Loud Qantas 737 landing gear

[tuppaware]

So I flew down to Sydney on Tuesday night, On one of those old 734's seated over the wing.

As we taxied to the runway in Brisbane, every time we stopped to turn there was the most loud screeching sound coming out of the landing gear before takeoff.
After take off a number of us seated over the wing told the head flight attendant who then told the pilot.

We were told that he didn't think it was a problem with the breaking system and told us to keep an ear out for it on landing. No sounds on landing, although the pilot seemed to use nearly full flaps and full reverse (although that could just be landing towards the bay in sydney)

I was much impressed the flight attendants response to the situation, I knew it wasn't a critical problem (although the FA did ask if I was a engineer )

 

[markis10]

Good to hear crew paying attention to pax observations, they have been critical in past incidents at times and had more attention been given might have resulted in a better outcome.

 

[tuppaware]

In the end 6 people had spoken up about the problem.
I'm glad that people don't feel scared to talk up.

 

[straitman]

No sounds on landing, although the pilot seemed to use nearly full flaps and full reverse

This is perfectly normal.

 

[possumFF]

I can relate.
Some time ago I felt a real goose when I got up from my Emirates seat on taxi before take off to alert the FA that I felt that there was a split in the flap. Boy, did I feel silly.
Regardless, the concern was passed to the pilot & a FA reported back to me that all was OK but that model aircraft did indeed have an unusual flap config (or something). I was rewarded with a glass of champagne (in economy).
The crew response to my ill informed but sincere observation made me feel less of a goose. In reality, I guess if one fault is picked up this way then it is well worth the embarassment!

 

[codash1099]

We were told that he didn't think it was a problem with the breaking system and told us to keep an ear out for it on landing.

I'd be more worried that there was a "breaking" system - not so much about a "braking" system.

Signed: Spelling/typo police

 

[yohy?!]

So in terms of loudness how would it compare to the ancient ex-BA 767s? The last one I took sounding like it was coming apart whilst it's gear was moving up and down:!:

 

[straitman]

So in terms of loudness how would it compare to the ancient ex-BA 767s? The last one I took sounding like it was coming apart whilst it's gear was moving up and down:!:

Try being up front in a 744 when they do a u-turn on the runway at places like AKL. Very loud and off putting noises from the nose wheel.

 

[serfty]

Try being up front in a 744 when they do a u-turn on the runway at places like AKL. Very loud and off putting noises from the nose wheel.

Oh Dear - the perils of Zone A.

 

[straitman]

Oh Dear - the perils of Zone A.

Somebody has to do it :!:

I only wish it was me more often, or any time any more.

 

[Boof1]

I'm no 737 pilot but I would imagine that the noise you heard was a carbon build up on the brake disk from previous landings, more than likely heavy landings that used a fair bit of wheel braking as well as the reversers. The noise comes when the pads hit the disk(s) during taxing.

I remember being on a QF 734 out of SYD to HBA a few years back when we heard the same thing. The lady next to me was panicking and asked me what I thought it was. Same answer as above.

Ironic thing was after take off the main gear retracted then dropped from the wheel well and had to be retracted again, I could clearly hear it all happen beneath me from my seat. We held out over the water until the ground mechanics and the skipper worked out what happened. They decided to fly to MEL to have it checked by the 737 maintenance team so we did a nice little diversion on the way south. It turned a 1:45 flight into a 6 hour affair but they looked after us, nothing was wrong with the aircraft, and we all made it to HBA so no one complained!

Cheers,

Boof

 

[jb747]

Brakes are often surprisingly noisy. There's nothing wrong with them...just noisy. A cure that worked on the 767s was to actually use them quite hard on the next landing, but that was uncomfortable in itself, so I generally just lived with the noise.