General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis is why you keep your seatbelts at all times while flying
Is Boeings 737 an Airplane Prone to Problems?
The plane is Americas most popular model. But aviation experts worry that Americas most popular airplane is prone to cracks in its skin. An investigative report.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newsweek/2012/03/19/is-boeing-s-737-an-airplane-prone-to-problems.html
Evasporque
(2,133 posts)I bet they all lost their cocktails...
backscatter712
(26,355 posts)FirstLight
(13,362 posts)the commercial planes we have in service are HOW old? These planes have not been revamped or even retired and replaced... it's like slapping duct tape on your grandpa's 57 chevy and driving it across country again & again...
instead, where is the money for new planes and technology going? WAR...
I personally have not flown commercial since jan 2001, so i'm not missing anything...if i need to get somewhere, i'll rent an RV and drive, or maybe eventually just join the wagon train
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)The "age" of an airframe is measured in 1. Pressurization cycles, and 2. Hours in flight...And the Boeing 737 of today has little in common with the version from 1967 when it first flew, much like comparing a '67 Corvette with a 2012...
Each time a frame reaches a certain number of cycles it'll go through some form of check:
A Check This is performed approximately every month. This check is usually done overnight at an airport gate. The actual occurrence of this check varies by aircraft type, the cycle count (takeoff and landing is considered an aircraft "cycle" , or the number of hours flown since the last check. The occurrence can be delayed by the airline if certain predetermined conditions are met.
B Check This is performed approximately every 3 months. This check is also usually done overnight at an airport gate. A similar occurrence schedule applies to the B check as to the A check.
C Check This is performed approximately every 12-18 months. This maintenance check puts the aircraft out of service and requires plenty of space - usually at a hangar at a maintenance base. The schedule of occurrence has many factors and components as has been described, and thus varies by aircraft category and type.
D Check This is the heaviest check for the airplane. This check occurs approximately every 4-5 years. This is the check that, more or less, takes the entire airplane apart for inspection. This requires even more space and time than all other checks, and must be performed at a maintenance base.
HopeHoops
(47,675 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)for those technically interested:
http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5416862/1/
liberal N proud
(60,339 posts)Which is probably pretty accurate. Cost cutting by these carriers stretches into inspections and maintenance.
snooper2
(30,151 posts)See what happens when you ban shit? Now inspectors don't have little nicotine rings anymore
Smoking on airplanes again! Who's with me! (And no more running outside and having to go back through fucking security during a layover LOL )