MD80 seat tracks

[Tod]

Some MD80 have 2-3 seating, some have 3-2 seating.

Are the seat tracks symetrical or do they vary with seat configuration?

thanks

Tod

[Flatface]

Seat tracks

All the seat tracks I have seen are fixed and do not change with seat config. The track is part of the structure and it would be prohibitively expensive to move them. It would be much easier to move the attach points on the seat assemblies to fit the seat track on the floor.

The seat tracks transfer all the G loads from the seat and contents to the aircraft structure. Usually stressed to about 16 gs if my memory servs me correctly.

[Tod]

Originally Posted by Flatface

All the seat tracks I have seen are fixed and do not change with seat config.

The planes I had in mind were manufactured with asymetrical and opposite seating configurations. My concern was whether or not Douglas built them with the tracks installed at different BL locations.

Originally Posted by Flatface

The track is part of the structure and it would be prohibitively expensive to move them.

True to a certain degree. Removing the intercostals or other structure that support existing seat tracks would be prohibitively expensive without the OEM's direct support, but adding additional seat track is done all the time.

Originally Posted by Flatface

The seat tracks transfer all the G loads from the seat and contents to the aircraft structure. Usually stressed to about 16 gs if my memory servs me correctly.

16G for forward loads on new design.
The other directions are as follows:

3G up
4G side
6G down
1.5G rearward

happy trails,
Tod

[Grunf]

As my predecessor said seat tracks are fixed part of the floor structure. IT depends of which version of a/c you are talking about because it might have been that it was sold the other way around.

By adding additional (unused) seat track you just increase the weight/labour for no apparent reason, unless the airline decided to switch tem often. Anyway if you think a little bit the aisle would then probably have the seat track (unused one) right in the way so I do not think that was an option.

As for certifying seat track only the latest a/c have 16g since 16g seats are installed in the last 7+ years.

MD80 has 9g seats and therefore 9g sized seat tracks.

16G is requirement that got in from the military (plus all the crew seats are 16G).

Cheers,

[Tod]

Originally Posted by Grunf

By adding additional (unused) seat track you just increase the weight/labour for no apparent reason, unless the airline decided to switch tem often. Anyway if you think a little bit the aisle would then probably have the seat track (unused one) right in the way so I do not think that was an option.

Thanks for the reply.
I understand that completely that a whole set unused seat tracks would not be installed. My concern was whether the seat tracks on MD80's were non-symetrical to match the non-symetrical seating or if the seat tracks were symetrical and the seat assemblies built to create the offset?

happy trails,
Tod

[hung start]

G,Day Tod
We used to have MD80,s Down Under and our seats were offset by adding the centre seat (permanently)ie either 3 on the left or two on the left .So if you have the wrong configuration you will need to purchase a new set of seats. Good luck