Sometime around 2006/7, I had a flight from from KEWR to KSRQ and back on Continental.  We flew nonstop going down.  I think that part was an ERJ-135.  Note the missing X for Extended range or is it LR for long range?  At Newark, they asked if anyone could get off the plane for a later flight since it was full and expected more kids to be on the plane and the plane could not make the  distance due to cargo versus fuel limitations.  They then said, well, if no one wants to get off, we have to take bags off.  Ours were the lucky few that got them the next day.

Anyhow to get back to the 402 story.  To our shock and surprise, going back to Newark, the KSRQ to KTPA portion was on a 402c.  I could see my wife cringe since she gets motion sickness very easily.  My gut wrenched (for her), but boy was I excited!  It was a single pilot with salt and pepper hair.  I think he had lived in Key West for a while.  I was thinking his parrot would  be in the co pilot seat.  We were the only two passengers on the plane!  At first when I got on, I was sitting in the last row with my wife.  He  asked if we could move up.  I moved all the way to the seat behind the co-pilot.  My wife managed to move up behind me.  He mumbled about taking this jet (!) to Tampa and to make sure our seat belts were fastened.  He also said he would turn on the air conditioning (it was near 80) and proceeded to open his window!  Once we got up higher, it did cool off and feel better.  It was awfully loud--mostly wind noise from what I remember.  I couldn't see the instruments too well, but we did stop around 5,000 or less on that nice warm VFR day. My gaze went between scenery and pilot--trying to see what he was doing.  My wife was probably sweltering and holding on for dear life.  It was a short 40 minute flight or so and soon saw the long 10,000 foot runway of which we would need a fraction of for landing.  It seemed like he kept the speed up for a fast approach and got off the runway at a somewhat quick leisurely pace.

This flight always reminds me of passenger comfort.   The seats were awfully narrow, no aircon, and no pressurization, but a fun ride.  I've been on Cessna 208, Shorts 360, ATR 72, and Beech 1900.  The 208 was pretty tight.  The others were a little better.  They all seemed pretty noisey.

So, with the 402, I'd guess that pilots prefer to stay at lower altitudes (8000 and lower?) with passengers so they don't get light headed?  Do they ask?  I'd think this gave rise to the pressurized (and airconditioned) ATR and Beech 1900 aka tubeliners.

 

 

 

 

On 12/17/2019 at 3:24 PM, bic said:

So, with the 402, I'd guess that pilots prefer to stay at lower altitudes (8000 and lower?) with passengers so they don't get light headed?  Do they ask?  I'd think this gave rise to the pressurized (and airconditioned) ATR and Beech 1900 aka tubeliners.

ATR's and BE1900's were the answer to airlines than were looking for aircraft to cover flights that were relatively short in duration and would not be carrying a lot of passengers.  These flights are not economical with larger turbine powered aircraft such as the Boeing 737. These flights had previously been handled by aircraft such as the Douglas DC-3, Convair CV-240/340/440, and Martin 404.  As these aircraft aged and piston engines fell out of favor due to the reliability and better economics of the turbine engines, the twin turboprop airliner was adopted.

Much of the noise inside of prop driven aircraft, whether it is powered by a turbine or reciprocating engine, comes from the prop itself.  Those prop blade tips are traveling pretty fast, sometimes very near supersonic, and the shock wave created is most of what you hear.  The closer you are to the prop, the louder the ride.

Non-pressurized aircraft can operate at higher altitudes, but supplemental oxygen for the crew and passengers becomes a requirement.  Most people are not going to want to and will find that wearing a mask or cannula is not particularly comfortable, so non-pressurized commuter aircraft typically fly no higher than 12,000 feet MSL and I think most of these flights are actually at 10,000 feet or lower.