SafeFlyer From Canada, joined Jan 2001, 621 posts, RR: 5 Posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1377 times:
I recently read an article talking about old aircrafts with more than 100 000 flying hours like a BA 747-100 retired in Oct 1999 with 107235 hours. Do you consider old aircrafts with a lot of flying hours dangerous and would you fly on them?
JETPILOT From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3130 posts, RR: 32 Reply 1, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1300 times:
Airframe hours are not a good indicator of airframe age. Cycles are. That 747 with 107,000 hours probably had less than 30,000 cycles on it.
Watewate From Canada, joined Nov 2000, 2283 posts, RR: 2 Reply 2, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 1283 times:
Agreed. Number of cycles is the true indicator. That's why a/cs designed for short haul that's 25 yrs old is likely to be discarded whereas the equally old long-haul jet has much more life. BTW, a/cs these days can be kept airworthy virtually forever with proper maintenance. But of course, economics and egos keep driving up sales of new ac/s.
Flyboy767 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 1237 times:
I must say that I definitely feel better flying on a newer aircraft, but who doesn't? Not only do I feel safer, it also has a higher comfort level. However when it comes right down to it there really isn't anything wrong with flying on an older aircraft.
David_mx From Mexico, joined Nov 1999, 206 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 1204 times:
Well, in my country Aerocalifornia uses DC9-15 or -30 aircraft and at least they are working. As Boeing said on their website
"An airplane’s age isn’t as relevant to safety as the way the aircraft is maintained and operated. It’s much like driving an old car: If all the key safety equipment — tires, brakes, steering, lights, shocks, wipers, etc. — are in top condition and you drive safely, your risk will be minimal. The same is true of commercial aviation. Of course, each new generation of airplanes benefits from the lessons learned in designing, building, and operating the previous generation. The resulting safety enhancements, however, do not mean older jets are less safe since many of the key safety enhancements incorporated in newer aircraft — such as collision avoidance systems — have been added to older planes in the fleet as well."
And I drive a 1989 VW jetta and I feel real safe on it... so... old planes are safe too.
747-451 From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 2417 posts, RR: 6 Reply 6, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 13 hours ago) and read 1195 times:
It depends on the airline. If I flew on a "classic" from British, United, Northwest, Lufthansa, Delta etc...I wouldn't give it a second thought. (presumably they are more likely to have bought them new originally or bought from other airlines with technical skill (eg NW bought a few 747's from Singapore Airlines who is one of THE premier airlines) and their pasts can be tracked and assured the aircraft has been properly maintained...).
ERJ135 From Australia, joined Nov 2000, 670 posts, RR: 1 Reply 8, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1171 times:
I personally have no problem flying on anything at all. I assume that since it flew from where ever it came from to where I was, that it would do so again with out drama.
Having said that I recently flew with Impulse on a brand new 717 on it's first revenue service, and I have to admit it's far nicer to fly on a new aircraft.
On the other hand I have flown on old DC-8's with an asian airline, and the planes were dreadful but it did not bother me, they still arrived on time. I have also flown on a DC3 which was built 30 years before I was! I was stunned that the flaps on a DC-3 were fabric stretched over timber frames!
Still it flew for years and still does.
ERJ135 From Australia, joined Nov 2000, 670 posts, RR: 1 Reply 9, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1163 times:
I personally have no problem flying on anything at all. I assume that since it flew from where ever it came from to where I was, that it would do so again with out drama.
Having said that I recently flew with Impulse on a brand new 717 on it's first revenue service, and I have to admit it's far nicer to fly on a new aircraft.
On the other hand I have flown on old DC-8's with an asian airline, and the planes were dreadful but it did not bother me, they still arrived on time. I have also flown on a DC3 which was built 30 years before I was! I was stunned that the flaps on a DC-3 were fabric stretched over timber frames!
Still it flew for years and still does.
