Sinus pain on descent

[ZK-KAG]

QUOTE (A185F @ Aug 22 2009, 11:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hahaha now I hope he didn't tell you that....

Hmm...maybe Im confused with another "Linkxxx" - could quite possibly be on another forum even. Losing my marbles! lol

[A185F]

QUOTE (ZK-KAG @ Aug 23 2009, 09:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hmm...maybe Im confused with another "Linkxxx" - could quite possibly be on another forum even. Losing my marbles! lol

lol I think you may be confused with someone else !

[greaneyr]

QUOTE (ZK-KAG @ Aug 22 2009, 08:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Hmmm... from what I can recall on the flight deck visits I've had in the Dash, they set the cabin altitude to aerodrome elevation at around 1500ft so that the pressure is equal when the doors are opened. If there is a large pressure differential between the cabin and aerodrome elevation it may cause the hissing.

Id say you have issues equalising rapidly, its ok at a slow change but the rapid change may be whats causing the pain.

Try PM'ing 'Link148' I think it is, as he is a Dash pilot and may be able to offer advice.

Otherwise ring up Dr Baldwin at PM and see what he has to say, he is a legend when it come to aviation medical things and always great to chat too. He is found at www.flyingdoctor.co.nz

~KAG~

This time it happened in a Bech 1900D. In the Dash it happened a lot higher, but we also flew an instrument approach so they may have set the cabin alt to aerodrome elevation a little higher up. In the Beech, we were on a visual approach.

Thanks for the advice. I might see if I can chase up Dave Baldwin and see if he has any suggestions. It feels wrong being me and also dreading flying, so I'm keen to sort this. Next flight I take I'm gonna try chewing airwaves from top of descent as they have natural decongestants in them. It still sucks sitting there as a passenger feeling all tense as you anticipate pain coming on - hardly what you'd expect an aviation enthusiast to look like as a passenger!

[larral1123]

On descent, ears and sinusues can cause
discomfort, due to the change in air pressure.

[larral1123]

I hate sinus pain

[SA227]

I would definitely be seeking some medical advice on this one.
As for the hissing it sounds like whoever set the pressuriation to the aerodrome elevation may have not quite got it right and the cabin dumped early. I'm not sure about the dash but in the Metro we set pressure altitude +200ft so everything relates to 1013 hPa. We have to take into account the airfield elevation and the QNH difference and occasionally you get it wrong which can lead to the cabin dumping at 2000 feet and of course we are generally descending at rates greater than 500 ft/min so that will hurt the ears when it happens.