Originally Posted by NWAFA

In the early '90s, NW had a rash of blown slides. Mainly on the A320 and the DC-10. It was a combination of FAs, ground people, cleaners, mechs and caterers. The doors were clearly marked for "armed" "disarmed" on the doors.

As a result, the company (NW) absolutely forbid the FAs from touching the doors. The only people who were allowed to touch the doors while the plane was being worked were the GAs and pilots.

The FAs were only to "arm" and "disarm" the doors. And in Whiteplains when the DC-9s had the built in forward boarding stairs, we had to "crack" the door for the GA. The forward stairs on the DC-9s have all been deactivated and removed.

As far as I know, the policy hasn't been changed to allow the PMNW FAs to touch the doors to assist a GA.