No, no, no, no! 3,000 hour, fourth generation aviator here: Pilot voice is due to the "simplex" mode of communication as opposed to "duplex". Simplex is when only one person can speak at a time, as in on a single radio frequency, as differentiated from speaking on a telephone where both parties can speak at once. On the flight crew's microphones there are "push-to-talk-buttons/switches" that must be engaged to transmit. If you are pausing during a lengthy transmission (more than 4-7 seconds) you unconsciously learn to input an "ahhhhhh" in between words as a _courtesy_ to other people on the common frequency to let them know that you are still transmitting/talking so they know to not try to transmit their message until you are done speaking. This lets others know that you are aware of the "dead air" transmission, but to keep listening because there is more information coming. When the flight crew keys the microphone to make a cabin announcement, the technique is still being used, giving you passengers the "ahhhhh" over the public announcement system. When I was flying livestock in freighters, I used to do (in my best pilot voice) the cabin announcement for the pigs or cattle, over a non-functional intercom system. (at least until my captain told me to knock off that nonsense.) I also LOVE that you got RASHI in there, at the end.

Legend has it that if you type “Douglas Murray” in the comments the audio skips a beat.

@JesseCuoi

7 ай бұрын

😂😂😂

@ricksflicks-

6 ай бұрын

I assume Malc still wakes up in a cold sweat at 3am from time to time because of that debate 😂

@1foreman

5 ай бұрын

😂😂

In the 90s, Alaska still had a few smaller air services that flew over Thompson Pass into Valdez. The weather over the pass is bad, especially in winter. And those pilots would have us vote sometimes if we were going to try to land or go back to Anchorage. One flight where we all voted for him to attempt a land got a response "Alright folks, bow your heads and pray." I guess something in his voice gave us the confidence he could do it. Or the fact, most pilots on that line were former military pilots.

@pagesculptor

6 ай бұрын

@@OrwellNailedIt We did. But it was a bumpy ride.

I think a major reason why pilots all seem to sound alike is the need for precise communication over less than perfect amplification gear. As a security guard, I occasionally have to rehearse ordering a building evacuation. I have learned to speak sl-o-w-l-y. And doing this does tend to lower my voice. It is very important that as many people as possible understand me. I imagine it's the same for pilots over the airplane intercom.

@user-qp2xy5zs7r

6 ай бұрын

Removing noise or damage control, the circle of control..

Very interesting as always

Heh-heh, he said "dead air." Fascinating as always.

The lower pitch is probably proximity effect by speaking directly into the microphone. It's right up against your mouth so people will naturally sound like a low whisper.

Do a story on Douglas Murray dominating you in a debate 😊

"Technicians of Spaceship Earth: This is your Captain speaking. This is your Captain speaking: Your Captain is DEAD!" 'Space Ritual' Hawkwind. :) Happy memories of amazing performances. Thanks.

Pilot voice has something to do with performance under stress. It is something like “slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” PV a demonstration of calm control under stress. Listen on KZread to pilot voices when they’re talking to a tower during an emergency. Same calm voice.

Hey Malcolm I absolutely LOVE your podcast! I learned about you from listening to Tim Hartford on cautionary tales. I’m still catching up as I just finished the little mermaid 3 episode series which was wonderful indeed! I swear you need your own comic book as well. Call it the podcaster and give the hero the ability to change the outcome of an event based on his version of what happened covered in his daily podcast! I think it would make an excellent read indeed! Thank you for what you do sir!

In Alaska we call it “The late Night Radio Voice”

This was a surprisingly entertaining episode, one thing I felt was obvious but not addressed was likening Barack Obama's voice to The Pilot Voice.

Love your podcasts. Mics pickup background noise. Squelch tries to filter them out. The long aahhhs allows the pilot to hold the channel open without getting Squelched out

Fantastic video. Wonder if “Catch me if you can” ever came up

@lrc92116

7 ай бұрын

Unlikely. That guy only impersonated a pilot to get jump seats (I.e. free flights) - never actually flew one. 8:25

I love the part when Malcom says, "l use my hands a lot."

Foster Brooks had the best pilot voice. Big oversight not including it.

Makes the passengers visualize the pilot speaking while attending to flying business in the cockpit.

While I've never flown with him on a major airlines flight, my brother was a pilot for decades and was terrified of speaking in public. He would always pass the announcements off to the second in command if he could. I'm thinking they are personalities that do NOT want to be in the spotlight, but it's part of the job.

Great idea for an episode! Do pilots and flight attendants actually use the same equipment? I feel like flight attendants speak into a phone now; and the pilots still sound more like a CB to me.

Years ago I was with a friend who was a controller in a small rural tower. I remarked that a female pilot had a voice that was easy to understand. He told me that was very common and that he thought their pitch came over the radio better.

What an interesting episode! His TED talks (like a couple of his that I summarise on my channel) are also highly recommended.

@Joshb52

10 күн бұрын

Do a summary on him getting obliterated in the munk debate by Douglas Murray

@beldonhuang

10 күн бұрын

@@Joshb52 Sure.

Of all the ridiculous questions to ask a pilot, why didn't he ask about chemtrailing? Can pilots refuse?

Malcolm , I heard your old buddy, don't know if you are still buds from the documentary i've seen, has passed. You know? The one rumored to have slapped Michael Manley.

Since the pilot is speaking into a microphone an inch from his mouth, he speaks at a low volume, which lowers pitch, and causes raspiness (aka vocal fry).

What about News reporters, they all have the same cadence and try and do the same voice regardless of all the variances in gender, size, and background. NPR DJ voice too.

Pilots sound completely different when communicating with air traffic control. Radio work is completely different. The intercom is a different skill set. The radio/intercom split is about 90/10.

@HEWhitney1

7 ай бұрын

Yes and no I think over the radio pilots still have that deep confident voice but it's very terse and quick with no hemming or hawing. Goodday

@KlingbergWingMkII

7 ай бұрын

Agree. @@HEWhitney1

Was there any interest in knowing if this phenomenon is true (or has migrated) to pilots in other countries. ALSO, what is the difference between this social conformity and code switching?

Could this just be explained by vocal fry, lowering ones voice to convey authority and indifference?

I'm an enthusiastic fan of Revisionist History, but the episode did not hold my attention.

@canyougtfo

3 ай бұрын

This episode was incredibly thought provoking. Perhaps the lackadaisical tone of the pilots took you out of your weak focus, which is interesting in itself. Personally I feel you lack an in depth curiosity and fascination with life to not find this episode appealing.

@s101077

3 ай бұрын

​@@canyougtfohmm..

Where is your new episode A new day at the races? It's already a podcast. Courtesy of T-mobile you talk to T-mobile and other captives about 5G in sporting. WHILE IN LAS VEGAS DURING F1. I wanted to say this one curdled my blood, this kind of paid for content posing as content is so sub standard and sad :(

Oh my gosh you are one of the most horrible journalists I've ever seen.