Aging planes and dingy bathrooms

[ect76]

I found this article written just over a year ago and for some reason I can't explain got really wound up when reading through it.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/10/26/business/planes.php

Although it doesn't directly say it, it directly refers to NWA's DC-9s as decrepit and aging. Now, I know they're not spring chickens, but I strongly believe that age has very little to do with the safety of an aircraft - Maintenence is the key. Apparently the DC-9s could remain in service for "another 5 years". The thing is, they're bought and paid for aircraft, which have been well maintained. I see no reason why they are any better or worse than a horribly uncomfortable 10-day old 737 I recently flew on. Also the MD-80 apparently "guzzles fuel and lacks passenger comforts" - It's not that it lacks passenger comforts, it's that that particular airline doesn't choose to install those comforts. I don't know quite why this article has irritated me so much - I think it's got something to do with the tone implying that age is proportionate to safety which just isn't true.

Discuss?

[Chananya Freedman]

VERY well stated.  I've seen this 1st hand, partly due to my disability.  (My other concern regarding all planes in general is the restrooms themselves are too small for someone who needs an attendant to assist them.)   Just one man's opinion.   

Chananya

[djmodifyd]

they are nice planes.
i do believe they are actually one of the few that can power back easily...which is cool.

are they are old as 727's?  I know the fedex pilots make fun of themselves about how old their planes are

[NAplaya16-ATC]

Its not that the airlines are just letting their fleets age, its that if they have tried to make orders for planes, or currently have orders already, its just that Boeing, Embrear, Airbus, etc. are so backed up with orders already, which means they cant deliver orders on time, so it could be years before they would even get half the planes they order.   And in that amount of time, what are airlines supposed to do in that time of wait, just ground the plane, even though that it is still flyable?  Heck No!

I agree with ect76 alot here! Even if some planes may be 15, 20, 25, etc years old, and may not be as "comfortable" as these newer luxury liners they are building these days, all i care about when i fly is gettin to where i want to go!!!  So what if the flight is 2 or 3 hours of uncomfortability, just deal with it and realize that ur only up there for a short time, and not the rest of your life!  In regards to the bathroom thing, I dont care if its a lil bit dusty or a little bit dirty, I can always wash my hands after, use some sanitizer, or just take a shower when i land.  All i care about is if i have an emergency, there is some place that i relieve myself!  LOL


This is just my opinion on the subject

-NAplaya

[kyle172]

Ugh don't even mention the MD-80. That plane and the design itself is just awful.

[Glass-Cockpit.org]

You wanna talk dingy, dirty, and decrepit? I remember the Aeroflot TU-154s I flew on back in 1985!!! Some of the seats didn't even have seatbelts!! The carpets were dirty, frayed, and torn in spots. And in a couple of places in the ceiling there were what appeared to be patches!

I'd fly an MD-80 any day.

Pete
WWW.Glass-cockpit.org

[KSYR-pjr]

I'd fly an MD-80 any day.

As a frequent business passenger back in the early/mid 90s I found the MD80 to be one of my favorite aircraft of the US Air fleet, as they were by far the quietest (at least speaking of the seats in the first third of the aircraft).  Thanks to generous upgrades I noticed from the first class section that one could barely even hear the engines spool up to take off.

The MD80 (or was it an 88?) was also the aircraft I experienced a fully autonomous, non-tug powered reverse from the gate.

edit: grammar.

[mhawke]

I'd fly an MD-80 any day.

WWW.Glass-cockpit.org

As a frequent business traveler, I have to agree with that.  Still one of my favorite planes to ride in.  Its a decent ride and is quiter then many others I have ridden.

Bathrooms are not a major issue for me, as I try not to use them unless I am going international, in which case I try to use Singapore Air, Malaysia Air, or Air China anyways.

Mike