Reflections from the MD-80 cockpit with American Airlines

It has been more than thirty years since the McDonnell Douglas MD-80 made its debut in the commercial aviation industry. Over the course of its time with American Airlines, the aircraft transported millions of the airline's customers to destinations across North America - and as the aircraft covered a lot of ground, it played a major part in propelling the culture, growth and performance of American.

Above: Captain Tom Senning preparing for the inaugural departure at Santa Barbara

In the early 1980s, former American Airlines President Robert Crandall struck a creative deal to help McDonnell Douglas rise above what had been a lacklustre sales performance. It was essentially the turning point for both manufacturer and American Airlines, as the deal laid the initial groundwork for where the carrier is today. At the time, American was adjusting to its new model with Dallas-Fort Worth being a central hub and needed to reprioritise ideas concerning its immediate growth.

While American had already reviewed the MD-80 and wasn't interested, the aircraft maker needed a deal. The McDonnell Douglas sales team and Crandall met to devise a plan that could benefit both companies. The deal was unique and allowed the airline to grow very quickly, hire more team members and expand its domestic operations — and at the same time providing the initial interest needed to encourage other airlines to also reconsider the aircraft — thus launching the beginning of MD-80 sales.

The introduction of the new fleet eventually energised the airline's pilots and with the aircraft, they logged a successful track record of navigating the skies and making lasting memories along the way. American's fleet grew to 362 active aircraft, at one point making up 40% of the airline's fleet. With that growth, the number of pilots at American Airlines also grew.

The inaugural flight

On May 2, 1984, Captain Tom Senning and First Officer Doug Ebersole, both from Santa Barbara, California, flew the inaugural passenger flight from Santa Barbara Municipal Airport to Dallas Fort Worth International. Doug admits that he had to pull some strings to obtain the honour to be included on that first flight, as staffing is based on seniority. At the time, he was a relatively new pilot and Tom was No. 23 among the 30 licensed MD-80 pilots, having more than 18 years of experience.

"I'll never forget that day, Captain Tom offered me the take off," Doug said. "It was so clear and beautiful. I wanted to impress the crowds and allow the cameras to capture the perfect takeoff. In the midst of the excitement, I forgot one of my audible commands —'gear up' — until Tom reminded me after I was in the air and well into the turn. At that point, what would have been perfect photo, was a photo of the plane ascending with the landing gear still in its extended position."

Though it wasn't a picture perfect takeoff, the day's festivities marked an important moment, in a new chapter of the American Airlines growth story, and at the same time spiked interest in an aircraft that had initially struggled to secure any commercial airline sales. The MD-80 eventually became a game changer for American Airlines as it reached new heights.

A pilot's aircraft

If you ever get a chance to talk to a pilot who has flown the MD-80, they will tell you that it is a pilot's aircraft. It has unique characteristics, like the standby compass affixed to the back wall of the cockpit that is only visible via a mirror above the main control panels. Even with the quirks of the aircraft, MD-80 pilots have a great sense of pride, because they can experience at first hand the energising and manual nature of flying an aircraft.

"It is very old school, there aren't any modern computer screens affixed to the controls," said Flight Operations Director David Clark (left). "The steering columns are connected to a cable that goes directly to the flight controls. You can feel it give and pull throughout each flight, and it is a thrilling experience that pilots trained on newer aircraft may never experience."

Customers usually don't get a firsthand view of the cockpit and, to anyone who isn't a pilot, the sight can be overwhelming. The MD-80 cockpit interior is one of the last commercial aircraft primarily made of round dials covering every aspect of the aircraft.

Check Airman R.D. Johnson said the manual operation of the aircraft was gratifying. "Every captain has a special bond with the aircraft, as it's very much like watching an old movie. It's a sense of nostalgia that speaks to the rich history of our airline and the skill required of every pilot," he said. "In its prime, the MD-80 was very responsive and had what we considered state-of-the-art technology. Though it's now outdated in comparison, we perfected the craft of flying on this plane and enjoyed every minute of it."

A cargo hold full of memories

As the news began to spread of American's plan to retire the fleet Sept. 4, many pilots reflected on the memories they created behind the controls of the plane. Whether transporting celebrities from Los Angeles to New York, charter flights carrying professional athletes, or flying families of fallen soldiers, the aircraft played an important role in the lives of customers and team members.

"People always ask me what I think of the airplane," says MD-80 Fleet Captain Greg Kunasek. "I love the airplane, it's my second home. I raised my family on this aircraft as we took many trips throughout the years. My kids grew up seeing the brushed metal finish, which will forever be recognised as an iconic piece of our history. It will definitely be missed."

For many seasoned American Airlines pilots, flying the MD-80 has been considered a rite of passage. To fly the aircraft that played a pivotal role in the growth and expansion of the network was an honour in itself. It became a game changer for the airline, and American's pilots were navigating from the cockpit the entire time.

"As for parting words," said Greg. "We've had many highs and lows throughout the MD-80's history, and many of our customers and team members hold memories they'll never forget. Whatever we choose to remember about the aircraft, the last thirty-six years was certainly time well spent."

American will retire the MD80 on September 4, 2019.

With thanks to American Airlines for the information contained in this article

Images courtesy of American Airlines.