BR715-A1-30 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 2699 times:
Hello everyone...
I am starting this thread to find out if I am either crazy, or whether anyone else has experienced this.
Yesterday, I was on AirTran 717 #793 and I felt weird on it like my ears were constantly being popped more than usual. This is not the first time, however, but on other 717 flights, I am fine. I was also on Ship #740 yesterday, and it seemed fine, but when I was on 793, it felt like the aircraft was not being pressurized properly. Is this a problem with the 717 or does this happen on all aircraft from time to time.
Wjcandee From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 4557 posts, RR: 16 Reply 1, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 2661 times:
You're crazy. Sorry. In fact, the 717 has, at least for me, a more comfortable and reliable cabin environment than its predecessors. I think the title of this thread is unnecessarily alarmist.
LN-MOW From United States of America, joined Jan 2000, 1896 posts, RR: 15 Reply 2, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2553 times:
This does ring a bell ...
I'm don't know what aircraft I flew on last (no XM), but the cabin noise was noticeably louder than I'm used to and my ears also kept popping.
I was puzzled, coz I also love the MD95 for the comfortable cabin.
BR715-A1-30 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 2552 times:
LN-MOW, The cabin noise was fine on this particular aircraft, but it felt like the aircraft was slowly losing pressure (like a nail in a tire will slowly leak air no matter how much you keep pumping it) and by the time we landed in ATL, I had a whammy headache, and my ears were killing me. I slept for most of the flight back to MKE on Ship 740.
Edit: I also felt like I could hardly breathe despite the fact that I had my Gasper vent all the way open and I was basically trying to suck all the air out of it.
DAYflyer From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 3807 posts, RR: 4 Reply 4, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 2374 times:
Quoting BR715-A1-30 (Reply 3): Edit: I also felt like I could hardly breathe despite the fact that I had my Gasper vent all the way open and I was basically trying to suck all the air out of it.
BR715-A1-30 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 2350 times:
Well, That was 793.. On 740, I was able to breathe fine and my ears didn't pop as much (except for the normal amount that ones ears pop). To tell you the truth, my ears don't pop hardly at all anymore. But they did on 793.
AirTran737 From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 3639 posts, RR: 12 Reply 6, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 2297 times:
As a person who flies on the 717 on an almost weekly basis I agree with BR715. The 717 pressure is stable at cruise, but on descent it is murder on your ears. This is something that I have experienced both on AirTran and Midwest. It's still an awesome airplane though.
BR715, you should have let me know you were coming back to MKE, I was working when you came in. I always enjoy meeting my fellow a.netters. I could have rounded up FlyXJT as well.
Nice Trip Report!!! Great Pics, thanks for posting!!!! B747Forever
Aloha73g From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 2303 posts, RR: 5 Reply 7, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 2279 times:
I agree. I have had massive headaches (due to pressure) on descent on both a Delta MD-88 and a Hawaiian 717. I have never experinced this on any other aircrafts.
-Aloha!
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Tornado82 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 2162 times:
I get the splitting headache on NW DC-9's all the time. And the Niner and the 717 are basically the same bird, just a different vintage. Maybe we're onto something, though I never got it on an Airtran 717.
BR715-A1-30 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 19 hours ago) and read 2121 times:
Quoting AirTran737 (Reply 6): BR715, you should have let me know you were coming back to MKE, I was working when you came in. I always enjoy meeting my fellow a.netters.
RATS!!!... I asked about you when I flew out, and the agent (I think Patricia was her name) said you had flown out and she didn't know exactly when you would be back. I may have remembered to ask, but I was so tired when I got off that I basically drove home, and crashed into my bed (No pun intended, LOL!) I fly X-Fares a lot, and will let you know next time I come out there.
BTW -- Glad to see I'm not crazy. It happens almost everytime on descent. But on 793 it was the ascent as well. I can probably name only one 717 flight where my ears didn't go nuts on descent.
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11708 posts, RR: 52 Reply 10, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 17 hours ago) and read 2017 times:
Quoting Tornado82 (Reply 8): And the Niner and the 717 are basically the same bird
Actually, other than looking alike, they are really two different airplanes. The B-717 is a vastly improved airplane over it's DC-9 (much) older sister. This includes the pressurization system and air conditioning system.
But, the problem sounds like it is isolated to just one tail number. Every airplane type built has included "lemons". This is not a Boeing problem, but includes individual Airbus airplanes, too.
Sideflare75 From United States of America, joined May 2005, 613 posts, RR: 1 Reply 11, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 16 hours ago) and read 1944 times:
From a maintenance perspective here at Midwest I have not heard of any pressurization problems on any of our 717's. We've had problems with one pack or another going out but no write ups about fluxuating pressurization. It is definitely louder than on a -9 or a -80 though. I think it is just increased airflow, but it is louder.
MD80fanatic From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2623 posts, RR: 11 Reply 12, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 1783 times:
The 717 has one of the highest cabin air turnover rates out there. Perhaps you are used to being lulled to sleep on other airliners by stagnant cabin air filled with people's funk and B.O., and the blast of fresh crisp air is too much for you?
PHLBOS From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 7253 posts, RR: 25 Reply 14, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 1727 times:
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 10): But, the problem sounds like it is isolated to just one tail number. Every airplane type built has included "lemons". This is not a Boeing problem, but includes individual Airbus airplanes, too.
Personally, I'm surprised that it took 10 replies for someone to finally came out with this most-logical conclusion.
Quoting BR715-A1-30 (Reply 9): I can probably name only one 717 flight where my ears didn't go nuts on descent.
