2006-10-26 17:19:00 · 9 answers · asked by d_a_smith_uk 1 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Aircraft
The cabins are pressurized, but they don't maintain the field elevation (airport) pressure.
Typical pressuriztion systems start to pressurize when the aircraft's engines spool up for takeoff. This pressurizes the plane to about 500 feet below the airport. Then after takeoff, the cabin 'climbs' at about 500 feet per minute until it reaches cruising altitude. Cabins at cruising altitude are kept at about 8000 feet. This allows the pressure difference between the inside and the outside of the plane to be smaller so the plane won't be as stressed and can be made lighter.
On descent, the cabin is brought down at 500 feet per minute to 500 feet below the destination airport at touchdown. Then as the engines spool down the pressure is the same as the airport.
Old planes used to pressurize and depressurize exactly when they lifted off or touched down. This was very painful if the pilots forget to turn off the pressuriztion nicely before landing.
To help with your ears, use the valsalva manuever. Hold your nose and mouth closed and blow, this should equalize the pressure in your ears when descending.
2006-10-26 17:36:15 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 0⤋
Although the cabin is pressurized, it is not maintained at sea-level pressure. At normal cruise altitude, the cabin altitude is typically around 8,000 feet. If the altitude of the airport that you took off from is less than that, there will be pressure changes as the aircraft climbs.
2006-10-27 08:22:18 · answer #2 · answered by Bostonian In MO 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, it is the pressure. They pressurize the cabin for about the equivalent atmospheric pressure of somewhere around 7000-9000 feet. It's easier to maintain that level of air pressure, and most people don't really notice the difference, especially since you can't really move around much. If you could run up and down the ailse, however, you'd notice a difference in the air!
Oh, and yes, they start pressurizing the cabin even before taking off, though I believe they continue doing it gradually for awhile.
2006-10-27 00:29:06 · answer #3 · answered by Geoffrey B 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
this is because your ears and body cannot keep up with the changing pressure and altitudes even though the cabin is pressurized, they always stay the same yet the pressure outside keeps changing while the pressure in the plane doesn't because it always keeps it equivilant to the air pressure on the ground
2006-10-27 21:42:09 · answer #4 · answered by Banstaman 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
calnickel has it just about spot on, except, on typical decent, the cabin pressure is lowered at 300 feet per minute.
2006-10-30 22:04:21 · answer #5 · answered by Steve-o 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pressure in aircraft is pressure at 10000ft.This is less than ground level pressure,pressure goes down about 1mb per30ft
2006-10-27 06:36:36 · answer #6 · answered by michael c 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The pressure is what is causing them to pop. If you notice, they start popping while you are taxiing out to the runway.
2006-10-27 00:21:47 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Good answers....
2006-10-27 03:45:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
................. yes pressurized up to 8000 feet ...................... you feel more the day you have a cold .................
2006-10-27 10:25:19 · answer #9 · answered by spaceman 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