Ask the BA Staffer and Heathrow ATC
May 15, 2012, 4:47 pm
#1096
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: London & Amsterdam
Programs: BA Gold, Flying Blue ivory
Posts: 148
Two bongs or three ?
Ok, this is a VERY geeky question, for which I apologise in advance. It concerns the takeoff bongs.
BA always "bong" as the plane heads onto the runway to warn that it's about to takeoff.
Sometimes it's two bongs, and sometimes it's three.
The only pattern I can see is that the Airbus planes seem to give two and the Boeings three. (certainly the 737-400s do)
Am i right, or is there more to it than that ?
BA always "bong" as the plane heads onto the runway to warn that it's about to takeoff.
Sometimes it's two bongs, and sometimes it's three.
The only pattern I can see is that the Airbus planes seem to give two and the Boeings three. (certainly the 737-400s do)
Am i right, or is there more to it than that ?
May 15, 2012, 8:47 pm
#1097
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Home: East Mids UK - Work (Base): Accra, Ghana.
Programs: BAEC: Silver - Marriott: Titanium
Posts: 12,086
Ok, this is a VERY geeky question, for which I apologise in advance. It concerns the takeoff bongs.
BA always "bong" as the plane heads onto the runway to warn that it's about to takeoff.
Sometimes it's two bongs, and sometimes it's three.
The only pattern I can see is that the Airbus planes seem to give two and the Boeings three. (certainly the 737-400s do)
Am i right, or is there more to it than that ?
BA always "bong" as the plane heads onto the runway to warn that it's about to takeoff.
Sometimes it's two bongs, and sometimes it's three.
The only pattern I can see is that the Airbus planes seem to give two and the Boeings three. (certainly the 737-400s do)
Am i right, or is there more to it than that ?
On the Airbus, the signal used to notify the crew is triggered by switching something like the emergency exit lights off then back on, or the no smoking signs off then back on, which, to look at, you would not notice as the on/off sequence is so quick, however, that sequence triggers the two "bongs" that you hear in the cabin etc...
I am new to larger Boeing aircraft, so not sure how the signal to the cabin is initiated by the flight crew, but whatever they do does make the 3 hi-lo chimes you hear.
May 15, 2012, 9:09 pm
#1098
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: LON, ACK, BOS..... (Not necessarily in that order)
Programs: **Mucci Diamond Hairbrush** - compared to that nothing else matters (+BA Bronze)
Posts: 15,132
Nope... That is all correct.
On the Airbus, the signal used to notify the crew is triggered by switching something like the emergency exit lights off then back on, or the no smoking signs off then back on, which, to look at, you would not notice as the on/off sequence is so quick, however, that sequence triggers the two "bongs" that you hear in the cabin etc...
I am new to larger Boeing aircraft, so not sure how the signal to the cabin is initiated by the flight crew, but whatever they do does make the 3 hi-lo chimes you hear.
On the Airbus, the signal used to notify the crew is triggered by switching something like the emergency exit lights off then back on, or the no smoking signs off then back on, which, to look at, you would not notice as the on/off sequence is so quick, however, that sequence triggers the two "bongs" that you hear in the cabin etc...
I am new to larger Boeing aircraft, so not sure how the signal to the cabin is initiated by the flight crew, but whatever they do does make the 3 hi-lo chimes you hear.
.
May 15, 2012, 11:13 pm
#1099
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Berlin
Programs: Meow Mix
Posts: 1,434
Question regarding the bingbongs (via) the call for assistance button.
When someone presses the call for assistance button I have been told that on some aircraft the crew in the galleys can see who has pressed it and on some aircraft they don't (they just have to look at illuminated light above the seat).
Can someone please shed some light?
/AE
When someone presses the call for assistance button I have been told that on some aircraft the crew in the galleys can see who has pressed it and on some aircraft they don't (they just have to look at illuminated light above the seat).
Can someone please shed some light?
