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How even does a "plug" door blow out like that? That's a seemingly very robust design where cabin pressure holds the door in place passively, in addition to the

by Zigurd 3y ago

How even does a "plug" door blow out like that? That's a seemingly very robust design where cabin pressure holds the door in place passively, in addition to the latches holding it in place.

alibarber 3y ago
It is not a plug door in this case. There was no door - this was a kind of blanker for a space where there could have been a door. A bit like when you buy a car model that doesn’t have all the options installed, there’s a space for the button or switch for the option in the dashboard or whatever but it’s filled in with a fixed bit of plastic - it saves them from having to produce multiple different versions of dashboard, or in this case plane fuselages.
- Zigurd 3y ago
  Are you sure of that? I've read that it is the same or very similar to an emergency exit, except that the interior is covered by an interior panel. It would be uncovered and equipped as an emergency exit in cases where very tight seating would bring the number of passengers above a threshold requiring more emergency exits. And down the rabbit hole I go wondering if this non-equipped exit is new for 737 MAX planes because they can have more rows of seats.
  - alibarber 3y ago
    I’m fairly sure of it based on the reports but of course we need to wait for the actual investigation. I think it is indeed new for these Max planes and the airline purchased this one in this configuration that would not require it (fewer seats), and adding a functioning exit in (including life rafts and slides) would simply cost a lot more (and weigh more) than just blanking it out with a piece of metal. Not to mention extra maintenance and testing of said exit. The airline may have the desire to buy a model with fewer seats because it’s cheaper and weighs less, but might also have a requirement for fewer cabin crew members too.
mastax 3y ago
In /r/Aviation they were talking like it gets installed from the outside.
- Zigurd 3y ago
  It looks that way. It's not the same as the doors you see on some safety cards where, if you are in an exit row, you should remove the door inward and place it on the exit row seats. It looks like it is meant to be lifted up and outward, assisted by springs. When it is not configured as an emergency exit, it is supposed to be bolted in place. Hmmm. Bolted in place.
shrimpx 3y ago
How does the cabin pressure hold it in place passively? Isn't the pressure on the inside higher than the pressure on the outside?
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
SoftTalker 3y ago
It's a plug, sort of. There are fingers that interlock, but if the plug is moved vertically the fingers do not align and the "plug" can be removed outwards. There are supposed to be bolts installed (or in case of an actual door, a latching mechanism) to prevent this vertical movement.

by Zigurd 3y ago

How even does a "plug" door blow out like that? That's a seemingly very robust design where cabin pressure holds the door in place passively, in addition to the latches holding it in place.

alibarber 3y ago

It is not a plug door in this case. There was no door - this was a kind of blanker for a space where there could have been a door. A bit like when you buy a car model that doesn’t have all the options installed, there’s a space for the button or switch for the option in the dashboard or whatever but it’s filled in with a fixed bit of plastic - it saves them from having to produce multiple different versions of dashboard, or in this case plane fuselages.

Zigurd 3y ago
Are you sure of that? I've read that it is the same or very similar to an emergency exit, except that the interior is covered by an interior panel. It would be uncovered and equipped as an emergency exit in cases where very tight seating would bring the number of passengers above a threshold requiring more emergency exits. And down the rabbit hole I go wondering if this non-equipped exit is new for 737 MAX planes because they can have more rows of seats.
- alibarber 3y ago
  I’m fairly sure of it based on the reports but of course we need to wait for the actual investigation. I think it is indeed new for these Max planes and the airline purchased this one in this configuration that would not require it (fewer seats), and adding a functioning exit in (including life rafts and slides) would simply cost a lot more (and weigh more) than just blanking it out with a piece of metal. Not to mention extra maintenance and testing of said exit. The airline may have the desire to buy a model with fewer seats because it’s cheaper and weighs less, but might also have a requirement for fewer cabin crew members too.

mastax 3y ago

In /r/Aviation they were talking like it gets installed from the outside.

Zigurd 3y ago
It looks that way. It's not the same as the doors you see on some safety cards where, if you are in an exit row, you should remove the door inward and place it on the exit row seats. It looks like it is meant to be lifted up and outward, assisted by springs. When it is not configured as an emergency exit, it is supposed to be bolted in place. Hmmm. Bolted in place.

shrimpx 3y ago

How does the cabin pressure hold it in place passively? Isn't the pressure on the inside higher than the pressure on the outside?

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

SoftTalker 3y ago

It's a plug, sort of. There are fingers that interlock, but if the plug is moved vertically the fingers do not align and the "plug" can be removed outwards. There are supposed to be bolts installed (or in case of an actual door, a latching mechanism) to prevent this vertical movement.