Airbus Engine Vibration Question

BobDDuck

Island Bus Driver
Any Airbus drivers know why, every once in a while in cruise flight, the engines start running really rough for a few minutes and then smooth out? It almost feels like when you get ice buildup on the fan blades (in a CRJ) but not that bad.

We are cruising along at 36,000 and it just started a few minutes ago, stopped for a while and then started again. I've noticed it on other flights too.

Anybody?
 
Any Airbus drivers know why, every once in a while in cruise flight, the engines start running really rough for a few minutes and then smooth out? It almost feels like when you get ice buildup on the fan blades (in a CRJ) but not that bad.

We are cruising along at 36,000 and it just started a few minutes ago, stopped for a while and then started again. I've noticed it on other flights too.

Anybody?

Are you on Delta?
 
Virgin America.

Delta doesn't have wifi in the Arbii.

And currently we are getting the crap kicked out of us coming over the Front Range.
 
You sure? Flightaware shows 1038 landing in ATL 5 hours ago from JAX.

I'm on VirginAmerica 71... Just about to cross into Nevada. Stalkers Rejoice.

Crap, you know, lemme check the flight number... Ahh! Flight 1034!

You know, the Pratt's on this seven-five are smooooooooooooooth.
 
Any Airbus drivers know why, every once in a while in cruise flight, the engines start running really rough for a few minutes and then smooth out? It almost feels like when you get ice buildup on the fan blades (in a CRJ) but not that bad.

We are cruising along at 36,000 and it just started a few minutes ago, stopped for a while and then started again. I've noticed it on other flights too.

Anybody?


The engines are probably experiencing carb ice and smooth out when the pilot applies carb heat to melt the ice.
 
I know NOTHING about Airbus (or any other large jet), but I have heard that some transport type jets get engine vibrations when whatever synchonization system you have isn't working right (think maybe I heard this in reference to Airbus specifically). Could that be the problem? Or am I totally out to lunch? :)
 
Does that happen if they don't run them up and check the mags before take off? Because I don't think they did.



On the few times that I've had to fly in a Saab or Dash8, I've written letters of complaints to their airlines complaining that the pilots didn't do any runups prior to takeoff.
 
I know NOTHING about Airbus (or any other large jet), but I have heard that some transport type jets get engine vibrations when whatever synchonization system you have isn't working right (think maybe I heard this in reference to Airbus specifically). Could that be the problem? Or am I totally out to lunch? :)



No engine sync on any turbojet I've ever flown and I've flown the first generation jets right up to the most modern.
 
No engine sync on any turbojet I've ever flown and I've flown the first generation jets right up to the most modern.



Doug Taylor said:
Engine sync's on the MD-88/90's.

The EMB-170/190 series also has it.

It is automatically on when the autothrottles are on and it is on by default with the throttles off, but can also be turned off.
 
You'll have to ask someone smart like Peanuckle, but I think even the 757/767 has a sync of sorts as well. I can't remember. But the -88 and 90, for sure. I remember searching around n1/epr/n2 to find a metric to sync the engines by when it was acting up.

When the engines on the -88 were out of sync, it would drive your passengers back in the "non rev section" absolutely mad.
 
Having never done any multi-flying this may seem like a silly question. But, how can engines be out of sync?
 
Back
Top