The volume is too damn high on flights • Hacker News Board

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#101

Post by 6stringmerc » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 6:03 PM UTC

guelo wrote: post #41

6stringmerc wrote: post #37

Having many, many years of travel experience leads me to one Occam's Razor type observation: If people would actually pay attention to a safety briefing instead of playing with their gadgets / not taking off their headphones, then the flight crew wouldn't be trying so hard to get the attention of the passengers. With this unpopular opinion, I'll see myself out the nearest exit, which is actually located behind me.

Except the safety briefings are a useless bureaucratic formality. We don't need to hear them.

...apparently more people do need to hear them and pay attention, particularly to the part of "Always keep your safety belt fastened when seated" because I've seen plenty of news lately of violent turbulence and passengers being thrown around because they didn't pay attention and follow the instructions they are legally obligated to follow...which is why no personal injury lawsuit regarding unintended turbulence for an un-buckled in passenger will ever win, near as I can tell.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#102

Post by zippergz » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 6:04 PM UTC

lfam wrote: post #96

This is a pet peeve of mine that I developed while doing video production in the live event industry. Unfortunately almost nobody cares about protecting their hearing. Pretty much everyone in food service in the US exposes themselves to dangerous audio levels throughout their work shifts. My coworkers with SPL meters routinely measured sound pressure levels above 105 dB for hours at a time. But try wearing earplugs a…

You say "in the US." Does that mean you've found other countries to be significantly quieter? I don't think I have, but I'm genuinely curious about this. Have there been any studies on the average sound levels in public places (or workplaces) in different countries?

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#103

Post by 6stringmerc » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 6:05 PM UTC

nakedrobot2 wrote: post #7

The PA when heard over the headphones (when watching a movie, etc.) is even worse - I wouldn't be surprised if it was over 100dB. Sometimes a movie has quiet audio, or quiet moments requiring you to turn up the volume a lot. More than once I have been painfully ear-raped by the flight attendant PA system in my earphones for this reason. Just another instance of outrageously bad customer service in the airline industr…

“Ah, for the days when aviation was a gentlemen’s pursuit. Back before every Joe Sweatsock could wedge himself behind a lunch tray and jet off to Raleigh-Durham.”

– Sideshow Bob

Having seen the airline industry change over the course of 30 years, I simply despise the customer base as well, and fly as infrequently as possible.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#104

Post by DanBC » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 6:06 PM UTC

rottyguy wrote: post #27

I've always wondered why bars crank up the music so high to the extent you're yelling to convey conversation to the person next to you. One of my friends hypothesized that it was done to focus patrons on drinking and not chatter, but socializing is a big part of the bar scene... Anyone know?

In England this is part of the "Vertical Drinking Establishment".

You reduce the numbers of chairs and tables. That means that you fit more people in and they have to hold their drinks. Holding a drink means you drink it quicker. They turn up the volume so you chat less, which also means you drink faster.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#105

Post by seany » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 6:07 PM UTC

logfromblammo wrote: post #93

dikaiosune wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Probably worth noting that shooting without "ears" can still leave you basically unable to hear anything for a good while depending on the firearm, shooting environment, etc. It's not an instant ear-bleeding rupture but it's still VERY loud and will cause significant hearing loss with little repetition. Side note: I'm always curious how soldiers/SWAT/HRT/etc. are able to hold normal volume conversations. If they're w…

I would guess that they use more expensive hearing protection systems with an active electronic system to pass through sounds at a comfortable level, attenuate louder and potentially damaging noises, and possibly even amplify quiet sounds. The technology would be similar to that used in hearing aids and noise-cancelling headphones. But it is also probably an order of magnitude or two more expensive just because the p…

You can get a basic set of electronic ear pro for ~$70 (http://amzn.com/B007BGSI5U), there are even cheaper options with a lower NRR.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#106

