Noise on the Beechcraft
 

I haven't been able to find a post related to the exposure of high noise levels on an aircraft but I was curious if there were any health standards/concerns about the noise levels a passenger is exposed to on an airplane such as the Beechcraft?

I would imagine someone exposed to this much noise over a prolonged amount of time might suffer from hearing loss.

Any thoughts?

Wouldn't this be better suited on Travelbuzz?

I flew a couple of months ago on a Beech from YYZ to MHT and I get them always from YYC to YQL. The deafening noise is almost as bad as the porta potty (I just couldn't wait once....eeew!).

I have been on countless Beechcraft flights and have not noticed them to be any noisier than expected.

To answer the OP's question. Given the amount of time you will spend on one, you have far more important things to worry about.

I agree totally!! I travel on the Beechcrafts regularly and the noise is not the biggest worry. Also, everybody gets an aisle and a window seat ( 1A and 1B windows do not have outside view :D )

I'd worry more about the amount of radioactivity a pax is exposed to on an aircraft.

I wouldn't
 

I seem to recall having read an article in the past couple of years that radiation exposure during a flight is not considered to be significant and more of an urban legend. I believe it looked at health outcomes in FAs and pilots compared to non-flyers and found no differences in cancer rates. I could be wrong as this is a vague memory. I am an infrequent flyer and have no worries.

I would be more worried about hearing loss. I have a friend who is an audiologist who states that research shows progressive hearing loss and inner ear damage does occur with chronic exposure to elevated noise levels. He's not talking about Pink Floyd rock concerts or using a jack hammer either. Even a moderately elevated chronic noise enviroment will result in long term hearing deficits.

Wear ear plugs if it bothers you.

Anyone know if the Beechcraft are louder than Dash 8s. Never flown on one, but the Dash is very loud, although fun to fly in.

Ford

Beech is much louder in my opinion. The only thing louder is being in a seat next to the engines on a British Aerospace plane when landing. 100% reverse thrust to stop the plane.

Dash 8s aren't that fun to fly in really. Try doing 2.5 hours YYG-YUL. It gets a little old.

Let's see if all the members of FlyerTalk have any information on this topic. There are a few threads in TravelBuzz! that post about noise on an airplane, but generally they are related to noise in front of the engine or behind the engine.

Anyway, TravelBuzz! is exactly the correct forum for these types of questions. Thank you.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has published a pilot safety brochure on the subject of aircraft noise.

I wouldn't be surprised if it caused some hearing losses. I did get some when I did my pilot training on a Cessna 152, with David-Clark headsets on.

I always use ear plugs on the B1900. Also, I avoid seats in front since you're right between the props. I'm usually row 7+.

I'll second the Beech being much louder than the Dash, I often have to fly both to get from YGK to YQQ and the difference is VERY noticable

Speaking of beech flights I get to be a pax on one dodging the thunderstorms shortly - should be fun!

The obstacle course is always a fun ride!!! Enjoy!

Er... How about the Boston subway? My local bus? Last rows on a DC-9/MD-80? And since the range of a Beech 1900 is much shorter than say a ERJ-145XR, riding thd later may be more hazadous.

Anyways, I always travel with good noise-cancelling or noise-isolating headphones. If you worry about your hearing, you should get a good pair.

Noise??? Hell, worry about the 20 year old ERAU grad flying the thing.
If a 1900 serves a route, it means just one thing: it's not too far to drive.

So, if radiation exposure on aircraft actually exists (which it does, unless you're the kind that believes a 757 never flew into the pentagon), how is it an urban legend?

You get more radiation on an aircraft than operating an x-ray machine. Of course it's a negligble amount. But I said that to give effect to the fact that losing hearing while being on the beechcraft is such a minor issue, IMO.

Which US carriers fly this aircraft?

It was fun, although slightly concerned by the extra 20 minutes flying it took to get back into the headwinds since route is getting out towards the range for the a/c.

One "big" operator is Gulfstream International, which operates as Continental Connection in Florida and the NE, as well as for other airlines.

Not US, but Air Canada has several feeder airlines that fly them down to the US, as well as domestically.

That is misleading. An Xray concentrates the radiation in a small area of the body. The radiation you receive while flying is spread out over the entire body so the amount of radiation received at any one point of the body is much less than what you get from an Xray.

Another one is Skyway Airlines (Midwest Express Connection).

Great Lakes, mostly out of Denver (don't ask how), is another large one with the B1900.

Colgan has them for EAS service under US Express in the east.