Buckeye757
Well-Known Member
Doug, I just saw on your new "photos from the road" a pic of an MD-88 with its airstairs extended in Richmond. Did homelad security recently allow airstairs to be used again? I thought they were gone for good.
MD-80/90 airstairs
- Thread starter Buckeye757
- Start date
They're actually an emergency exit in the 88/90 but they're normally used for enabling cabin service on and off the aircraft on ground stopovers-
But I don't specifically know if there is any restriction against using them.
We use an "air stair truck" in cities without a jetway. We have internal/retractable airstairs at the forward door but we're only allowed to use them in extremely rare situations. All of the circuit breakers are guarded but they discuss how to activate and deploy the built-in stairway if need be.
But I don't specifically know if there is any restriction against using them.
We use an "air stair truck" in cities without a jetway. We have internal/retractable airstairs at the forward door but we're only allowed to use them in extremely rare situations. All of the circuit breakers are guarded but they discuss how to activate and deploy the built-in stairway if need be.
USMCmech
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
We use an "air stair truck" in cities without a jetway. We have internal/retractable airstairs at the forward door but we're only allowed to use them in extremely rare situations. All of the circuit breakers are guarded but they discuss how to activate and deploy the built-in stairway if need be.
[/ QUOTE ]
It seems like a waste of weight to carry around two sets of stairs, but not use them.
If nothing else, you wouldn't have to buy an airstair truck.
We use an "air stair truck" in cities without a jetway. We have internal/retractable airstairs at the forward door but we're only allowed to use them in extremely rare situations. All of the circuit breakers are guarded but they discuss how to activate and deploy the built-in stairway if need be.
[/ QUOTE ]
It seems like a waste of weight to carry around two sets of stairs, but not use them.
If nothing else, you wouldn't have to buy an airstair truck.
ROFCIBC
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
They're actually an emergency exit in the 88/90 but they're normally used for enabling cabin service on and off the aircraft on ground stopovers-
But I don't specifically know if there is any restriction against using them.
We use an "air stair truck" in cities without a jetway. We have internal/retractable airstairs at the forward door but we're only allowed to use them in extremely rare situations. All of the circuit breakers are guarded but they discuss how to activate and deploy the built-in stairway if need be.
[/ QUOTE ]
Doug,
When did they put them back in? All the years I flew the Mad Dog I thought they had been removed. Even the manual release that is on the Captain's side of the cockpit door had the handle removed. The actuating rod was still there, just no handle. I'd never heard that in an emergency you could use them. Just checked my POM and find no mention of that procedure.
But then I'm retired and have CRS...Can't Remember Sheet!
They're actually an emergency exit in the 88/90 but they're normally used for enabling cabin service on and off the aircraft on ground stopovers-
But I don't specifically know if there is any restriction against using them.
We use an "air stair truck" in cities without a jetway. We have internal/retractable airstairs at the forward door but we're only allowed to use them in extremely rare situations. All of the circuit breakers are guarded but they discuss how to activate and deploy the built-in stairway if need be.
[/ QUOTE ]
Doug,
When did they put them back in? All the years I flew the Mad Dog I thought they had been removed. Even the manual release that is on the Captain's side of the cockpit door had the handle removed. The actuating rod was still there, just no handle. I'd never heard that in an emergency you could use them. Just checked my POM and find no mention of that procedure.
But then I'm retired and have CRS...Can't Remember Sheet!
I just remember in initial they said that they were actually still installed, but all you'd have to do is locate the breakers, pull the handle and voila!
Kind of in the same discussion about how to drop the aft airstairs from the cabin by mashing your foot against some red-taped thingamabob.
Kind of in the same discussion about how to drop the aft airstairs from the cabin by mashing your foot against some red-taped thingamabob.
For the most part, exact.
Rumor had it a few years ago that they were considering using the MD-90's for the Delta Shuttle operation to replace the 727's because they could board/deplane out of the aft airstair and the normal boarding door at the Marine Air Terminal at LGA.
