikes and it's not much of a hassle to just put on earmuffs.

 

[ryant]

I used earplugs (musician type) on a flight last week and had pain in one of my ears on the decent because I didn't take the earplugs out soon enough to equalize the air pressure. I plan on using ear muffs, or foam ear plugs next time, definitely not the regular ear plugs. Also, in my experience the front of the plane is the quietest, or in front of the wings.