DL 739ER Routes

[REPUS]

Had 7-900 in MIA last week and are expecting more. The 717 will be introduced to MIA in the summer. DL is really worried about tail tipping in the 737-900.... That's a long BIN......

 

[Kev3188]

What's the over/under on how long it takes before one tips?

 

[WorldTraveler]

why would the tail tip any more than it would on a 757?

Do you have procedures to prevent this kind of thing on the 753?

 

[Kev3188]

Load the front first, offload the back first...

 

[WorldTraveler]

and why should the 739 be any different or have any greater risk of tipping?

 

[Kev3188]

Relatively tail heavy... lots of fuselage (and room for cargo) aft of the main gear... Not unlike the A320's...

 

[WorldTraveler]

the 320s have the same propensity to tip, sir?

I have seen tail jacks used at times on aircraft but are they ever used in regular passenger operations?

 

[Kev3188]

They're not as bad as they used to be (or at least there's less emphasis on it), but yes...
 
I'll defer to GQ or Lineguy43, but I seem to remember some sort of modification made to them to make it less likely.
 
The only pax plane I've ever seen a tail stand used on is the SF3...

 

[WorldTraveler]

that's alright.. your word is more than accurate. 
 
any loading/unloading procedures specific to DL's T tail fleet or any of the 4 versions of it in service?

 

[700UW]

When I worked for UA we used tail stands on the DC-8, and the 727 you always had to have the rear stairs down or use a tail stand.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

They're not as bad as they used to be (or at least there's less emphasis on it), but yes...
 
I'll defer to GQ or Lineguy43, but I seem to remember some sort of modification made to them to make it less likely.
 
The only pax plane I've ever seen a tail stand used on is the SF3...

Always a tail stand on the 747F and MD-11. Aft stairs down on the 727.I always had our guys hook up the towbar/tug to the A-320/727 to make sure it would stay down. Most of those issues could be controlled if the fuel was loaded early in the turn.

I have seen the aircraft nose strut max extend out high when the aft bin was loaded and the back boarded first. It would cause all kinds of issues because the squat switch would open on the nose gear.

 

[Kev3188]

I honestly can't remember dropping the stairs on the 727's on a regular basis, but it's been awhile.

 

[Glenn Quagmire]

We were not allowed to taxi the 727 without a certain fuel load in the center tank. Winter time taxis on contaminated taxiways/runways to the hangars were very hairy in DTW or MSP with light fuel loads.

 

[Kev3188]

I can imagine!

Not a fan of winter ops. at. all.

Interestingly (or not), the junior guys in my station didn't really like working the 727's, but the senior guys loved 'em right 'til the end.

 

[robbedagain]

Wt at us most of the time we load the airbus 319s 320s n 321s tail hvy depending on load plan and hook the towbar n pushback up there been times when ive seen the nose strut rise considerably i remember the 72 for the shuttle airstairs down always atthe gates in bos