Panman From Trinidad and Tobago, joined Aug 1999, 789 posts, RR: 0 Posted (6 years 1 month 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1802 times:
I am not asking this because I don't know the answer - because I do - I have always known the answer from the first time I saw it. I am not asking this on the tech forum either, because obviously most of them will know. So I thought I would ask this in the CivAv forum to test the knowledge.
Look at a picture of any A300 freighter - any airline.
Look along the fuselage.
You will see one window on each side of the fuselage on all model in the same location.
Ignore the windows on the deactivated doors.
Ignore the courier area window (the window behind the forward doors).
Question is: What is that window for?
There are two possible answers. One that is ultimately the correct answer, and one that although it sounds correct, is not what the window is for. Though it is a good use.
RichardPrice From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 2, posted (6 years 1 month 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1775 times:
Possibly an inspection window to see out onto the wing and engine inflight - the pilots dont have a fantastic view of the inboard section from the cockpit.
FriendlySkies From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 4009 posts, RR: 6 Reply 3, posted (6 years 1 month 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1768 times:
Quoting RichardPrice (Reply 2): Possibly an inspection window to see out onto the wing and engine inflight - the pilots dont have a fantastic view of the inboard section from the cockpit.
That's what I was thinking. Pilot might need to check the wing or engine during flight (UA 232?). This happened once on a UAX flight, the F/O came back and looked at the wings...why I don't know.
Breiz From France, joined Mar 2005, 1808 posts, RR: 2 Reply 4, posted (6 years 1 month 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1753 times:
Quoting Panman (Thread starter): You will see one window on each side of the fuselage on all model in the same location.
Ignore the windows on the deactivated doors.
Ignore the courier area window (the window behind the forward doors).
In mid-fuselage, over the wings, that must be a safety exit.
Jamesbuk From United Kingdom, joined May 2005, 3968 posts, RR: 5 Reply 5, posted (6 years 1 month 4 weeks 18 hours ago) and read 1719 times:
Isnt it a bit far forward to check the wings? I mean it faces forward slightly so it would be reduced visibility to the inner wing. Id say its a toilet one or a emergency exit one to check outside in event of emergency.
Rgds --James--
You cant have your cake and eat it... What the hells the point in having it then!!!
Zenarcade From Canada, joined Nov 2006, 85 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (6 years 1 month 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 1610 times:
This is my wildest guess and it's likely incorrect.
Its a window for the lav. But why have a window? Is it possible that (this sounds crazy) the lights in the lav are under the same circuit as the dome lighting in the cockpit?
Bah that doesnt sound right. But thats the best I can think of.
Adam
Edit: Why would there be a window on both sides though? Bah!
[Edited 2007-03-29 21:56:17]
If a plane falls on the tarmac and no one is there, does it make any sound? - Starlionblue
Panman From Trinidad and Tobago, joined Aug 1999, 789 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (6 years 1 month 4 weeks 14 hours ago) and read 1602 times:
(I see it's been moved to Tech Ops)
No correct answers at the moment.
Hmm looking at that photo on the UPS A300 freighter I am not sure if I am seeing the window. The "Synchronising the" text may be camoflauging it however.
Just to clear up any confusion I am talking about mid-fuse over the wings.
777236ER From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (6 years 1 month 4 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 1518 times:
It's there so the crew can visually confirm that the main gear is down and locked. There's a red pin that pops up on the upper wing when the main gear is locked down on the A300 and A310.
HangarRat From United States of America, joined Jul 2005, 627 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (6 years 1 month 4 weeks 11 hours ago) and read 1486 times:
Quoting 777236ER (Reply 11): It's there so the crew can visually confirm that the main gear is down and locked.
Could the crew get back there if the aircraft is fully loaded with containers?
Panman From Trinidad and Tobago, joined Aug 1999, 789 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (6 years 1 month 4 weeks 10 hours ago) and read 1474 times:
Quoting 777236ER (Reply 11): It's there so the crew can visually confirm that the main gear is down and locked. There's a red pin that pops up on the upper wing when the main gear is locked down on the A300 and A310.
