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Got up close to one of Finnair's stored A321s today and noticed that the slides have been removed:



Is that typical?

I'm pretty certain it's not standard procedure. They do need a full inspection every 3 years so, like many minor mx tasks, it would make sense to pull any that are close to requiring attention and get them done now while the aircraft is going nowhere.

All airlines are cash strapped and many are pulling parts off of sitting aircraft. We've been told this directly by many many carriers, almost all of them are doing it.

As air travel comes back there will be a rush for parts to get sitting aircraft airworthy again.

Additionally, as of right now there are a dozen or so big big RFP's from major airlines on tearing down their fleets, this will help mitigate the requirement for some of these missing parts, but it will still be a big rush.

JLAmber wrote:I'm pretty certain it's not standard procedure. They do need a full inspection every 3 years so, like many minor mx tasks, it would make sense to pull any that are close to requiring attention and get them done now while the aircraft is going nowhere.

Additionally, the Date of Manufacture is important, as after 15 years they need to be tagged annually. The price difference between slides that are 1-10 years old and 10+ years old is quite large as the maintenance costs compound significantly after 15 years.

<Insert smartass comment about MEL here>

Queso wrote:<Insert smartass comment about MEL here>

You say that... If they suddenly decided to use this bird as a freighter, presumably they could do that without putting the slides back? After all, if they can take the seats out...

ShanwickOceanic wrote:

Queso wrote:<Insert smartass comment about MEL here>

You say that... If they suddenly decided to use this bird as a freighter, presumably they could do that without putting the slides back? After all, if they can take the seats out...

How would the pilots and rats get off in an emergency?

Fumanchewd wrote:How would the pilots and rats get off in an emergency?

Kiss the nearest flight attendant?

ShyFlyer wrote:

Fumanchewd wrote:How would the pilots and rats get off in an emergency?

Kiss the nearest flight attendant?

Or do it themselves - most pilots are massive wan....