Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21290 posts, RR: 19 Posted (9 years 1 month 1 week 15 hours ago) and read 3088 times:
Why do airlines almost as a rule board at Door L-1? Was there a time when boarding varied by airport? It's obvious that different airliners did board at different places in the past, but was there a time when, say, 737s would board on the left side at some airports and the right side at others? It seems like there is significant standardization now as ATRs are about the only aircraft in commercial service today that routinely board somewhere other than the left front of the cabin.
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6208 posts, RR: 42 Reply 3, posted (9 years 1 month 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 2848 times:
This same question was asked in Airliners magazine within the past year. Perhpas someone with time could find the answer? It's in the "Ask Airliners" section.
I wish I could find the correct issue.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
Cancidas From Poland, joined Jul 2003, 4112 posts, RR: 13 Reply 6, posted (9 years 1 month 2 days 3 hours ago) and read 2686 times:
well, i just saw a EMB-145 that had to be de-planed on the right because the main door jammed. mx had it open and working in a few but it still created an interesting situation for pax. one guy came up to me afterwards and said that he had never done that before...
"...cannot the kingdom of salvation take me home."
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6208 posts, RR: 42 Reply 7, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 17 hours ago) and read 2642 times:
Am I really going to have to find my back issue of airliners then? The complete answer is there, surely someone has it easily handy. I don't.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
411A From United States of America, joined Nov 2001, 1826 posts, RR: 9 Reply 8, posted (9 years 1 month 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 2625 times:
If we look back many years, there was not really any standardized boarding procedure.
Many DC-3's had the pax entry door on the RH side, as did many CV240's.
As aircraft got bigger, and cargo loading took longer...and longer (belly cargo is profitable), the standardized way pax were boarded was thru L1, to keep them away from aircraft service vehicles. In addition, single point refueling is many times carried out on the RH side.
On TriStar aircraft, oftentimes boarding was also carried out thru L3 as well.
A300 aircraft will oftentimes deplane thru both L1 and L4 at the same time.
In addition, at many airports (especially older airports), jetway availability and location dictate boarding procedures.
Baw2198 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 637 posts, RR: 4 Reply 10, posted (9 years 3 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 2475 times:
FDXmech
If you look at USA jet's dc9's, their cargo door is on the left, as is....oh, can't think of it now but there is an outfit that flies Convair 580's and their cargo door is on the left (one of the detroit autopart haulers).
(I thought you guys were talking cargo, I got you now)
Didn't one of the old Fokker biplanes back in the 1920's board on the right side? Maybe some of the sikorski's as well?
edit: left out info.
[Edited 2004-05-26 05:32:33]
"And remember, Keep your stick on the ice"--->Red Green
Auae From United States of America, joined Apr 2004, 296 posts, RR: 4 Reply 11, posted (9 years 3 weeks 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 2436 times:
As far as origin, that is a good question. I am wondering if it has something to do with tradition. Don't ships usually load on the left side as well? Many early aircraft builders / designers had ship building experience.
It is a tradition that goes back a long way, a lot of old pics show airstairs on the left.
Shawn
Air transport is just a glorified bus operation. -Michael O'Leary, Ryanair's chief executive
IMissPiedmont From United States of America, joined May 2001, 6208 posts, RR: 42 Reply 12, posted (9 years 3 weeks 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 2389 times:
Baw2198, all freighter main deck cargo doors are on the left.
Guess I'd better dig out the old Airliners magazines.
What is it with all the "is there a possibilty airline X will.." threads? The answer it'll is possible.
MD11Engineer From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 13369 posts, RR: 64 Reply 15, posted (9 years 2 weeks 5 days 23 hours ago) and read 2194 times:
Boarding an aircraft from the left goes actualy back to the early days of military flying. Many of the first military pilots were former cavalery soldiers. From which side do you mount a horse? From the left. This stuck to the early military planes as well, and later was taken over by the civilian industry as well.
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