Access question

hharney · #1 02-10-11, 10:20 PM

I was referring to the main cabin door. Accessing the rear seats through the main door with the copilot seat slid forward. I don't think he could crawl into the baggage door.

Wyoaviator · #2 02-10-11, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hharney

I was referring to the main cabin door. Accessing the rear seats through the main door with the copilot seat slid forward. I don't think he could crawl into the baggage door.

I guess I didn't make it clear.

I was thinking the same thing. Have him crawl into the back seat via the main door, then run the scooter into the baggage compartment with a set of ramps.

One more thought.... (I'm really trying to make this work.)
If he were to sit in the copilot's seat, then run it forward, to load mom and the Mrs., then run it all the way back, do you think a person could climb over him into the pilot's seat? Or, some variant of that process?

Actually I believe that this whole discussion may be pointless if the scooter wont fit through the baggage door.

Thanks for your kind thoughts and your concern.
Wyoaviator.

H H · #3 02-11-11, 05:08 AM

You may want to check out a PA-32-300 single eng. or a PA-34 twin, they have big rear doors and you can fit any thing.

I use to fly them (not any more) and I think it would be your best bet.

H H

Wyoaviator · #4 04-23-11, 07:51 PM

Hi all, I'm back....

Anyway, thanks to all who responded to my initial inquiry. I still haven't done anything but I'm still looking.

I have yet to get around a real 337 to see how it works, but I recently saw an ad in TAP for a Pressurized 337. The rear seat was rotated up to the ceiling as if to make room to the baggage area, and the right front door was held in place by a couple of chains. Are these typical of skymaster setups?

I'm thinking that (follow me closely here) if I could open the door and drop it all the way down (chains off) pull the copilots seat out, then put "some kind of" ramp that dad could drive his scooter up, get him off, put the scooter in the back, put the rear seat down, get him situated, put the copilots seat in, then load and go like "unhandicapped" people, it might work.

I know this sounds like a lot of gyrations to get a man into an out of an airplane, but when you work with ALS, you do a lot of accomodating to make everyday life work. It would still be more enjoyable than dealing with the friendly TSA agents at the airlines.

I'm just looking for input/information and other suggestions.

Thanks for EVERYONE'S input and suggestion. As the ALS society says, I NEVER give up

Thanks again.
Wyoaviator

ConwayB · #5 04-23-11, 11:52 PM

G'day Wyoaviator,

I have attached some images for you to peruse including seating arrangements, pics of the cabin/cargo area (ignore the yellow tank and associated plumbing... that's for a smoke generator and is not usually there), a pic of an open cargo door and a pic of my aircraft's open cabin door.

The cargo door, from memory, is about 500mm high (about 19") and isn't very big. I think you'd have a hard time getting a scooter in there.

If you were to go for a C337B or similar (ie with cargo door and standard door config as opposed to the airstair), then I would suggest that your dad sits in the pax seat behind the co-pilot's seat if possible... or remove the co-pilot seat altogether. In that way, you can get to the pilot's seat no worries. It means that you are reduced to 1 pilot seat and two pax seats in row two.

I would have to agree with HH. A Piper Seneca (PA-34) has club seating and I think outwards opening doors which may be easier to negotiate.
The other alternative is maybe a Britten-Norman Islander BN2B. It's a 10 seater with great cargo carrying capacity, low floor level, twin engined fixed gear. A bit slower than the P337s but with 10 seats, you can take plenty of people anywhere. It's tough, has IO-520s (so engines and parts aren't hard to come by) and is very docile and forgiving. No gear problems and lots of room! I hope this helps. Cheers Conway

Wyoaviator · #6 04-24-11, 12:06 AM

Thanks for the photos.
This gives me some more ideas.

I concur that it would be pretty near impossible to get a power scooter into the cargo door.

And, with passenger access door opening forward, it would be pretty difficult to drive the scooter into the airplane, and make the turn.

I guess I'm back to a Seneca or 206.

Thanks again to all who have read my posts and given me advice. Aviation is truly a brotherhood.
Wyoaviator

ConwayB · #7 04-24-11, 12:13 AM

Wyoaviator,

Seriously consider the Islander BN2B. The four rows of pax seating have access from both sides of the aircraft so you don't have to crawl over each other to get to your seat.

Take out the last row and you have room for the scooter and a ramp!

I reckon you could get your dad into a seat and then be able to drive a scooter into the cargo hold.

The Islander is a British machine (so it's not pretty), but they've been around since the '60s, have great reliability, and are simple and easy to maintain.

The price may be a little higher, but if you're not using your aircraft, you could cross hire it to a small charter organisation and maybe make some money out of it.

They are pretty popular here in Australia... for island hopping in the north, they are money makers, not money wasters! Which is unusual in aviation.

Good luck.

Conway

PS Having travelled much in the US, I agree with you regarding the TSA. Absolutely appalling treatment of US citizens... and even worse for those of us not travelling on US passports. I don't blame you in the least for looking for alternatives. Unfortunately, thanks to Osama bin Laden and his ilk, we have to suffer this impost.