I've flown on the 717 a few times (mostly on FL and once on YX) over the years. Other than the usual ear issues I've encountered on any flight regardless of the plane type; I've never encountered what you've experienced on decent.
"TransEastern! You'll feel like you've never left the ground because we treat you like dirt!" SNL Parady ad circa 1981
NASCARAirforce From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 3082 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 1692 times:
The only time I have problems with my ears is landing at MCO for some reason, whether it be an MD-80, 737 or a 757... landing at other places on MD-80s and etc I have no pressurization problems.
MD80fanatic From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 2623 posts, RR: 11 Reply 16, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 1625 times:
Quoting PHLBOS (Reply 14): Quoting MD80fanatic (Reply 12):
The 717 has one of the highest cabin air turnover rates out there.
The air is 100% fresh. No recycled cabin air on the 717. Apparently the only commercial aircraft not to use a mix of recycled and fresh air.
I have heard that as well, but I am not totally sure if it is all true. To keep the cabin pressurized at cruise requires a great deal of bleed air, if the outflow valve is open all the way.
If true, then this is the best airplane that Boeing ever had the fantasy of building. Of course it is "old hat" for MD....
LCC idea..... 30-717s, leather seats, IFE/ESPN, a loaded bar, hot F/As (of course only females), and since fresh air is so plentiful....smoking would be allowed (even big stogies ). There would be a waiting line at the ticket counter, guaranteed.
BR715-A1-30 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 17, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 4 hours ago) and read 1572 times:
The Blast of Crisp Fresh Air is not too much for me. As I have said, it is this particular aircraft, #793 that I experienced this anomaly. I definetely enjoy the fresh air on my other 717 flights. I have flown on ships 702, 706, 710, 712, 713, 717, 719, 720, 725, 727, 728, 729, 730, 731, 732, 736, 737, 739, 740, 761, 762, 779, 787, 792, 793, 794, 795, 796, 797, and 799 some of these multiple times, and I have never recieved such abuse on my ears than on 793.
Sideflare75 From United States of America, joined May 2005, 613 posts, RR: 1 Reply 19, posted (7 years 6 months 3 weeks 2 hours ago) and read 1465 times:
Quoting Miami1 (Reply 13): The air is 100% fresh. No recycled cabin air on the 717. Apparently the only commercial aircraft not to use a mix of recycled and fresh air.
The DC-9 did not recycle any air either. The MD-80 uses a recirculating fan to reuse some of the air. The 717, like the DC-9, does not have this so all the old air goes out through the outflow valve and new fresh air comes in. And no the outflow valve is not fully open at cruise. It wouldn't take much of an opening at altitude to have alot of flow, plus no plane is completely airtight so you always have air flowing out somewhere.
This flow of air also keeps the bag pits from freezing. If there was no constant air flow it would get mighty cold down there and you would have many pup-cicles. Thats why the forward bag pit is warmer than the aft. Most of the heat is gone by the time the air gets back there.
Vatveng From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 892 posts, RR: 1 Reply 20, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 1366 times:
Quoting AirTran737 (Reply 6): The 717 pressure is stable at cruise, but on descent it is murder on your ears.
The only time I've ever had ear problems in a 717 in either climb, cruse, or descent was when I had a cold. In which case simply climbing stairs is murder on your ears
I530j From United States of America, joined Oct 2005, 233 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1281 times:
Quoting Wjcandee (Reply 1): You're crazy. Sorry. In fact, the 717 has, at least for me, a more comfortable and reliable cabin environment than its predecessors. I think the title of this thread is unnecessarily alarmist.
I always have a great time on AirTrans 717's sorry but ur crazy
"I love you, I love the kids..." then the phone went dead.
Wjcandee From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 4557 posts, RR: 16 Reply 22, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 1245 times:
Guess it's all perception, which is the funniest thing about this thread. Fact is that there's going to be a significant cabin altitude change in every airliner that flies in the FL30-40 range. The same person will respond differently to the same altitude change depending upon whether he or she has a sniffle, a little congestion, etc. Few people here have raised the point that it might not be the specific airliner, or type of airliner, as much as the condition of the reporting person on any specific day. That theory fits the evidence later presented by the original poster, as much as anything else. Moreover, the crew has some ability to control the rate of cabin climb and descent if it chooses to do so, and the rate also can climb and descend faster or slower depending upon the rate of aircraft climb or descent, or the duration of that rate of climb and descent. All of these could also be factors in what a particular poster experiences. All things being equal, it's unlikely that a person in exactly the same condition flying on an airliner that experiences the same rate and duration of cabin climb or descent would feel different depending upon the airline or aircraft type.
My complaint about the thread title was that it suggested that a type of aircraft, or a particular airline's aircraft, were having pressurization "problems", which I interpret at a minimum to mean that the aircraft is failing to hold the pressure mandated by its design or was otherwise being operated outside of limits, either intentionally or not. Nothing here has suggested that about either Airtran's aircraft generally or any specific aircraft.
So, as between me and the original poster, I'm not the crazy one.
Cessna172RG From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 744 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (7 years 6 months 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 1238 times:
I took my mother on her first flight a few months ago (she had never ever been on an airplane in her life until that day). We flew in a Dash 8-200 from SEA-YVR (guess the airline). The whole way up and the whole way back she kept complaining about her ears. Mine were fine. Then, she flew from SEA to ONT a week ago for a business trip and had the same problem, in an MD-80.
Perhaps it is an individual thing...
I am accustomed to flying regularly and my ears hardly ever need to pop. However, for someone who doesn't exercise their eustacian (sp?) tubes regularly, it could cause discomfort.
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