Correct.
Does what it says on the tin. Plain and simple, it's there to visually confirm main gear is down and locked. Though sometimes the pin is a rusty brown colour due to the paint having worn off. I have had to lubricate said pins on many occasions. I remember the first time I saw the window, on a TNT A300 that had come in on a check, I had instantly thought of that pin as I had seen it the first time in my life as a small boy travelling on a BWIA L1011-500 - and many times since. Went up the steps to have a look out of that window - saw the pin in line with the window when I looked down.
Other uses such as checking for ice on the wings or evidence that Elvis is still alive are secondary.
Quoting HangarRat (Reply 12): Could the crew get back there if the aircraft is fully loaded with containers?
Yes there is always enough room for a member of crew to squeeze between the container(s) and the sidewall panels.
Fr8mech From United States of America, joined Sep 2005, 4265 posts, RR: 12 Reply 14, posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 1417 times:
Quoting Panman (Reply 13): Yes there is always enough room for a member of crew to squeeze between the container(s) and the sidewall panels.
Which is why most UPS A300s don't have the window! The A300/A310 already has two independent systems of verifying gear status in the cockpit, why the need for another system?
LongHauler From Canada, joined Mar 2004, 4281 posts, RR: 36 Reply 16, posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 1339 times:
Its like the B737 Combis we used to have.
As there might have been freight as far back as mid-ship, (where the main gear down lock spy glass was located) there was a second gear status system, with a second set of main gear down green lights at the top of the overhead panel in the cockpit. A green light on either panel, (overhead or forward) would confirm "down and locked".
Interesting, there was only the one nose gear down lock light on the forward panel, as the spy glass in the middle of the cockpit to view the downlock pins was in either version of the B737.
Never gonna grow up, never gonna slow down .... Barefoot Blue Jean Night
HAWK21M From India, joined Jan 2001, 31201 posts, RR: 58 Reply 18, posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 6 days 1 hour ago) and read 1296 times:
Quoting Panman (Reply 13): Plain and simple, it's there to visually confirm main gear is down and locked. Though sometimes the pin is a rusty brown colour due to the paint having worn off
Shouldn't there be a Secondary MLG indication in the Flight Deck.
Quoting LongHauler (Reply 16): Interesting, there was only the one nose gear down lock light on the forward panel, as the spy glass in the middle of the cockpit to view the downlock pins was in either version of the B737.
The NLG downlock viewer is visable unlike the MLG downlock viewer due Cargo hence the Secondary MLG indication in the Flight deck.
777236ER From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 1287 times:
Quoting HAWK21M (Reply 18): Shouldn't there be a Secondary MLG indication in the Flight Deck.
There is. There are two independent gear position and door sensors going to two gear position and door indicators, one on the centre instrument panel and the overhead panel for the -600R and A310, and on the FE's panel on the B4.
Memphis From United States of America, joined Mar 2006, 143 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (6 years 1 month 3 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 1228 times:
Quoting Panman (Reply 13): Yes there is always enough room for a member of crew to squeeze between the container(s) and the sidewall panels.
A crew member on a FX A300/A310 could look out one of these windows, the one on the left side of the A/C, there is sufficient space to walk down the length of the A/C between the wall and the containers, but the right side has containers very close to the wall, and would be difficult to access. There is also a regular window on both sides of the A/C near the front, but behind L1 and R1 doors, we (rampers) use the window on the left to look out and make sure that the main deck loader is clear before opening the main cargo door.
Jeffry747 From United States of America, joined Jun 2005, 961 posts, RR: 2 Reply 21, posted (6 years 1 month 2 weeks 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 1029 times:
Quoting HangarRat (Reply 12): Could the crew get back there if the aircraft is fully loaded with containers?
Nail on the Head, those containers (or ULD's, as we like to call them) take up the entire width of the cabin of the A300. However on the MD-11, there are windows right above the leading edge of the wings and above the trailing edges. There is also enough space on each side of the cabin for a crewmember to walk back there and peek out those windows, even when the plane is fully loaded. UPS 747's also have a walkspace on each side
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