Originally Posted by
DType
Long retired engineer here, but I suggest that you cannot "open" a plug, it nust be either fully in situ, or effectively "removed", however small the displacement/angle from in situ.
As stated several times, it is not a door, so cannot be opened.
I agree with you, sir. It is fundamentally part of the fixed airframe structure (but who would have guessed it has big springs in its base ready to 'ker-boing' it out into the Oregon countryside).. Alaska may have no cause to remove it in the whole life of the aircraft with them. Of course, if it is sold on, then the leasing company may want to reconfigure the aircraft with high density seating throughout, and insert an extra exit door there. As I understand it, this would not be the existing panel, but one newly manufactured.
I wonder how often the fixings are looked at. It obviously doesn't feature in the pilots' walkaround. Is it ever looked with the interior cabin lining taken off before a D-check ?