Notarzt From Germany, joined Dec 2000, 642 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 8 hours ago) and read 1164 times:
Indeed, the 'total cycles' is more an indicator for airframe age than the 'total hours'. On the other hand, referring to the topic, safety exclusively depends on maintenance, passenger appeal on the airline's care for interior configuration, refurbishment and service. An aircraft's age does not count in this respect.
VirginFlyer From New Zealand, joined Sep 2000, 4502 posts, RR: 50 Reply 11, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 6 hours ago) and read 1154 times:
'I', I can assure you the 737-200 is a very nice aircraft to fly in, especially up in the front office...
I don't see why you're so worried about flying in them, heck they're younger than you...
As for Illyushins and Tupolevs, I wouldnt bat an eyelid flying in a well maintained russian built aircraft. I'd be more worried about hitting an A310 from some cash strapped airline over there that cant afford to maintain it...
"So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth." - Bahá'u'lláh
Mls515 From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 3069 posts, RR: 9 Reply 12, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 4 hours ago) and read 1142 times:
Hey i, I would have to disagree. I love the 737-200s. They're awesome. I got to fly on a 1968 model last summer. Nothing bad about that flight. It took off like a rocket! I don't think you'll have any trouble with the -100s though--they're not around much anymore.
Tan flyr From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 1847 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 1125 times:
Age is not a factor, again asssuming it is on a well-maintained aircraft. I would love to have flown one more time on a 707, but that won't happen..Perhaps a chance yet on a stretch-8..assuming maintenance, and a qualified flight crew!
OO-AOG From Switzerland, joined Dec 2000, 1426 posts, RR: 5 Reply 15, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 22 hours ago) and read 1102 times:
I love to fly onboard old birds. I've flew this last 2 years on a HS748, 1959 Electra, DC8, AN-2, 1960 Shorts Belfast, YS-11, a couple of very old 727s and the last 737-100 in service. I will be soon in Gabon and will try to fly the last scheduled passenger Caravelle out of LBV.
Maybe I'm mad...but it's still safer than driving my car!
N312RC From United States of America, joined Aug 2000, 2678 posts, RR: 18 Reply 17, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1089 times:
I flew a BA 747-200 just about a week ago, there were no problems, I wasnt worried at all.
I frequently fly old airplanes out of DTW, because NW's fleet is old. We fly their DC-9's and 727's to FL all the time. I dont prefer it, but what are you gonna do?
CV990 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 18, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1082 times:
Hi!
I think if we have a chance of flying an old airplane we surely will do that, well at least I will! I have some good memories of flying old airplanes, but surpringly the oldies I flew where both Portuguese Air Force airplanes, I don't consider a 26 years old airliners an old airplane, that was the best I got in civil - a Chicago/Denver flight with United DC-10-10 N1811U - but the other 2 times I flew once in a DHC1 Chipmunck FAP Nr. 1317 with more than 35 years old, and second time a FAP T-33A FAP Nr. 1928 with lovely 40 years old!!! The pilot and I our age together passed a little the total age of the plane, but it was great to fly that and smell that old airplane, the old leather and all the atmosfere!!
Regards!
VirginLover From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 958 posts, RR: 16 Reply 19, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 21 hours ago) and read 1077 times:
I'm worried about flying one of Iberia's 744's in 35 days, the A320's that we're taking in Spain I'm not worried about, but I hope we get a relatively new 744 on the way there and on the way back!
747-451 From United States of America, joined Oct 2000, 2417 posts, RR: 6 Reply 21, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1062 times:
I have flown on your namesake, now THAT was a plane!!
flew-
CV990 - Spantax
CV990 - Swissair
CV990 - AA
Good looking, nice inteririors with those gold anodized fittings and "science fiction luxe" Kuchemann Karrots (speed fairings in AA nomencalture!!!!!)
