3 ms·

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 densit

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.

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.