Airbus A321

[seasick]

Not sure whether where to post this, but since the doors on the aircraft are generally operated by the cabin crew, I hope somebody will be able to answer this question! :) Otherwise may the moderator move this thread somewhere more appropiate.

Not too long ago at LHR, I saw an Airbus A321 from BMI by the gate and that door 2L was opened and attached to a stairs. Not sure whether this door was used for boarding, though... I thought 2L/2R, as 3L/3R, were emergency exits or are airlines able to choose the kind of doors they want on their aircraft?

seasick

[flyblue]

In my company doors 2&3 are indeed used only in case of evacuation.

[Red 69]

Door 2L is often used for boarding/disembarking an A321 when for some reason 1L is not available (Such as a domestic arrival to an international stand or vice versa) The A321 because of its length cannot generally stop short on most stands so the jetty blocks door 1L. As for 3L, the trailing edge of the wing is in the way so as not allowing stairs to that door. 4L can be used also for embarking/disembarking and is often used in conjunction with 1L to speed up the process.

Hope this answers your question:ok:

Regards

Jetset747

[The Moo]

It could have been an international arrival onto a domestic stand or vice versa. Also at Bmi we used to board and disembark via
D1L D2L & D4L if we were running late. D1 D2 & D4 are all passenger doors.D3 is the only emer exit door as the gas bottle for the slide is located above the door ( where you would usually find an overhead locker ) therfore to low to use as a pax door.

[6chimes]

To answer your question in full.

The A321 is designed so that doors 3 are slightly smaller, only about 5ft high as emergency only doors. Doors 2 are the same height but slightly narrower and there are a few other differences that apply to opening and arming etc. But the doors are designed to be used by pax, noting that the manual release handle for the slide is covered in perspex to stop someone grabbing it to pull themselves in. Most charter operators use doors 2 for boarding/disembarking as their first choice, its quicker and they dont always operate where there are jetties.

At bmi we arm and disarm all doors inc doors 3 which lets us use doors 2 when needed (as said before int/dom, inop jetty etc) without slides being blown due to confusing the crew.

6

[seasick]

Alright, thank you all for your answers. I was only surprised to see that the door was open and attached to a stairs since I only thought those doors were used for evacuation! :)

seasick