Do airliners have keys?
 

Do airliners have keys? I mean, could someone just hop into a 737 or whatever, and fire it up, or do they have an ignition-key equivalent?

Just curious!...

Also, do the wheels have locking nuts? and do the radios have security codes?

JOKING !! Just thought I'd get them in before anyone else!!!

Well, you see, new airliners have ignition keys, but after a while, with nightstops and all, they get lost.

When the crew misplaces the airliner keys everyone has to go back to the hotel to look for them, while the gate staff is left to make up stories about tech delays. Sometimes if the airplane isn't too far from base they send a spare set sent out, but eventually they have to get maintenance in to hotwire the airplane. That happens a few times and they just install a switch.

You'd think it would be a security problem, but seeing as you can start most Boeings with the keys from an old Chevy Impala, it doesn't make much difference.

[Edited to fix an ugly line break.]

[This message has been edited by Luftwaffle (edited 10 April 2001).]

Check out some of the Russian gear at Sharjah.

It's not unusual to find the odd AN12 with a padlock on the cargo door!

I've seen padlocks on DC-3s at Medellin in Colombia and also on P-3 Orions parked at airshows.

*grins* hiya stroppy mate. You do come up with some little gems doncha??? :) :)

SB22

The US ARmy certainly had "igntion" keys for their helos at one stage, after some unauthorized joy rides. Don't know whether they still do though.

Yes, you could just fire one up. Then you'd have to get your mate (I recommend Dodgy Dave from down the pub) to jump start the pushback tug. ;)

Once we lost the keys of our B767...we told the passengers there was an ATC strike.
From that time on we use to put a spare key under the door mat.

Ciao
Paolo

On the Fokker50 we don't have key's. We Dutch tried to save some...on this system!(like our Airconditioning) Instead we need to hand prop our little airliner.

Yee muskee...

*grins back at SB22*

Easyjet should consider locking wheel nuts for their Liverpool Base.

Although an XR3 would take a lot of jacking to fit 737 wheels.

Never mind the wheels... I'm sure the elevators would make a bloody good rear spoiler!

I'm sure they could put good use to one of the jet engines as well.... although they'd probably have to fit a noisier exhaust than the standard one!

hmmmmm
would you need a key for like each engine? :) http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/confused.gif :)

------------------
Honesty is the best policy, but insanity is a better defence.

Maybe we should have "Halfords" style alarms, as we walk across the apron, we press the key fob, and get three "chirps" and the flashing of the landing and taxi lights?

As for keys, im sure we all remember Airplane 2 and the bunny foot........

Is that why they don't put pull down sun visors on Boeings because there's no key to hide up there?

On an airbus it is a retinal eye scan.

All I can say is thank gawd jets don't have'em ! ..... otherwise aircrew hotel bars would be full of rather pathetic pilots on the pull shouting out, "Hey, has anybody seen my jet keys ?!"

.......... or worse still, there'd be the jet keys equivalent of 'penis envy' as in loads of sad git 'medallion man' types nonchalantly (although purposefully) leaving the keys to their Boeing / Airbus mega jets on the bar top in a pathetic attempt to impress some lowly maiden.

Be warned these blokes do exist, i.e. just today ( on the Falmer road, between Sussex University and Woodingdean, East Sussex ) I saw some chap in a rag-top Saab (its roof down - and it must have been all of a sweltering 10 degrees Centigrade ), with music blaring, sitting there in full pilot garb, i.e. uniform jacket on, complete with silver stripes, and arm draped albeit somewhat uncomfortably - but with full visual / visible effect - over the top of the passenger seat, plus 'Top Gun' shades..... jeez if he'd just had his hat on as well then it would have been too funny for words.
Now might I kindly suggest that if anybody knows who this knob actually is, that you tip him the wink that - far from looking 'cool' - he actually (imho) looks a complete A1 prat !

Nb. I wasn't able to determine if he had a copy of 'Handling the Big Jets' upon the cars back shelf coz I was almost blinded by the tears of laughter rolling down my cheeks !

No, an airline's wish list should consist of the following:

1. Get a magnetic key-hiding thing for somewhere inconspicuous, like underneath the wing. (Too bad there's no plant on the airbridge to hide it in, but this will do fine).

2. Get one of those clamps for the control column (or preferably two for extra security).

3. Issue notice to pilots: ALWAYS keep left hand seat in a forward folded position so if anyone had been in there, you would know.

(Also, be sure to always park in lit open spaces at night with plenty of people about, and carry mace with you at all times).

SFly ;)

All new Boeing airliners are delivered to the customer with two keys.The only lock they are for is the flt deck door.However in my experience they generally dissapear quite quickly as they have boeing written on them.I personally have two.