"Mike Rapoport" wrote:
How do you think your ears would feel if they only started preasurization
upon reaching 8000'?

Your ears would feel just fine. Although the climb to 8000' can
happen pretty quickly, your ears can tolerate quick decreases
in pressure much easier than quick increases. Then as the plane
climbed above 8000' the pressure inside the cabin would remain
constant so you ears would think the plane is still at 8000'.
(I believe the reason the pressure profile is not controlled
that way during ascent has more to do with the practical aspects
of the pressurizing system). Now if the same profile were
reversed on the way down, that could cause significant discomfort
esp. for those with colds or for those who can't quickly equalize
their ear pressure. A more logical profile for the cabin pressure
would be to keep the cabin effective altitude at some multiple
of the outside altitude (perhaps around 1/4). So when the plane
is at 4000 feet, your ears would think you are at 1000ft. When
the plane got up to 32000 feet, your ears (and lungs) would think
you are at 8000 feet. I don't know how the system actually works
but I'm guessing it is some approximation of what I described.
(My plane is not pressurized, so I never had to learn about
that stuff).

~Paul