-451
Roberson From United States of America, joined Dec 2000, 156 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 9 hours ago) and read 1032 times:
I-
According to Frontier's website, their aircraft age is lower than the industry average at around 11 yrs. Also, I don't think that there's a specific problem with older 737s. There is the case involving the rudder, but it appears to be extremely rare and there's no definite cause determined yet about that. Many airlines still operate 732s (UA, DL, NJ, even F9) and although many are old, many are still safe to fly provided maintence has been performed to an acceptable level. I'll take my chances on a Frontier 737 (perfect safety record, by the way) before I would board a UA 722 to go DEN to MCI.
New planes have issues as well, as witnessed by the AirTran incident with an electrical problem in the 717. You couldn't pay me to fly an AirTran DC-9. Anyone's crazy to fly them until they get a new fleet of 717s and sufficient maintence procedures. Aging aircraft is, nevertheless, a complex problem with no good solutions, but airlines with poor maintanence are a larger problem.
Lowfareair From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 23, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 hours ago) and read 1019 times:
Why are you scared to fly on FL's old aircrafts? Here are two article clips for you, with the link at the bottom of each article.
ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 16, 2000--For the fifth year in a row, AirTran Airways (Nasdaq:AAIR) has earned the Federal Aviation Administration's Aviation Safety Program "Special Recognition Award," an honor bestowed upon those carriers that achieve above and beyond the required levels of safety training for their aviation mechanic technicians.
To qualify for the award, half of an airline's total maintenance locations must earn a certificate of excellence for exceeding the FAA's required participation levels. There are five different certificates awarded depending upon the percentage of a location's mechanics that participated in the safety training. A "Diamond Certificate of Excellence" is the highest honor, requiring a minimum of twenty-five percent of a maintenance location's mechanics to participate. AirTran Airways' maintenance bases in Atlanta, Boston, Ft. Lauderdale, Washington, D.C. (Dulles International Airport) and Orlando all received the "Diamond Certificate." http://www.businesswire.com/webbox/bw.031600/200760322.htm
AirTran Airways has been recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for developing improved techniques to assure the quality of inspections of a component in the horizontal stabilizers of Boeing DC-9, 717 and MD-80 aircraft.
While carrying out an emergency airworthiness directive that ordered airlines to inspect the jackscrews on the above fleets, AirTran Airways maintenance technicians noticed that some of the instructions associated with the work orders seemed sufficiently vague to warrant concern that the inspection was being properly carried out. So, in consultation with Boeing and the FAA, AirTran Airways' Engineering Department developed work cards that were more specific and that resulted in new standards for the required inspections. http://www.businesswire.com/webbox/bw.121100/203462639.htm
Astrojet From Germany, joined Aug 2000, 565 posts, RR: 2 Reply 24, posted (12 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 hours ago) and read 1018 times:
Hey OO-AOG, you are not mad, you are a real aviation lover. I wish I could fly these planes too.
25 AKDan: During the summers, I occasionally fly in a couple Grumman Goose(s) and have flown in a Widgeon once. They are used as mail planes to some remote dest
26 Tri727jet: NOT AT ALL! I'VE FLOWN ON 737-200 (METROJET) 727-200 (so many airlines i cant name them all YAK 40 AND 42 (cubana) Tu-154 CUBANA IL 62 CUbaNa But ther
27 Roberson: Yes, the good old 721s and more common 722. That and 732s are still some of the safest and most reliable aircrafts ever made. With enhancements, good
28 DC8paxFLYR: I fly pax/combi & cargo DC-8s(yes passenger!we are the last in the world!) for Air Transport International.The DC-8s & CVR880/990As were built like ta
29 Cba: I prefer to fly newer aircraft, as I have flown on most of the older types. I always like to fly an a/c I haven't flown. I'd love to fly a DC-8 or 707
30 Tg 747-300: I have no problems with flying on old aircrafts. Old (and good mainteaned planes) are actually the safest, because they don't hav any "stupid" compute
31 Roberson: Yes, as a student aspiring to be a pilot in the future, I hope the Airbus trend involving computers having the upper hand doesn't become standard prac
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