Originally Posted by
greg5
Sorry, it's all been a bit confusing. And the coverage calling the door on the AS 737 a 'plug door' isn't helping, as it isn't technically a 'plug door'.
The door in the video is a 'plug door', that is, a door that acts as a plug blocking the opening for the door, and kept in place by the internal pressure of the cabin whilst in flight.
The door that came loose on the AS 737 isn't really plugging the opening in the fuselage, it's held in place by fasteners instead.
It's a bit pedantic, but it is an important difference.
Got it. Thank you. I was under the impression that the "plug door" that departed is designed much like the over wing exit doors. When the handle is operated on the over wing exit, they open out and up vs the plug that departed opening out and down. Which I agree is different than a true plug. The over wing exit on Classics was a plug, opening required that you use two hands to remove and pull the door inside the cabin as it was bigger than the frame, before tossing it out and away from the jet. Lol, I worked for more than half my life at AS and I too am trying to keep everything straight! Cheers!