Post by gnopgnip » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 6:16 PM UTC

dikaiosune wrote: post #82

Alupis wrote: post #56

Few thoughts: > and opened the decibel meter on my iPhone These are notoriously inaccurate. To get accurate decibel readings, the mic must be calibrated to absolute known levels (something your App can't do). The App's are basically just comparing relative sounds (this sound is more prominent than this other one, and therefore must be louder... after establishing some relative baseline). Real decibel measuring equipm…

Probably worth noting that shooting without "ears" can still leave you basically unable to hear anything for a good while depending on the firearm, shooting environment, etc. It's not an instant ear-bleeding rupture but it's still VERY loud and will cause significant hearing loss with little repetition. Side note: I'm always curious how soldiers/SWAT/HRT/etc. are able to hold normal volume conversations. If they're w…

With most ear plugs you can hear normal conversation without any problems. Certain sounds are blocked out more and things like music sound distorted.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#107

Post by helper » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 6:19 PM UTC

helper wrote: post #19

nakedrobot2 wrote: post #7

The PA when heard over the headphones (when watching a movie, etc.) is even worse - I wouldn't be surprised if it was over 100dB. Sometimes a movie has quiet audio, or quiet moments requiring you to turn up the volume a lot. More than once I have been painfully ear-raped by the flight attendant PA system in my earphones for this reason. Just another instance of outrageously bad customer service in the airline industr…

Every time I'm on a flight this happens. I would love an in-line filter for audio above a certain volume level.

Not surprisingly, things like this already exist[1]. Has anyone ever tried one of these?

[1]: http://www.amazon.com/Kidz-Gear-Volume-Limit-Cable/dp/B005UH...

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#108

Post by sokoloff » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 6:23 PM UTC

mikeash wrote: post #50

userbinator wrote: post #22

I've had the opposite experience - PA systems so quiet they're drowned out by the plane's noise. Perhaps he was sitting very close to one of the speakers. Given that the announcements are usually important, not continuous but made in short bursts, and that volume level (99dB) is discomforting but only harmful with prolonged exposure, I don't think it's too loud. The whole idea of an announcement is to get the attenti…

I can't remember the last time I heard an in-flight announcement that I actually needed to hear. They're far from "usually important." 99% of flights could happily go from start to finish without a single use of the PA, if it were legal to do so, and if the airline could exercise self-control. The PA system should be reserved for actual important safety-related announcements. It's outrageous that the same system that…

There is a specific legal requirement for the passenger briefing. You'll notice that the briefing pretty much follows the script required by the law: http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.519

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#109

Post by jMyles » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 6:26 PM UTC

k-mcgrady wrote: post #75

sukilot wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If the announcements were safety related they would he repeated several times and FAs would single out individuals who needed to react.

>> "FAs would single out individuals who needed to react" Yes, because in a real emergency (plane going down) we need the FAs spending the precious few seconds we have going up and down the cabin telling prats to take their headphones off and listen up...

No, the FAs will go to the emergency escape rows and make sure that the passengers are ready to facilitate egress, as they agree to do when they sit in those rows.

Re: The volume is too damn high on flights

#110

Post by sokoloff » Fri, Feb 06, 2015, 6:27 PM UTC

MichaelGG wrote: post #48

6stringmerc wrote: post #37

Having many, many years of travel experience leads me to one Occam's Razor type observation: If people would actually pay attention to a safety briefing instead of playing with their gadgets / not taking off their headphones, then the flight crew wouldn't be trying so hard to get the attention of the passengers. With this unpopular opinion, I'll see myself out the nearest exit, which is actually located behind me.

Is there any indication the safety announcements are effective? The fact they dedicate so much time to taking about smoking makes me doubt they are evidence based. United's 787s have a no smoking sign built in to every single seat, at eye level. I suppose it's possible that they fly places that have such a strong smoking culture that this is an important and useful reminder, but that seems doubtful. Which makes me ca…

They are effective in complying with the relevant law: http://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/14/91.519 which specifically requires an oral briefing on "when, where, and under what circumstances smoking is prohibited".

Don't fault the airlines for complying with the law.