Rumor had it a few years ago that they were considering using the MD-90's for the Delta Shuttle operation to replace the 727's because they could board/deplane out of the aft airstair and the normal boarding door at the Marine Air Terminal at LGA.
ROFCIBC
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
I just remember in initial they said that they were actually still installed, but all you'd have to do is locate the breakers, pull the handle and voila!
Kind of in the same discussion about how to drop the aft airstairs from the cabin by mashing your foot against some red-taped thingamabob.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah but he thingamabob really worked. When I went to F/O initial training and we had the "touchy feely" airplane visit I tried stomping on that marked cable and PRESTO! down they came! Bad juju! Nearly got the instructor in the head…damn! could have moved up a number if I’d been successful!
I asked a maintenance guy one time about the front stairs and he said they were removed to save weight, and the door was riveted shut.
The problem of cg was solved by removing the F/A weight standards! (just kidding!)
I just remember in initial they said that they were actually still installed, but all you'd have to do is locate the breakers, pull the handle and voila!
Kind of in the same discussion about how to drop the aft airstairs from the cabin by mashing your foot against some red-taped thingamabob.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah but he thingamabob really worked. When I went to F/O initial training and we had the "touchy feely" airplane visit I tried stomping on that marked cable and PRESTO! down they came! Bad juju! Nearly got the instructor in the head…damn! could have moved up a number if I’d been successful!
I asked a maintenance guy one time about the front stairs and he said they were removed to save weight, and the door was riveted shut.
The problem of cg was solved by removing the F/A weight standards! (just kidding!)
flyover
New Member
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I just remember in initial they said that they were actually still installed, but all you'd have to do is locate the breakers, pull the handle and voila!
Kind of in the same discussion about how to drop the aft airstairs from the cabin by mashing your foot against some red-taped thingamabob.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah but he thingamabob really worked. When I went to F/O initial training and we had the "touchy feely" airplane visit I tried stomping on that marked cable and PRESTO! down they came! Bad juju! Nearly got the instructor in the head…damn! could have moved up a number if I’d been successful!
I asked a maintenance guy one time about the front stairs and he said they were removed to save weight, and the door was riveted shut.
The problem of cg was solved by removing the F/A weight standards! (just kidding!)
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I've got to vote with you. I think the stairs are gone. I'd even bet a beer on it.
[ QUOTE ]
I just remember in initial they said that they were actually still installed, but all you'd have to do is locate the breakers, pull the handle and voila!
Kind of in the same discussion about how to drop the aft airstairs from the cabin by mashing your foot against some red-taped thingamabob.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah but he thingamabob really worked. When I went to F/O initial training and we had the "touchy feely" airplane visit I tried stomping on that marked cable and PRESTO! down they came! Bad juju! Nearly got the instructor in the head…damn! could have moved up a number if I’d been successful!
I asked a maintenance guy one time about the front stairs and he said they were removed to save weight, and the door was riveted shut.
The problem of cg was solved by removing the F/A weight standards! (just kidding!)
[/ QUOTE ]
Yeah, I've got to vote with you. I think the stairs are gone. I'd even bet a beer on it.
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?
Has someone banned airstairs?
They're just never used.
I've only used a airstair truck in one city, but this is sipmly a large assumption, but I figure if we used the onboard aircraft stairs at a station without a jetway, chances are, there's no maintenance personnel at the airport. If those puppies jammed up, then we're stuck for hours on end. Probably more economical and reliable to simply use an airstair truck.
I've only used a airstair truck in one city, but this is sipmly a large assumption, but I figure if we used the onboard aircraft stairs at a station without a jetway, chances are, there's no maintenance personnel at the airport. If those puppies jammed up, then we're stuck for hours on end. Probably more economical and reliable to simply use an airstair truck.