/AE
May 16, 2012, 1:02 am
#1100
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: London & Amsterdam
Programs: BA Gold, Flying Blue ivory
Posts: 148
Nope... That is all correct.
On the Airbus, the signal used to notify the crew is triggered by switching something like the emergency exit lights off then back on, or the no smoking signs off then back on, which, to look at, you would not notice as the on/off sequence is so quick, however, that sequence triggers the two "bongs" that you hear in the cabin etc...
I am new to larger Boeing aircraft, so not sure how the signal to the cabin is initiated by the flight crew, but whatever they do does make the 3 hi-lo chimes you hear.
On the Airbus, the signal used to notify the crew is triggered by switching something like the emergency exit lights off then back on, or the no smoking signs off then back on, which, to look at, you would not notice as the on/off sequence is so quick, however, that sequence triggers the two "bongs" that you hear in the cabin etc...
I am new to larger Boeing aircraft, so not sure how the signal to the cabin is initiated by the flight crew, but whatever they do does make the 3 hi-lo chimes you hear.
The bong numbers have been puzzling me for months 
May 16, 2012, 3:07 am
#1101
Join Date: Jul 2011
Programs: Mucci de la Cuisine Aérienne du Réseau Courte Durée de British Airways
Posts: 4,704
Question regarding the bingbongs (via) the call for assistance button.
When someone presses the call for assistance button I have been told that on some aircraft the crew in the galleys can see who has pressed it and on some aircraft they don't (they just have to look at illuminated light above the seat).
Can someone please shed some light?
/AE
When someone presses the call for assistance button I have been told that on some aircraft the crew in the galleys can see who has pressed it and on some aircraft they don't (they just have to look at illuminated light above the seat).
Can someone please shed some light?
/AE
May 16, 2012, 3:44 am
#1102
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Programs: Mucci des Hommes Magiques et Magnifiques
Posts: 19,097
On the B777 you get the seat number on the screen in each galley plus a zone indication at the doors of that area on the B767 and B744 you only get a zone indication at the doors.
May 16, 2012, 4:02 am
#1103
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Bicester, UK
Programs: MUCCI, BAEC Silver, A-Club Gold
Posts: 1,228
Flew EK many years ago and after the 3rd or 4th time I asked the CC for a drink she appeared with a selection and some savoury snacks, no need to ask after that. I bonged and she appeared with a cold beer!
May 16, 2012, 4:11 am
#1104
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: A metal nomad
Programs: Mucci des Delices Exotiques,Order of the Platinum Hairbrush,Her Royal Diamond
Posts: 23,728
EK has all kinds of snacks and drinks right there in the arm rest, in both F and J.
May 16, 2012, 4:12 am
#1105
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: A metal nomad
Programs: Mucci des Delices Exotiques,Order of the Platinum Hairbrush,Her Royal Diamond
Posts: 23,728
Interesting book review. Any comments from our esteemed FAs?
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/bu...road.html?_r=1
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/bu...road.html?_r=1
May 16, 2012, 4:26 am
#1107
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: A metal nomad
Programs: Mucci des Delices Exotiques,Order of the Platinum Hairbrush,Her Royal Diamond
Posts: 23,728
May 16, 2012, 4:41 am
#1108
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Bicester, UK
Programs: MUCCI, BAEC Silver, A-Club Gold
Posts: 1,228
May 16, 2012, 9:07 am
#1109
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: London
Programs: BA Gold, VS & Aeroplan Red, Marriott Silver, Hilton Honours, Hertz Gold, GHA Discovery Platinum
Posts: 203
May 16, 2012, 9:12 am
#1110
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: West Coast USA
Programs: BAEC
Posts: 559
Yes the Airbus tells you who pressed the call bell on a small display as well as a bong and a light in the galley ceiling. On the older Boeing aircraft it is just a light and a bong (on the side of the aircraft that the call bell was pressed). The more modern boeings may now indicate the seat numbers, not sure as I have not flown on a 777 or Jumbo for a while but I would imagine this technology is installed in all newer aircraft nowadays.