The Boeing 737 vs. the Airbus A320

[Marko Ramius]

What's the deal with that "jack hammer" sound before push back and after block in. I'm guessing the cargo door?? Or the "clank" when releasing brakes on position and hold?

It's the PTU. The two primary engine driven hydraulic systems on the 320 are the green and the yellow. The PTU is a backup pump that is plumbed in between the two systems. Basically, when the PTU senses low pressure on either side of the pump it kicks in to bring the low powered system back up to 3000 psi. It kind of works like a flexing accordian to pump up the system which is what that sound you hear is. You hear it either because only one engine is running or it's going through a self test.

 

[TWA Dude]

Deactivating them keeps you sharp on power settings and makes you a better pilot. More fatiguing but better.

You didn't use any smileys so I can't tell if you're being funny or not.

 

[glasspilot1]

You didn't use any smileys so I can't tell if you're being funny or not.

Hey Dude!

I don't think he was trying to be funny!

 

[TWA Dude]

Hey Glass. I was afraid of that.

 

[SennaP1]

And Northwest has discovered that the Bus is a 15 year airplane - their maintenance costs are hugh.

I'll take the American made Boeing 737 New Generation. It's designed for 55-60,000 hours of quick turns, hard landings and short fields. It also has an all metal tail.

Also, it's my preference to put meat and potatoes on the table for an American worker in Seattle rather than Brie and Bourdeau on the table for some socialist in Toulouse.

GV

Yeah that'll be nice when the tail on the 787 will say "Made in China"

I'll take the French over the Chinese.

Hopefully that portion of "Meat and Potatoes" isn't a McDonald's Value Meal.

Old News really about "American Made" Boeings.

I'm sure there's plenty of Airbus work over here too.

 

[NEDude]

I don't have any time in either, but I must ask the question, what is wrong with having to flip a few switches? Having had most of my time in the BE-1900, I was amazed at how little work there was to do in the 737-200 when I did my type. To hear guys complain about too much work on the overhead is simply laughable.

Gordon Bethune talks about the 737NG in his book "From Worst to First". He names after one of the aircraft seats, something like "The seat 4A principle". Basically it stated that when they were re-designing the 737, if it was a redesign that would cost the passenger in seat 4A more money, then they wouldn't do it. The 737 systems were proven and reliable, and they didn't feel it was worth the expense to re-design a switch just for the sake of automation.

I do find it funny that people think it is a novel concept these days that a pilot may actually have to operate the airplane, instead of it doing it all for you.

 

[GogglesPisano]

Flipping switches is fun and all, but I'd eally rather just read the paper and eat.

 

[yaks]

Too bad the (bus) automation, for all the time and money spent developing it, sucks. If you are a pax it doesn't matter. If you are a pilot you want the boeing.

 

[RocketRob]

The A320 cockpit is without a doubt the most comfortable, automated, and ergonomic one I've ever worked in.

Must of never had the pleasure of flying the "Queen of the Skies" :beer:

 

[DieselDash]

I love the Lav on the 320. That thing will suck a turd clear back to France.

 

[Midnight Flyer]

Auto throttles is a different issue. Deactivating them keeps you sharp on power settings and makes you a better pilot. More fatiguing but better.
Makes you actually look at the instruments, even when you'd rather read the paper.

I've personally never flown an aircraft with auto throttles, so I guess I dont really "get it" when it comes to automation, glass cockpit, and the removal of the traditional control column on some of the Airbuses. Airbus' plan to totally phase out the human pilot is almost complete. :laugh: (note sarcasm)

Shouldn't the pilot actually be looking at the instruments regardless of who moves the throttles (human or computer)?
Some pilots say that flying "steam guage" aircraft keep you more in the loop as opposed to the fully glass/automated where the pilot is basically a systems monitor.

If a computer is moving my throttles around, you can bet I'll be watching the guages just as close and probably closer than I would if I was the one moving the throttles in my non autothrottle aircraft.

I do, however, like how nice the cabins are in the Airbus.

 

[NEDude]

Flipping switches is fun and all, but I'd eally rather just read the paper and eat.

You can get through the McPap...I mean USAToday in about five minutes. And eat?! Who actually gets food on airplanes these days?

 

[IAHERJ]

I do, and lots of it.

IAHERJ

 

[Wiggums]

Some pilots say that flying "steam guage" aircraft keep you more in the loop as opposed to the fully glass/automated where the pilot is basically a systems monitor.

Nah, you get much more information on what is going on in a glass cockpit airplane. A moving map showing your waypoints with speed and altitude restrictions, along with terain, traffic, and rader, is better then just a plain HSI. Plus don't forget trend indicators and synaptic pages.

I'd rather ride the AirBus then the 737. It's the better product for the people in the back.

 

[Gorilla]

I was told the 737NG was originally designed to resemble the 777 flight deck, but this would require a different type rating than the original -100/200/EFIS type. Southwest was not very happy about this and managed to "talk" Boeing into changing the cockpit layout.

The NG panel resembles the 777 until you look at the over head panel. You go 30 years back in time when you look up!

I've heard this too, and I think it's true. I was told that behind the overhead panel that looks 40 years old is state of the art circuitry... a data bus and a few digital circuit boards. That crusty ancient panel that SWA luvs so much was retrofitted to what was intended to be a modern, 777-like overhead. Same deal with the pedestal area.

It could have been heaven, but instead we get what we get.

CAL and LUV, is it true that your 800's 6-screen DU's are used to display clusters of synthetic steam guages on your birds, like round engine guages, a VOR and RMI? Do you have the option to swap over to a more modern display?