I took this shot at Heathrow back in August of this year, but have only just bothered trying to edit it as it was one of the worse shots of the day (too dark due to bad turning weather). It was then that I noticed something which has left me wondering……If you note just under the 2nd pax door from the front, there appears to be a black patch. Could this be a missing door or hatch (see other similar shots of SAS A321’s) or is it just a black painted one because they couldn’t get the proper colour? :confused:
By: andrewm - 11th November 2004 at 23:26
There has definetly been an easyJet shot AFAIK with airstaris. Saying that could have been the bmi A319 im thinking of…
Airbus do offer them as an option. Easyjet dont use them to aid turnaround – simply to save money as it costs to use stairs which roll up. Also at smaller airports easier to me as self contained as much as possible!
By: andrewm - 11th November 2004 at 23:26
There has definetly been an easyJet shot AFAIK with airstaris. Saying that could have been the bmi A319 im thinking of…
Airbus do offer them as an option. Easyjet dont use them to aid turnaround – simply to save money as it costs to use stairs which roll up. Also at smaller airports easier to me as self contained as much as possible!
By: Bmused55 - 11th November 2004 at 21:25
Andrew is right, it is the slide stowage, and Matthew is right it is kept in an external stowage to save space.
On the 320 family the front and back doors have the slide stowed in a bustle on the inside of the door, and the overwing exits (A319 and A320) or 2 and 3 doors (A321) have it in an external stowage to save space as these are mid-cabin.
These external slide stowages aren’t that unusual, especially for off-wing slides on B747’s, DC10’s, etc.
As for the appearance of this particular aircraft, it must be a mismatched panel, possibly a replacement.
As for integral airstairs, they were available on the 320-100, but were very unsteady as they are much longer than on say a B737, and were in fact made mainly of wood. BA removed them from their -100’s as a safety measure after an aircraft despatcher at LHR had a nasty accident on them. I don’t think Airbus have ever reintroduced them as an option.
1L.
easyJet’s A319’s have integral stairs apparently.
EDIT: Ok, perhaps not, or else why go through the bother of getting mobile airstairs: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/694124/L/
EDIT AGAIN: OK, definately not… no hatch below the door!: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/684697/L/
By: Bmused55 - 11th November 2004 at 21:25
Andrew is right, it is the slide stowage, and Matthew is right it is kept in an external stowage to save space.
On the 320 family the front and back doors have the slide stowed in a bustle on the inside of the door, and the overwing exits (A319 and A320) or 2 and 3 doors (A321) have it in an external stowage to save space as these are mid-cabin.
These external slide stowages aren’t that unusual, especially for off-wing slides on B747’s, DC10’s, etc.
As for the appearance of this particular aircraft, it must be a mismatched panel, possibly a replacement.
As for integral airstairs, they were available on the 320-100, but were very unsteady as they are much longer than on say a B737, and were in fact made mainly of wood. BA removed them from their -100’s as a safety measure after an aircraft despatcher at LHR had a nasty accident on them. I don’t think Airbus have ever reintroduced them as an option.
1L.
easyJet’s A319’s have integral stairs apparently.
EDIT: Ok, perhaps not, or else why go through the bother of getting mobile airstairs: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/694124/L/
EDIT AGAIN: OK, definately not… no hatch below the door!: http://www.airliners.net/open.file/684697/L/
By: G-OJET - 11th November 2004 at 21:18
Thank god you’ve cleared that up OneLeft! I’ve never worked on the A321 so I don’t know. I guess I’m comparing to what I know having been on the B757 etc.
I’m just picturing and A320 with wooden airstairs, the mind boggles! lol!
By: G-OJET - 11th November 2004 at 21:18
Thank god you’ve cleared that up OneLeft! I’ve never worked on the A321 so I don’t know. I guess I’m comparing to what I know having been on the B757 etc.
I’m just picturing and A320 with wooden airstairs, the mind boggles! lol!
By: OneLeft - 11th November 2004 at 17:58
Andrew is right, it is the slide stowage, and Matthew is right it is kept in an external stowage to save space.
On the 320 family the front and back doors have the slide stowed in a bustle on the inside of the door, and the overwing exits (A319 and A320) or 2 and 3 doors (A321) have it in an external stowage to save space as these are mid-cabin.
These external slide stowages aren’t that unusual, especially for off-wing slides on B747’s, DC10’s, etc.
As for the appearance of this particular aircraft, it must be a mismatched panel, possibly a replacement.
As for integral airstairs, they were available on the 320-100, but were very unsteady as they are much longer than on say a B737, and were in fact made mainly of wood. BA removed them from their -100’s as a safety measure after an aircraft despatcher at LHR had a nasty accident on them. I don’t think Airbus have ever reintroduced them as an option.
1L.
By: OneLeft - 11th November 2004 at 17:58
Andrew is right, it is the slide stowage, and Matthew is right it is kept in an external stowage to save space.
On the 320 family the front and back doors have the slide stowed in a bustle on the inside of the door, and the overwing exits (A319 and A320) or 2 and 3 doors (A321) have it in an external stowage to save space as these are mid-cabin.
These external slide stowages aren’t that unusual, especially for off-wing slides on B747’s, DC10’s, etc.
As for the appearance of this particular aircraft, it must be a mismatched panel, possibly a replacement.
As for integral airstairs, they were available on the 320-100, but were very unsteady as they are much longer than on say a B737, and were in fact made mainly of wood. BA removed them from their -100’s as a safety measure after an aircraft despatcher at LHR had a nasty accident on them. I don’t think Airbus have ever reintroduced them as an option.
1L.
By: G-OJET - 11th November 2004 at 17:27
Airbus do have optional Stars on the front exit dont they?
I think your right andrew. Doesn’t EZY have airstairs on the A319’s? I think its part of their quick turnaround policy to not use steps and use the aircraft’s own stairs isn’t it? I know thats the policy with bmibaby for sure.
I’m not sure they’d have them on the 321 though. If they did, you’d think it would be Doors 1 not 2.
By: G-OJET - 11th November 2004 at 17:27
Airbus do have optional Stars on the front exit dont they?
I think your right andrew. Doesn’t EZY have airstairs on the A319’s? I think its part of their quick turnaround policy to not use steps and use the aircraft’s own stairs isn’t it? I know thats the policy with bmibaby for sure.
I’m not sure they’d have them on the 321 though. If they did, you’d think it would be Doors 1 not 2.
By: andrewm - 11th November 2004 at 12:24
Airbus do have optional Stars on the front exit dont they?
By: andrewm - 11th November 2004 at 12:24
Airbus do have optional Stars on the front exit dont they?
By: Robert Hamilton - 11th November 2004 at 10:13
could be! it dosent look like a hole! it does look like a black cover! would you not be able to see in the hole??
By: Robert Hamilton - 11th November 2004 at 10:13
could be! it dosent look like a hole! it does look like a black cover! would you not be able to see in the hole??
By: Robert Hamilton - 11th November 2004 at 10:03
ok maby i was rong :dev2:
By: Robert Hamilton - 11th November 2004 at 10:03
ok maby i was rong :dev2:
By: Mark L - 11th November 2004 at 10:01
Yes but there was never a conclusive answer.
By: Mark L - 11th November 2004 at 10:01
Yes but there was never a conclusive answer.
By: Robert Hamilton - 11th November 2004 at 10:01
i dnt think so!
By: Robert Hamilton - 11th November 2004 at 10:01
i dnt think so!
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November 10, 2004 at 10:21 pm