# What do all those beeps on the airplane mean? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 15, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413 "2004-10-15T17:40:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![FlippyFly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e95f7d/32.png) [@FlippyFly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlippyFly)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/1 "2004-10-15T17:40:35Z")
Whenever I fly, there are always a series of beeps or tones in the airplane. Sometimes, these correspond to the seatbelt sign coming on, but not always. Any flight staff out there that can decode the message for me? I figure it probably means something like 3-tones, start drink service or something, but I want to know for sure. ---
**Author:** ![Roches](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc8723/32.png) [@Roches](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roches)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/2 "2004-10-15T17:48:16Z")
IANA flight attendant or a person who has travelled by plane more than five times, but when I heard these signals I gathered that it was the intercom ringing. Every time I heard the tone, one of the flight attendants would go to the intercom phone. I think it was always the same tone, but there might be different tones for different members of the crew. (This was on an Airbus A319.) Probably, when the pilot turns on the seatbelt light (AFAIK the seatbelt light and no smoking light are controlled from the cockpit) he informs the flight attendants that the light has been turned on. If I were a flight attendant, I assume that I would then do whatever I’m supposed to do when the seatbelt light is on. ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/3 "2004-10-15T19:01:24Z")
I just happen to do the functional test of the passenger and crew call systems on new 737 aircraft. Just like the department store bongs mentioned in another thread, the number and type of chimes (we don’t call them beeps) tells the flight crew what to do. On the 737, chimes in rapid succession are from the flight deck, usually a pilot wanting something or needing a lavatory cleared. The slower beeps are used by the flight attendants, one chime means help is needed in a forward galley area, 2 help is needed in the back. There are also passenger indication chimes for the no smoking and fasten seat belt signs. And of course, the attendant call system used by the passengers when they need the services of a flight attendant. There are also ground service chimes used between the pilot and ground service crew too. And of all the fuctional tests I do on a new 737, this is the hardest to troubleshoot. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/4 "2004-10-15T19:23:48Z")
That would be the low fuel indicator. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/5 "2004-10-15T19:50:18Z")
> [@vetbridge](#): > > That would be the low fuel indicator. > > 🙂 smacks \*\*vetbridge \*\* on the head ---
**Author:** ![DantesTenth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df705f/32.png) [@DantesTenth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DantesTenth)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2004, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/6 "2004-10-15T23:13:33Z")
> [@](#): > > What do all those beeps on the airplane mean? Ummm… You got on the wrong friggin’ plane? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pilot141](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e0b2c6/32.png) [@pilot141](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pilot141)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2004, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/7 "2004-10-16T20:34:58Z")
The specific meaning of chimes varies with airlines. For example, we have one that we give after we announce “Flight attendants prepare for takeoff”. We make that PA at least one minute before takeoff, and give the chime as we are taking the runway. The next one they hear is the one saying they can get out of their seats and begin service. I know how the chimes work at my airline, but when I fly other airlines I’m constantly guessing at their bizarre forms of communication! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/8 "2004-10-17T03:23:41Z")
Another important signal is prior to landing so that the flight attendant knows when to get into his/her seat and buckle up. Since all of these signals are initiated by the pilots, some are better at it than others. This is also something that the pilot briefs the flight attendant(s) on prior to the flight. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/9 "2004-10-17T08:34:14Z")
They’re to warn bystanders that the plane is flying in reverse. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/10 "2004-10-17T14:43:29Z")
> [@](#): > > They’re to warn bystanders that the plane is flying in reverse. My dad saw an airplane flying backwards. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/11 "2004-10-17T16:08:48Z")
Lemme guess: slow airplane, very fast headwind? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/12 "2004-10-17T16:16:07Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > Lemme guess: slow airplane, very fast headwind? 🙂 Aeronca Champ landing at WJF (an airport, like many in the Mojave Desert, known for its high winds). 😉 ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2004, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/13 "2004-10-17T23:15:25Z")
Whenever I’ve flown on Australian or Asian airlines (or BA), the pilot has always simply _said_ things like “cabin crew please be seated for take-off” and “cabin crew are released”. Do they not do this in the States? ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/14 "2004-10-18T09:25:09Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > My dad saw an airplane flying backwards. Hey, I’ve _done_ that! ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 9:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/15 "2004-10-18T09:26:46Z")
> [@TheLoadedDog](#): > > Whenever I’ve flown on Australian or Asian airlines (or BA), the pilot has always simply _said_ things like “cabin crew please be seated for take-off” and “cabin crew are released”. Do they not do this in the States? It’s been years since I flew commercial, but I seem to recall something of sort from time to time… probably depends on the airline. Not that I pay much attention - I’m usually too busy either reading something or looking out the window. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/16 "2004-10-18T12:49:35Z")
I’ve flown an aeroplane backwards too. Nil wind. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/17 "2004-10-18T15:48:20Z")
I just want to say that I would pay good money to see someone fly an airplane backwards. I don’t doubt you can, it would just be really cool. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![darnoldy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@darnoldy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/darnoldy)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2004, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/18 "2004-10-18T15:52:36Z")
the tones have different meanings for different airlines. i think they are usually to alert the FAs of something such as a certain altitude, or prepare for landing, etc… Many times there’s an alert to say when you’ve reached the alitutude that its safe to use electronics… dan ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/19 "2004-10-19T09:50:31Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > I just want to say that I would pay good money to see someone fly an airplane backwards. I don’t doubt you can, it would just be really cool. 🙂 Well, technically it was more _falling_ than _flying_. All you have to do is point the plane straight up and wait. It’ll run out of speed pretty quickly and if you are nicely vertical, it will fall straight down tail first (leave the power on and it will roll as it falls). Of course, you have to have the right kind of aircraft and know what you’re doing :D. ---
**Author:** ![Orville\_mogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/aeb1de/32.png) [@Orville\_mogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orville_mogul)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2004, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-all-those-beeps-on-the-airplane-mean/269413/20 "2004-10-19T10:59:40Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > usually a pilot wanting something or needing a lavatory cleared. Why don’t the pilots flush their own damn toilets like everyone else? 😃