Piper Doors

B757plt2B · January 25th, 2004, 11:46

Hey all,

I'm new to the forum, so I apologize if this has already been brought up and answered. I was just curious as to what the thinking was behind Piper putting the door on the right side, on most of their airplanes. I would think most pilots would fly from the left side when they go solo and in the event of a fire or some situation that requires immediate evacuation, wouldn't having to climb over the center console, etc., be difficult, and more importantly, time consuming?? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

John

pilot602 · January 25th, 2004, 12:13

I've heard a lot of reasons but the one I hear most and tend to believe is the door on the right side alows passengers first shot at getting out in the event of an emergency: i.e. they don't have to try and crawl out over the pilot.

Minuteman · January 25th, 2004, 13:20

Piper wanted any use of the door as a speedbrake on landing to be a two man operation...

E_Dawg · January 25th, 2004, 18:16

Yeah but those doors are not always intuitive; with the latch on the top and the handle on the side, I'd rather have a pilot be there to open the door first.

That, and I want out first in an emergency!

Josh · January 25th, 2004, 21:41

They knew they were to be used a lot for training and wanted to give CFIs the confident feeling they could bail out first (and hold open the door while the student taxis on hot days)

aloft · January 26th, 2004, 09:12

The captain always goes down with the ship!

Josh · January 26th, 2004, 22:35

BTW, this is not just a piper thing. I've have been in Mooney and Beechcraft that only have the door on the right side.

Better question, why does something like a Citabria have a door only one one side? Or a Cub?

RiddlePilot · January 27th, 2004, 11:21

Maybe saves weight? Saves complexity? Ahh, who knows...one of the great mysteries of the aviation world.

pilot602 · January 27th, 2004, 11:25

One door generally means a stronger fuselage for less complexity/weight as compared to multiple doors.

Michigan_Flyer · January 27th, 2004, 17:38

I was told it is so that students going through instrument training cannot jump out and commit suicide.

jdflight · January 28th, 2004, 09:42

The only problem I have with it is having to reach across my passenger to close and latch the door. Unless she's hot. Then, God bless Piper.

sorrygottarunway · January 28th, 2004, 09:57

[ QUOTE ]
I was told it is so that students going through instrument training cannot jump out and commit suicide.

[/ QUOTE ]

HAAAAA! so true, so true!

johnbail · January 28th, 2004, 10:16

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I was told it is so that students going through instrument training cannot jump out and commit suicide.

[/ QUOTE ]

HAAAAA! so true, so true!

[/ QUOTE ]
See I thought is was for the CFI to escape out while I am doing my approches.

sixpack · January 30th, 2004, 22:09

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah but those doors are not always intuitive; with the latch on the top and the handle on the side, I'd rather have a pilot be there to open the door first.

[/ QUOTE ]

I brief my passengers (students) about the door as follows: "Open the door by moving the levers the same way you get of your seat. Forward and Up."

January 25th, 2004, 11:46	#1
B757plt2B Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 80	Piper Doors Hey all, I'm new to the forum, so I apologize if this has already been brought up and answered. I was just curious as to what the thinking was behind Piper putting the door on the right side, on most of their airplanes. I would think most pilots would fly from the left side when they go solo and in the event of a fire or some situation that requires immediate evacuation, wouldn't having to climb over the center console, etc., be difficult, and more importantly, time consuming?? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. John

January 25th, 2004, 12:13	#2
pilot602 Old Skool Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: who haa Posts: 3,750	Re: Piper Doors I've heard a lot of reasons but the one I hear most and tend to believe is the door on the right side alows passengers first shot at getting out in the event of an emergency: i.e. they don't have to try and crawl out over the pilot.

January 25th, 2004, 13:20	#3
Minuteman Old Skool Join Date: May 2003 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 1,524 Blog Entries: 1	Re: Piper Doors Piper wanted any use of the door as a speedbrake on landing to be a two man operation...

January 25th, 2004, 18:16	#4
E_Dawg Moderator Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: chicago Posts: 4,233	Re: Piper Doors Yeah but those doors are not always intuitive; with the latch on the top and the handle on the side, I'd rather have a pilot be there to open the door first. That, and I want out first in an emergency!

January 25th, 2004, 21:41	#5
Josh Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, California Posts: 686	Re: Piper Doors They knew they were to be used a lot for training and wanted to give CFIs the confident feeling they could bail out first (and hold open the door while the student taxis on hot days)

January 26th, 2004, 09:12	#6
aloft Old Skool Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Inside your OODA loop Posts: 7,009	Re: Piper Doors The captain always goes down with the ship!

January 26th, 2004, 22:35	#7
Josh Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, California Posts: 686	Re: Piper Doors BTW, this is not just a piper thing. I've have been in Mooney and Beechcraft that only have the door on the right side. Better question, why does something like a Citabria have a door only one one side? Or a Cub?

January 27th, 2004, 11:21	#8
RiddlePilot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Prescott, AZ Posts: 928	Re: Piper Doors Maybe saves weight? Saves complexity? Ahh, who knows...one of the great mysteries of the aviation world.

January 27th, 2004, 11:25	#9
pilot602 Old Skool Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: who haa Posts: 3,750	Re: Piper Doors One door generally means a stronger fuselage for less complexity/weight as compared to multiple doors.

January 27th, 2004, 17:38	#10
Michigan_Flyer Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 158	Re: Piper Doors I was told it is so that students going through instrument training cannot jump out and commit suicide.

January 28th, 2004, 09:42	#11
jdflight Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Boulder, CO (anywhere but Fresno) Posts: 1,488	Re: Piper Doors The only problem I have with it is having to reach across my passenger to close and latch the door. Unless she's hot. Then, God bless Piper.

January 28th, 2004, 09:57	#12
sorrygottarunway Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: DXR, Connecticut Posts: 1,177	Re: Piper Doors [ QUOTE ] I was told it is so that students going through instrument training cannot jump out and commit suicide. [/ QUOTE ] HAAAAA! so true, so true!

January 28th, 2004, 10:16	#13
johnbail Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 77	Re: Piper Doors [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I was told it is so that students going through instrument training cannot jump out and commit suicide. [/ QUOTE ] HAAAAA! so true, so true! [/ QUOTE ] See I thought is was for the CFI to escape out while I am doing my approches.

January 30th, 2004, 22:09	#14
sixpack Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 277	Re: Piper Doors [ QUOTE ] Yeah but those doors are not always intuitive; with the latch on the top and the handle on the side, I'd rather have a pilot be there to open the door first. [/ QUOTE ] I brief my passengers (students) about the door as follows: "Open the door by moving the levers the same way you get of your seat. Forward and Up."

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