Do Airplanes Have Horns?
Imagine this: an airplane is taxiing down the runway, preparing for takeoff, when suddenly it needs to get someone’s attention. It’s easy when you are in a car, you just honk away. However, in airplanes, despite all the technology and advanced systems, you might wonder—do airplanes have horns?
A basic feature seen almost in all transportation vehicles seems like the most obvious way to alert someone. But is there really a need for such a simple feature in planes? After all, they don’t really get stuck in traffic like cars do.
Let’s explore the availability of this simple feature in one of the most advanced means of transportation.
Do Airplanes Have Horns?
While it may seem unnecessary for planes to have horns, due to obvious lack of traffic mid-air, the truth is, aircrafts have horns. As you may have guessed already, these horns don’t serve the same purpose as horns of other vehicles; they serve a much more practical purpose. These horns are also present in helicopters.
All planes have a button for ground call commonly marked as “GND” that plays a similar role as a car horn. Where this button is placed may differ from plane to plane. For example:
- Boeing 737: Some of the most common types of aircrafts like the Boeing 737 have the horn switch on its overhead panel in the cockpit.
- E190-E2: Other aircrafts like the E190-E2 have the horn on the left side of the yoke (steering wheel) and it’s simply labeled as “horn”.
The loudspeaker is usually located outside, underneath the aircraft and the sound is not audible to those inflight.
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What Are The Airliners Horns For?
So, now that we have answered the question, do airplanes have horns, let’s understand what these horns are for.
As mentioned above, these horns don’t serve the same purpose as horns of other vehicles. They are not really used during the flight at all. Their use is specific to situations on the ground rather than in the air. The primary purpose of these horns is for ground operations. Here are some examples of when airplane horns are used:
- Ground Crew Communication: Pilots use the horns to signal and communicate with the ground crew for technical maintenance. This is a crucial tool for the pilot to communicate with ground personnel from inside the aircraft.
- Maintenance Signals: During routine maintenance or inspections, the horn can be used as a signaling tool for ground technicians to indicate that they need assistance or that a certain check has been completed.
- Emergency Situations on the Ground: In some cases, the horn is used to alert ground personnel to an urgent issue like warning of system failure.
These horns serve as audible signals that ensure safety measures, help in coordination and or alert for attention on the ground.
What Does A Plane Horn Sound Like?
Airliners have horns similar to that of cars, but they sound very different. The sound of an airplane horn is similar to that of an alarm and their noise varies from aircraft to aircraft.
If you’re wondering how loud are the horns on an aircraft then you may just be surprised by the answer. The horns surprisingly aren’t even audible to people outside the plane as they are not as loud as car horns.
In 2019, Royal Dutch Airlines (KLM) released a recording of the bizarre sound of airplane horns. They said “it sounds like three steamboats are passing under the plane.”
If you are having trouble imagining how three steamboats would sound while passing under the place- don’t worry, we got you! This is how the horn sounds like:
There are different types of horns and noises used for different purposes. Some of the different alarms are:
- Continuous horn for cabin pressure issues
- Beeping horn for configuration issues
- Horn along with light for configuration issues that are severe
- Various horn sounds if autopilot gets disconnected.
So based on the purpose and nature of emergency, the sounds of the horn vary.
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When Are Airplane Horns Not Used?
So, do airplanes have horns? Yes! But these airplane horns are rarely used by pilots because the need for them is very less. In fact, these horns are majorly used by the ground crew when they are performing maintenance in the cockpit to alert colleagues on ground. These horns are only used by pilots during specific emergencies.
Airplane horns automatically turn off after takeoff and cannot be used in flight. One pilot shared on Quora how these signals are never meant for flight attendants or internal use.
Planes with horns use these alarms only on rare occasions for communication. Besides this, planes also have multiple systems designed for communication like radio, intercoms or headlights in planes.
FAQs
Not all airplanes have horns, but most commercial airliners and larger aircraft do. These horns are primarily used for ground operations, such as communicating with ground personnel or alerting maintenance crews. Smaller aircraft, like general aviation planes or private jets, may not have horns, as their ground communication needs are typically handled in other ways, such as through hand signals or direct communication with headsets and radios.
No, airliners do not use horns when flying. The horns are strictly for ground operations and automatically shut off when the flight takes off. In flight, communication between aircraft, air traffic control, and ground personnel is handled via radio systems, which are far more effective than a horn at high altitudes. The horn would be useless in flight because it is not loud enough to be heard outside the aircraft, and air traffic relies on radio communication for safety and coordination.
