MD-80/90 airstairs - Page 2

EDUC8-or · February 14th, 2005, 13:03

I was looking at a cargo 727 and I was inspecting the Cooper vane. Pretty simple solution to a unique problem. I was curious if that was a mandate for all 727's, or simply for passenger opertations. I believe the airplane I checked out used to fly passengers.

Didn't they go out the side of the airplane in Cliffhanger?

flyover · February 14th, 2005, 13:17

[ QUOTE ]
I was looking at a cargo 727 and I was inspecting the Cooper vane. Pretty simple solution to a unique problem. I was curious if that was a mandate for all 727's, or simply for passenger opertations. I believe the airplane I checked out used to fly passengers.

[/ QUOTE ]

The DB Cooper incident was probably the main impetus for the latch, but I think it was decided that it was never a good idea to have this door open in flight so the latch was universally installed.

[ QUOTE ]
Didn't they go out the side of the airplane in Cliffhanger?

[/ QUOTE ]

No, they went out the tail, with the tailcone off. They actually did a mid-air transfer from the DC-9 to the JetStar. The guy made it into the JetStar but was yanked back outside, slid along the top of the JetStar and had to release from the cable and use his parachute. No matter what he was paid, it wasn't enough.
greatest aviation stunt

Doug Taylor · February 16th, 2005, 15:41

I talked to a mechanic and the -82/-88/-90's that were delivered to Delta never had the airstairs because they were uber heavy and rarely worked correctly.

Strange how the ground school instructors taught us how to reactivate them if the situation arose.

ROFCIBC · February 17th, 2005, 08:31

[ QUOTE ]
I have to ask why would the stairs be gone? Was there a problem with them regarding safety. It seems to be OK board RJ's by walking out onto the field and up the plane's own stairs. British Airways still do it when their 737 lands in JER, if the weather is good enough. And I remember countless Delta CRJ's being boarded on airstairs. Not to mention BA46's and Dash 800's in the UK on various trips.

Has someone banned airstairs?

[/ QUOTE ]

One reason...money!

Delta didn't go anywhere they were needed. Each station either had a jetway or portable air staris for the 1L door. Plus there's always the aft airstairs.

So why drag around several hundred pounds of extra weight equipment you never use? Especially when that extra weight is NOT generating revenue.

Plus if it's on the airplane, it will at one time or another require maintenance and/or inspection. This too takes time, i.e. money.

So just take them off. Although I'd bet they just told Mickey Dee to leave them off the MD88s and MD90s they were buying. That way you don't have to store a few hundred of them. Probably required some FAA paperwork.

ROFCIBC · February 17th, 2005, 08:36

[ QUOTE ]
I talked to a mechanic and the -82/-88/-90's that were delivered to Delta never had the airstairs because they were uber heavy and rarely worked correctly.

Strange how the ground school instructors taught us how to reactivate them if the situation arose.

[/ QUOTE ]

See? The much beer soaked old brain located in the upper cavity of moi was right!

Plus I only believed what a ground instructor said if I could actually go to the airplane and make it happen!

FWIW I did carry a spare rope for the manual starter in case the one on it broke!

flyover · February 17th, 2005, 09:02

[ QUOTE ]
I talked to a mechanic and the -82/-88/-90's that were delivered to Delta never had the airstairs because they were uber heavy and rarely worked correctly.

Strange how the ground school instructors taught us how to reactivate them if the situation arose.

[/ QUOTE ]

Sounds right to me. The 737-200s were delivered with the airstairs which were then deactivated and (I think) finally removed to save weight.

February 14th, 2005, 13:03	#26
EDUC8-or Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: NC Posts: 2,180	Re: MD-80/90 airstairs I was looking at a cargo 727 and I was inspecting the Cooper vane. Pretty simple solution to a unique problem. I was curious if that was a mandate for all 727's, or simply for passenger opertations. I believe the airplane I checked out used to fly passengers. Didn't they go out the side of the airplane in Cliffhanger?

February 14th, 2005, 13:17	#27
flyover Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,389	Re: MD-80/90 airstairs [ QUOTE ] I was looking at a cargo 727 and I was inspecting the Cooper vane. Pretty simple solution to a unique problem. I was curious if that was a mandate for all 727's, or simply for passenger opertations. I believe the airplane I checked out used to fly passengers. [/ QUOTE ] The DB Cooper incident was probably the main impetus for the latch, but I think it was decided that it was never a good idea to have this door open in flight so the latch was universally installed. [ QUOTE ] Didn't they go out the side of the airplane in Cliffhanger? [/ QUOTE ] No, they went out the tail, with the tailcone off. They actually did a mid-air transfer from the DC-9 to the JetStar. The guy made it into the JetStar but was yanked back outside, slid along the top of the JetStar and had to release from the cable and use his parachute. No matter what he was paid, it wasn't enough. greatest aviation stunt

February 16th, 2005, 15:41	#28
Doug Taylor Agent Smith Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: KSDL Posts: 40,589 Blog Entries: 1	Re: MD-80/90 airstairs I talked to a mechanic and the -82/-88/-90's that were delivered to Delta never had the airstairs because they were uber heavy and rarely worked correctly. Strange how the ground school instructors taught us how to reactivate them if the situation arose.

February 17th, 2005, 08:31	#29
ROFCIBC Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bossier City, Louisiana Posts: 591	Re: MD-80/90 airstairs [ QUOTE ] I have to ask why would the stairs be gone? Was there a problem with them regarding safety. It seems to be OK board RJ's by walking out onto the field and up the plane's own stairs. British Airways still do it when their 737 lands in JER, if the weather is good enough. And I remember countless Delta CRJ's being boarded on airstairs. Not to mention BA46's and Dash 800's in the UK on various trips. Has someone banned airstairs? [/ QUOTE ] One reason...money! Delta didn't go anywhere they were needed. Each station either had a jetway or portable air staris for the 1L door. Plus there's always the aft airstairs. So why drag around several hundred pounds of extra weight equipment you never use? Especially when that extra weight is NOT generating revenue. Plus if it's on the airplane, it will at one time or another require maintenance and/or inspection. This too takes time, i.e. money. So just take them off. Although I'd bet they just told Mickey Dee to leave them off the MD88s and MD90s they were buying. That way you don't have to store a few hundred of them. Probably required some FAA paperwork.

February 17th, 2005, 08:36	#30
ROFCIBC Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Bossier City, Louisiana Posts: 591	Re: MD-80/90 airstairs [ QUOTE ] I talked to a mechanic and the -82/-88/-90's that were delivered to Delta never had the airstairs because they were uber heavy and rarely worked correctly. Strange how the ground school instructors taught us how to reactivate them if the situation arose. [/ QUOTE ] See? The much beer soaked old brain located in the upper cavity of moi was right! Plus I only believed what a ground instructor said if I could actually go to the airplane and make it happen! FWIW I did carry a spare rope for the manual starter in case the one on it broke!

February 17th, 2005, 09:02	#31
flyover Old Skool Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Georgia Posts: 3,389	Re: MD-80/90 airstairs [ QUOTE ] I talked to a mechanic and the -82/-88/-90's that were delivered to Delta never had the airstairs because they were uber heavy and rarely worked correctly. Strange how the ground school instructors taught us how to reactivate them if the situation arose. [/ QUOTE ] Sounds right to me. The 737-200s were delivered with the airstairs which were then deactivated and (I think) finally removed to save weight.

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