Jimbobjoe From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 640 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2022 times:
I've been wondering (as I do from time to time) is there anyone on this board who was around when the DC-10s were grounded (after AA 191) and can remember how the airlines coped during that time?
At least in the US, grounding of the DC-10 fleet seems to be nothing short of disastrous for a few carriers...and I can't imagine how that many passengers could have been easily rebooked onto other flights or other carriers.
OPNLguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 1, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 2012 times:
My airline didn't fly them, but from what I recall from friends at several airlines that did, it was a real mess.
CO, UA, AA, NA, and WA were the main US airlines affected (NWA's -40s had Pratts versus the GE CF-6s like the others, and I don't recall the -40s being affected), and the lack of the DC-10-10s and -30s really put the pressure on their narrowbody flights, which were then full, and people were still being left behind. I know NA ran some extra sections using 727-200s to try and accomodate some of the demand, and I'm sure the other airlines did as well. If one of those 4 airlines had 747s, I'm sure they made good use of them. The loads at DL, EA, and TW also went up, since they were flying L1011s.
Non-revving and commuting was an absolute joke, and I know several folks that were stranded at HNL that had gone there for an interline softball tournament. Any seat on any airline that was flying 747s, L1011s, 707s, DC-8s, or the DC-10-40s was usually gone.
OPNLguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 3, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 1983 times:
Quoting 2H4 (Reply 2): Just imagine the chaos that would result in the freight industry...
Today, of course, but way back in 1979, Fedex was still flying Falcons and had just started using 727s (once air cargo was deregulated in 1977). They made a 727-200 freighter buy back in the early 1980s (didn't they get the last 727 off the line in 83 or 84?) and their DC-10s came in sometime later.
ZANL188 From United States of America, joined Oct 2006, 3244 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 16 hours ago) and read 1957 times:
Quoting OPNLguy (Reply 1): (NWA's -40s had Pratts versus the GE CF-6s like the others, and I don't recall the -40s being affected),
I lived in MSP at the time and I'm quite sure NWs -40s were grounded as well, they certainly deemphasised the DC-10 in advertising.
I just did some quick research... FAA pulled the certificate on 6 June, then on 26 Jun banned all DC-10s from US airspace. On July 13 FAA restored the certificate.
Quoting OPNLguy (Reply 3): (didn't they get the last 727 off the line in 83 or 84?)
I believe they got the last 17 or 18 which constituted the entire factory production run of -200Fs.
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OPNLguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 1947 times:
Quoting ZANL188 (Reply 4): I lived in MSP at the time and I'm quite sure NWs -40s were grounded as well, they certainly deemphasised the DC-10 in advertising.
I don't why the -40s stuck in my mind as not being affected. I found this 4-page Time magazine article back from shortly after the accident, and there's a mention on page 3 of the cracked pylon bulkheads only having shown up on -10s and not on any -30s or -40s, so maybe that's what I was recalling.
Pilotpip From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3081 posts, RR: 12 Reply 6, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 1913 times:
TWA coped by painting "L-1011" in big letters on their aircraft so the public wouldn't be afraid to get on the plane.
Pilotpip From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3081 posts, RR: 12 Reply 8, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 1872 times:
No, this was in response to the general public thinking that all three-engined jets were DC-10s.
Pilotpip From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3081 posts, RR: 12 Reply 11, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 1826 times:
I was not aware of that. I have a book on the history of TWA and the author mentions that it was placed on there after UAL 191 and mentions nothing of it being on there prior. My mistake.
Jimbobjoe From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 640 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (6 years 5 months 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 1805 times:
Quoting OPNLguy (Reply 5): found this 4-page Time magazine article back from shortly after the accident,
I'd like to think you for that article...it's a fascinating read, and perhaps a little eerie to read a 27 year old article in the normal modern Time website format. Makes it feel current.
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