flying in md-88
 

Hi,

I am very nervous flyer and am booked on a MD-88 both ways of my round trip. I googled them and am not feeling much better....were changes made after the alaska airline crash? Are they all very old? Do they have the newer technology that a much younger airplane has? SHould I switch to the 757 that is also offered, although the arrival times not as convenient? Thanks to anyone who answers all this, I am a really panicky flyer!!

you will be fine.

It wasn't the "technology" of the plane that failed, it was the maintenance. Personally, I avoid them like the plague (I've been on them only 2x since the Alaska crash) as I was on the plane that crashed earlier that same day. But the "failed" part is probably the most heavily tested/replaced part of the plane. The "technology" is of the same era of a lot of the aircraft in the skies.

That has been how many years ago??? There hasn't been another MD-8x or 9x accident since in the US. That really shouldn't be a major concern.

As far as the 757 goes, haven't they been around just a long or longer than MD-88? The 88 series in the MD aircraft is a newer designation.

Edit: Airdisaster.com shows the plane that crashed as an MD-83, it came out of the factory in 1992, that's a pretty young aircraft. Look at how old the DC-9s are that NW is flying around.e

I avoid them, but not because of safety, I just hate them. This aircraft makes my ears hurt more than any other - we're talking blinding pain here. This is the single reason I don't fly AA, as the MD80 series is almost impossible to avoid.

I seem to always have this luck...last flight I took was on a DC 10 from Gatwick to Detroit and then a DC 9 to Lexington. Ashtrays, film projector, etc. Had to have about 4 mimosas as 8 am to even get aboard! Thanks to everyone who has replied. Are they statiscally much worse than 757 as far as crashes? Is there any new technology (yes, I realize how uneducated I sound but can't think of better word) that the MD 88 is lacking that newer planes have that is very important? Does anybody actually like the MD 88?

For US airlines, statistics regarding accident rates of particular airlines or aircraft models are well into the statistical noise range. The accidents are too rare to draw any conclusions.

Aren't tail mounted engine jets such as 717/727, DC-9, MD-80/90s, and such actually quieter in the cabin, because the engine is way in the back? Except, of course, for the few seats near the engine.

Aircrafts are very reliable when properly maintained, as most US airlines are. 10-20 year old planes fly without any problem. I wouldn't worry.

New 717s, yes. Old MadDogs, no.

WELCOME TO FLYERTALK!!!!

You'll be fine; enjoy your flight.

Avoiding a certain type of equipment because one crashed many years ago doesn't make sense. If you follow this logic, you should also avoid 737's (USAir Pittsburgh crash and United Colorado Springs), DC-9's (ValueJet in the Everglades) 747's (TWA over Long Island Sound), MD-11's (Swissair near Nova Scotia).. you get my point I hope...

If you're a nervous flyer, I recommend a double vodka tonic with a squeeze of lime. ;)

MD80's are built like a freight train. Very solid. Simple, very reliable systems. As a pilot, they are built much better than the Boeings. i.e. thiker sheet metal, more rivits, etc. An MD88 will have modern EFIS avionics, a flight management system and all of the required safety equipment such as Enhanced GPWS, RVSM air data computers/altimeters and TCAS.

Given the choice, I'd pick a flight on an MD88 over one on a 757 because the MD80/DC9 line has only one middle-seat per row instead of two.

I like MD-88's. With Delta short hops, it's usually that or an RJ. So, it wins on comfort points. You have addressed a group of experienced flyers. Most of us couldn't do our jobs without flying, although I suppose there's more than one John Madden out there. :D There is nothing to worry about, because something seriously bad almost never happens. Your fear, as I'm sure you know, is irrational. You should consider visiting a therapist to learn how to relax and enjoy travel. Or drugs and alcohol work most of the time, too.

Mileage Addict, thanks for the welcome. Its not so much the crash record that worrys me, more the thought that the planes are so old and maybe not as reliable or high tech as new ones. Also, for some reason feel safer on Boeing made planes than MDs. Is there any in flight entertainment? Besides me having a panic attack! I read an article about the teflon being almost completely gone on an MD model a few years ago (again, have no idea what I am talking about or what that means, but it was part of my Google education under MD 88 problems!) and it makes me wonder what else is almost worn out that hasn't been discovered yet. Also hate heights, am clausterphobic, and worry about death quite a bit , and have had pretty bad luck with family and friends being involved in airplane accidents so that probably adds to everything!

BamaVol, how many times do you fly a year? Have you ever had an emergency landing or any sort of problem? LarryJ, thanks so much for the info, that really does help a lot.

You should be worried--about the trip to and from the airport. The plane, not so much.

Only inflight entertainment on an MD80 is making a hand puppet out of the barf bag. :D

I flew 164 flight segments in 2006 and am on par to do that many this year. Scariest thing that happened to me was missing a connecting flight.

maybe you should drive or take the train?

Nice & Quiet Row 15 & lower numbers. Further back, it gets pretty noisy.

What Opus 17 said. You're in far greater danger from the traffic on the road to the airport than you'll be in flight.

As for the age of the aircraft, one of the most reliable and safest airplanes ever built is the DC-3. Quite a few are still around today. And the newest of them was built (if I recall correctly) in 1944.

^ ^

Think of it as a Boeing 717 - classic model - it's basically the same thing - and one of the better items in the air, really. The safety issue is under the full control of government inspections. Newer planes have problems that are yet to be discovered.

Around 100 flights last year. Mostly Delta. More MD-88's than anything else. No emergency landings last year. One the previous year. Yes, it was an MD-88, but when 80% of your flights are one type of aircraft, what would you expect? We had a hydraulic fluid leak. The plane landed safely and an hour later, we took off again in a different MD-88. Yes, I got on the same type of aircraft that malfunctioned an hour after an emergency landing. So, I'm either a fool or I know something about the odds. :)

What happens during an emergency landing? Do you have to go into crash position?! Were people upset? My heart is pounding just thinking about it! Did the plane feel any different? Is it common to have a hydraulic fuel leak on md88's and what happens if it is not noticed - could the plane still fly for 2 hrs and put me back on the ground (via a runway!)?

Hydraulic systems are redundant. A leak in one system would cause the plane to shift to another (I don't know how many the MD-88 has, but a larger plane like a DC-10 or 747 has 3-4 redundant systems). It takes a pretty catastrophic event to cause complete hydraulic failure. Landing due to a leak in one system is a safety precaution but the plane is in no danger of crashing at that point.

The forward landing gear retracted, but the cover would not close. The pilot was able to lower the gear. He was prepared to fly us to CLE, but received instructions to return to ATL and swap aircraft. We were in the air no more than 30 minutes total. We did not assume any special position. We were instructed to follow all FA requests. It was noisy because we flew with all the wheels down. There was an odd smell, but not overwhelming. We landed with no difficulties. At no time was I expecting to die or suffer serious injury. It was all handled calmly and professionally. BTW, my employer makes hydraulic systems for aircraft among other products and I am told that many are redundant because of the possibility of failure.

What's in a name? You might not know this, but Boeing bought McDonnell-Douglas several years ago and assumed responsibility for all McD aircraft. In fact, the Boeing 717 was originally named the McDonnell-Douglas MD-95. After B bought McD, they made a few (relatively minor) changes and renamed it!

You will be safer on that MD-88 than you will be in whatever form of ground transportation you take to the airport. Relax.