The volume is too damn high on flights
blog.42floors.com
The volume is too damn high on flights
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Re: The volume is too damn high on flights
#2So when are we all starting to measure sounds around us (including cafes, vehicles, cities) and create a map of quietest things and places?
Re: The volume is too damn high on flights
#3I've noticed this too. On my last few flights it has been so loud it caused physical discomfort (to me) and made my toddler cry.
Re: The volume is too damn high on flights
#4So when are we all starting to measure sounds around us (including cafes, vehicles, cities) and create a map of quietest things and places?
There is work being done on crowdsourcing ambient sound: http://www.technologyreview.com/view/520606/noise-pollution-...
It's a neat problem. You can turn on smartphone microphones and listen for noise levels to measure for noise pollution and law violations, etc. However, you have to develop algorithms that filter our human conversations (for this application linked above), and the privacy implications are astronomical.
Edit: http://www.citylab.com/tech/2013/05/crowdsourcing-citys-quie...
Re: The volume is too damn high on flights
#5I can second the author's conclusion. I fly regularly and have noticed in the last 6 months, PA systems have become much louder than usual on most flights. It's especially bad if you have headphones plugged in to the XM radio -- they don't seem to have separate volume controls for the PA speakers and hardwired headphones.
Re: The volume is too damn high on flights
#6I also use earplugs and over ear noise cancelling headphones during flights. They work very well. I rarely fly United but I've noticed that some airlines are definitely worse than others when it comes to PA.
I haven't used it on flights yet but did some research and splurged on the Faber Acoustical SoundMeter (https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/soundmeter/id287615105?mt=8&...). I bought it since I live on a busy road and lots of sirens go by, adding to the general traffic whooshing. Sirens are in the high range and go over 100. Its a good app to have to check whether I'm going crazy or if it is really loud in place where I'm feeling overwhelmed with sound.
I will be sure to try it out next time I fly and provide some data. Maybe we can crowdsource samples of airline loudness.
Re: The volume is too damn high on flights
#7The 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 industry. I'm convinced at this point that they simply despise their entire customer base.
Re: The volume is too damn high on flights
#8I've always wanted to buy some good earplugs to protect my hearing from noisy environments (es. near public transport in the city). Does anyone have a product they recommend?
Re: The volume is too damn high on flights
#9OSHA probably wouldn't have much to say… The peak he measured would only be outside of their guidelines if the attendants screamed for the entire LAS-SFO flight and then he hopped on a plane and immediately flew back with the same treatment.
Table G-16 - Permissible Noise Exposures
https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_tab...
Re: The volume is too damn high on flights
#10So when are we all starting to measure sounds around us (including cafes, vehicles, cities) and create a map of quietest things and places?
There is work being done on crowdsourcing ambient sound: http://www.technologyreview.com/view/520606/noise-pollution-... It's a neat problem. You can turn on smartphone microphones and listen for noise levels to measure for noise pollution and law violations, etc. However, you have to develop algorithms that filter our human conversations (for this application linked above), and the privacy implications are astronomi…
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