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Do all 737-9 Max have plug doors? If not title should be updated > Every Boeing 737-9 Max with a plug door will remain grounded until the FAA finds each can sa

Do all 737-9 Max have plug doors? If not title should be updated > Every Boeing 737-9 Max with a plug door will remain grounded until the FAA finds each can safely return to operation.

HappyJoy 3y ago
Depends on the seat configuration. Some times instead of a plug you have a door.
- hipadev23 3y ago
  Are some of those times where the plug converts to a door mid-flight?
  - loloquwowndueo 3y ago
    No - doors have hinges and you can close them afterwards without having to look for the blown door in someone’s backyard.
- gregoriol 3y ago
  But doors need bolts too, right?
  - simion314 3y ago
    Yes, but FAA is not willing to pro-actively inspect the entire plane, at least 3-5 random ones should be inspected, maye also offer something so Boeing employees have the guts to speak up
  - beej71 3y ago
    I'm curious about this, too. Seems like the door would have the exact same mount as the plug if they're to be exchanged...?
foobarbecue 3y ago
Yeah, I think the title is wrong, but it's confusing because there's a lot of conflicting info online about this. https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/boeings-737-max-9-aircraft-heres-what-to-know https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/boeings-737-max-9-airc... says: "Southwest told FOX Business that the Max 8 and Max 7 models in their existing fleet do not have the exit-door plug like the one involved in the Alaska Airlines incident on Jan. 5. Overall, its fleet and operation are unaffected."
- masklinn 3y ago
  The title does clearly talk about Max 9, so the Max 8 and 7 are irrelevant (the max 9 is longer, hence the possibility of needing an actual door for high density setups). The title should still clarify that it's only max 9s with a plug door but as far as I understand that should be pretty much all 9s in the US: the additional exit is only needed in the densest configurations which are only used by ULCC, 85% of the global MAX9 fleet has a plug.
  - closewith 3y ago
    The Max 8s can also have the door (Ryanair fly 8200s and have the additional door), so presumably may have the plug?
alistairSH 3y ago
No, high density seating layouts get a door in that opening vs the plug. But, the majoity, if not all, Max-9 operating in the US have the plug. The high density version is, IIRC, mostly sold to low budget European carriers.
- specialist 3y ago
  My neighbor is retired from Boeing. Started on factory floor, fresh out of the Navy. Was a troubleshooter/inspector for years. He stays on top of all the Boeing news. He has A LOT to say about MD's execs destroying Boeing's obsessive culture of engineering and quality. As of two days ago, his current understanding is the plugs are removed and reinstalled when the interiors are installed. Meaning it could have been mfg correctly (in Wichita, KS) and then reinstalled incorrectly (Renton, WA?). He isn't yet clear about who was responsible for what. Like how this could have been missed by the multiple inspections. Heresay, so take it or leave it. Just repeating what he tells me. I've encouraged him to comment, but he's not that kind of person.
- beej71 3y ago
  Does anyone here know how the real emergency exit door mounts versus the plug door?
  - p_l 3y ago
    IIRC there's essentially a door assembly that supports opening once, so it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of normal door assembly, that fits into the same mounting points as the plug door but also has components that enable opening it.
  - alistairSH 3y ago
    There are some photos of the installed plug out there. Basically a bunch (4 really large, 4+ smaller, IIRC) bolts that connect the plug to brackets on the fuselage. The big bolts have castle nuts and cotter pins, the smaller bolts don’t appear to have retention devices. In one of the photos (I believe it was a United 737) those bolts appeared loose. Again, all what I remember seeing in photos, so YMMV. The real door probably uses the same brackets and basic attachment points, as it’s designed to be retrofitted after delivery should the operator decide to increase seat count.

Do all 737-9 Max have plug doors? If not title should be updated > Every Boeing 737-9 Max with a plug door will remain grounded until the FAA finds each can safely return to operation.

HappyJoy 3y ago

Depends on the seat configuration. Some times instead of a plug you have a door.

hipadev23 3y ago
Are some of those times where the plug converts to a door mid-flight?
- loloquwowndueo 3y ago
  No - doors have hinges and you can close them afterwards without having to look for the blown door in someone’s backyard.
gregoriol 3y ago
But doors need bolts too, right?
- simion314 3y ago
  Yes, but FAA is not willing to pro-actively inspect the entire plane, at least 3-5 random ones should be inspected, maye also offer something so Boeing employees have the guts to speak up
- beej71 3y ago
  I'm curious about this, too. Seems like the door would have the exact same mount as the plug if they're to be exchanged...?

foobarbecue 3y ago

Yeah, I think the title is wrong, but it's confusing because there's a lot of conflicting info online about this. https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/boeings-737-max-9-aircraft-heres-what-to-know https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/boeings-737-max-9-airc... says: "Southwest told FOX Business that the Max 8 and Max 7 models in their existing fleet do not have the exit-door plug like the one involved in the Alaska Airlines incident on Jan. 5. Overall, its fleet and operation are unaffected."

masklinn 3y ago
The title does clearly talk about Max 9, so the Max 8 and 7 are irrelevant (the max 9 is longer, hence the possibility of needing an actual door for high density setups). The title should still clarify that it's only max 9s with a plug door but as far as I understand that should be pretty much all 9s in the US: the additional exit is only needed in the densest configurations which are only used by ULCC, 85% of the global MAX9 fleet has a plug.
- closewith 3y ago
  The Max 8s can also have the door (Ryanair fly 8200s and have the additional door), so presumably may have the plug?

alistairSH 3y ago

No, high density seating layouts get a door in that opening vs the plug. But, the majoity, if not all, Max-9 operating in the US have the plug. The high density version is, IIRC, mostly sold to low budget European carriers.

specialist 3y ago
My neighbor is retired from Boeing. Started on factory floor, fresh out of the Navy. Was a troubleshooter/inspector for years. He stays on top of all the Boeing news. He has A LOT to say about MD's execs destroying Boeing's obsessive culture of engineering and quality. As of two days ago, his current understanding is the plugs are removed and reinstalled when the interiors are installed. Meaning it could have been mfg correctly (in Wichita, KS) and then reinstalled incorrectly (Renton, WA?). He isn't yet clear about who was responsible for what. Like how this could have been missed by the multiple inspections. Heresay, so take it or leave it. Just repeating what he tells me. I've encouraged him to comment, but he's not that kind of person.
beej71 3y ago
Does anyone here know how the real emergency exit door mounts versus the plug door?
- p_l 3y ago
  IIRC there's essentially a door assembly that supports opening once, so it doesn't have all the bells and whistles of normal door assembly, that fits into the same mounting points as the plug door but also has components that enable opening it.
- alistairSH 3y ago
  There are some photos of the installed plug out there. Basically a bunch (4 really large, 4+ smaller, IIRC) bolts that connect the plug to brackets on the fuselage. The big bolts have castle nuts and cotter pins, the smaller bolts don’t appear to have retention devices. In one of the photos (I believe it was a United 737) those bolts appeared loose. Again, all what I remember seeing in photos, so YMMV. The real door probably uses the same brackets and basic attachment points, as it’s designed to be retrofitted after delivery should the operator decide to increase seat count.