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Comment by stirfrykitty | Hacker News Reader

Airbus make a superior product anyway. They've gotten FbW down to a science and were the first to use it, as well as glass cockpits. The pilots generally like Airbus planes better. They have better safety controls, more room for the pilots, and more comfortable for pilots and passengers. Boeing seems almost last century in comparison.

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> Airbus make a superior product anyway

Except that their controls also allow faulty AOA sensor data to drive incorrect automated actions:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qantas_Flight_72

The really unbelievable part of this one is that, unlike the 737 MAX, Airbus aircraft actually have 3 AOA sensors, so it would be simple for them to use the obvious "two out of three rule" to detect and ignore faulty sensor data. But instead they allow one faulty AOA sensor to trigger uncommanded pitch down events.

> pilots generally like Airbus planes better

Do you have a citation for that? I've heard anecdotal stuff in both directions.

He made it up. I flagged his comment as misinformation.

Made it up? Hardly. Watch YT videos with pilots themselves claiming this.

It’s more about personal preference. Some pilots hate the airbus as the flight controls are not linked up so they can’t see or feel what the person flying the aircraft is doing when they are in the other seat. Others much prefer the airbus design for example during assent they can simply let the aircraft deal with the specifics to avoid a stall and just go all out on the controls.

Really it’s not just different aircraft but also different design philosophies.

"I prefer Airbus" is an entirely valid personal preference. I suspect you'll find some pilots who prefer Boeings.

"Pilots prefer Airbus" is a pretty big assertion, and not one that can be proven by "some pilots on YouTube say so".

That impossible to gauge, because pilots don't cross-train. Airbus pilots don't fly Boeings and vice versa.

The new A320ies are nicer at base setup, than 737. Though not by much. A320 has a larger range of offerings(A321 and A319). And there's no comparison for a passenger when flying 4+ hours, because 737 is just too small. (I get annoyed even remembering my flight from NY to Belfast on 737)

There's one aspect that instructors note - 737 is more manual and thus can be pushed closer to the edge, as a result the landing can be shorter on 737. Airbus is much more automated, making landings much gentler abeit slightly longer.

Yeah I remember sitting next to a VA pilot on a flight once and he was gushing about the new AirBus 321s. And he was right. Their take offs feel like magic carpet rides compared to boeing 737s.

Hm my experience has been different. I'm always delighted to see that 37 nose at my gate.

I can't speak for pilots but as a passenger, I've been in an a319 that had enough pressure issues to give me sharp pain in my ears that lingered for a day, and annecdotally they feel more prone to turbulence with their big wings.

I'm too tall for either of their seats, so perhaps that's why I don't notice the comfort you speak of.

Note that seats are installed by the airline and can vary substantially even within the same model of plane.

Pressure issues can happen on any plane, not limited to airbus. Pilots are aware of the pressure inside the plane and they make judgement whether to continue or not. Your beef is with the pilots.

As a passenger: Airbus planes tend to be more silent within the cabin (as compared to similar-sized Boeing ones), too.

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