ERfly
Well-Known Member
Back when I was an F/A, Eagle handled us in Nashville. We were the only 737 parked in a sea of RJs. For 3 months I was there, we had integrated airstairs. I'm assuming these are much like the MD-80s. They're stored under the main cabin door. They worked great, most of the time. Once, we could not get them to retract. They would come almost all the way in and then jam. After an hour and a half of fixing (with 118 passengers onboard) the mechanic was able to stow them. If he hadn't have been there, we probably would have cancelled the flight. There was no manual way to retract them once from inside the aircraft. He had to manually crank them up from the E & E bay.
After a while, they started to send 1 of the 2 planes in the fleet without airstairs to BNA. The bad part was the stair truck that AA was getting old when Orville and Wilbur were learning to fly. It worked about 1 out of 10 tries.
The best story was coming back from the MEM/CUN run. They couldn't get it started to remove it from the plane in the morning. They pushed it way enough so we could power out. They said they'd have it fixed by the time we returned. We pull up and there is no truck in sight. 20 minutes go buy. They tried to jump start it. It might have cranked once (there was smoke coming out of it so it was either running or on fire...front end crew put bets on the fire). Finally after 30 minutes, they told us to fire and up move over to a jetway. We get everyone seated and the doors armed. Fire up an engine and then they called back and said they were going to get the truck to us somehow.
The captain got on the PA and told the folks, "You guys have to see this. Our ground crew is pushing the stair truck our way." Sure enough, 8 people pushing this truck to the plane. That was a fun day.
After a while, they started to send 1 of the 2 planes in the fleet without airstairs to BNA. The bad part was the stair truck that AA was getting old when Orville and Wilbur were learning to fly. It worked about 1 out of 10 tries.
The best story was coming back from the MEM/CUN run. They couldn't get it started to remove it from the plane in the morning. They pushed it way enough so we could power out. They said they'd have it fixed by the time we returned. We pull up and there is no truck in sight. 20 minutes go buy. They tried to jump start it. It might have cranked once (there was smoke coming out of it so it was either running or on fire...front end crew put bets on the fire). Finally after 30 minutes, they told us to fire and up move over to a jetway. We get everyone seated and the doors armed. Fire up an engine and then they called back and said they were going to get the truck to us somehow.
The captain got on the PA and told the folks, "You guys have to see this. Our ground crew is pushing the stair truck our way." Sure enough, 8 people pushing this truck to the plane. That was a fun day.
TrinidadGT20
Vice President of Awesome
What is a Cooper Vane?
Also, does the 717 have airstairs in the back? I thought I read somewhere that it didn't.
Also, does the 717 have airstairs in the back? I thought I read somewhere that it didn't.
The "DB Cooper vane"... I don't know if this is the official purpose, but there is this contraption on the back of a 727 near the corner of the airstair that when the aircraft is aerodynamically activated that mechanically prevents the airstair from being opened.
It was called, unofficially, the "DB Cooper" vane or valve, or switch, I can't remember.
It was called, unofficially, the "DB Cooper" vane or valve, or switch, I can't remember.
flyover
New Member
[ QUOTE ]
The "DB Cooper vane"... I don't know if this is the official purpose, but there is this contraption on the back of a 727 near the corner of the airstair that when the aircraft is aerodynamically activated that mechanically prevents the airstair from being opened.
It was called, unofficially, the "DB Cooper" vane or valve, or switch, I can't remember.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, since it was installed not long after he did his dive out the back I think it is safe to say that's what it is for. Of course you don't need one on the MD-88 since the preferred method to egress out the tail while in flight is to pop the tail cone off. (For reference see Cliffhanger).
The "DB Cooper vane"... I don't know if this is the official purpose, but there is this contraption on the back of a 727 near the corner of the airstair that when the aircraft is aerodynamically activated that mechanically prevents the airstair from being opened.
It was called, unofficially, the "DB Cooper" vane or valve, or switch, I can't remember.
[/ QUOTE ]
Well, since it was installed not long after he did his dive out the back I think it is safe to say that's what it is for. Of course you don't need one on the MD-88 since the preferred method to egress out the tail while in flight is to pop the tail cone off. (For reference see Cliffhanger).