The network admin guy here in my office was asking me if I play any games on my computer at home.I told him that I did not "play" any games (lol) but was heavily involved in simulating air traffic control and flying.After the usual barrage of "you mean you can take one of those MSFS airplanes off? Can you actually land the thing?" questions he asked me one I could not answer, nor did I have a clue."Do airplanes have keys?"Well.. do they?A key for the door?A key for the ignition?Would like to understand this from the perspective of:Small GA aircraft (C172)Larger GA aircraft (BE58)Corporate Jet (GLF5 )Commercial Jet (B763)Military aircraft (F16*)Thanks in advance,Ian Elchitz CYWG

For people outside of the virtual world, the difference between a game and a simulation is difficult to understand. I sum it up by saying a game results in winners and losers, a simulation - everyone leaves happy, everyone wins.As for keys, I can say that for commercial jets, I can not recall ever seeing a key for the main doors....maybe Ian R or HPSov can jump in here.Rob.

hi ian, Small planes have locks on the doors and ignition keys inside to start the engine. They are pretty much like an automobile in this respect. The reason why they need locks and keys is because they sit out in relatively unsecure parking areas sometimes for weeks at a time. They need locks for the same reason that a car does when it is sitting in a parking lot. Commercial jets, on the other hand, have no locks on the doors and no ignition key of any sort. You can hop in, flip a couple of switches and start one up! The reason why jumbo jets don't need an ignition key is the same reason that you probably do not lock your car when it is sitting in your locked garage. Since the garage is secure, there is no need to secure your car. Security at an airport is generally very good, and planes are kept locked in hangars or attached to jetways that are secure and under constant surveillance. In addition, if you did somehow make your way into the jet and start it up, the chance of your being shot down or caught is 100%.LOL That provides a good deterrent. Henry. CYXT

Commercial Jets don't have keys for the doors, although the doors can be pretty tough to open from the outside.Once unlocked, and using the Grab handle, a 757 door still weighs a lot.Some Russian built a/c (TU154) have locks on the cargo doors that the Captain carries a key to open.767 has a locking handle for the cargo door, and a powered motor to open it. Funny to watch the engineer with the Crank handle (similar to a Model T Ford Starter Handle) trying to open the Hold door when the Motor does not work.Mark

Ian, I know for a fact that our GLF3 "Did" have a key to get into the ground panel that accessed the airstair door. Another security device on the GLFs was the fact that if you did not stand in the correct postion, the door would get you. This goes for opening it from the instide too. On our DC-9s we used a padlock on the main cabin door handle.As for the F-16 and or other military aircraft, I would have to say "No" but then you are usually parked in secured areas.Terry

>a simulation - everyone leaves happy, everyone wins. Boooring! :-roll :-lolMartin767 fetishistIt's a lot like life and that's what's appealing

With regards to Boeings....Yes, Ian, all Boeing aircraft have cockpit door keys. They have had one as long as I can remember (It's not something which happened as a result of 911). Unfortunately, I can't tell you more than this because of 911.All jetliners should, by now, have had additional locking devices fitted, and will (if they haven't already done so) be beefing up the strength of the door (e.g. with armour plating). The door and locking device on British Airways 747-400's, for example, now looks something like a cross between a bank vault door and a submarine hatch! (You'd probably need an oxy-acetylene torch to get into it ;-)). All doors were previously (electrically) locked from the inside, but now there is additional manual locking (also operated from the inside.... with no locks to pick or combinations to crack). If all the pilots ate the fish, you'd be in big trouble :-hahHope this helps.Cheers.Ian.P.S. This message was edited due grammatical errors, not security concerns ;-)

A T-38 crashed into me while I was sitting at the gate at KATL on VATSIM the other day and I wasn't too happy :) It did make me go to class instead though!Jeff

As for the Gulfstream V they do have keys for the door latches, cockpit door, galley cabinets and lavs. As pointed out the main entrance door to the G-III, IV and V are very large and involve a folding process when both opening and closing, if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time the plane will let you know it.Also the G-V has a very elaborate security system, which can be tailored to the owner/operators specifications if you do not know the particular setup for the jet, it don

at Fedex, we get the new guys to go get the keys. :)Or my other favorite... good strong flight line.

Ian:Sorry to come into this late.All of the small GA airplanes I have flown, have a key for door and ignition.Also, the corporate jets I have flown (Citation II, V, and XL) have key for door, baggage compartment and utility area, but do not need a key for ignition.Damon

Perhaps you should turn off crash detection from other aircraft while online?

>a simulation - everyone leaves happy, everyone wins. Boooring! Martin767 fetishistIt's a lot like life and that's what's appealing Errrrr...and what about combat sims like CFS IL2 etc? [;-)]

>Errrrr...and what about combat sims like CFS IL2 etc? [;-)]Pardon? Umm, usually that's even more boring, because I have a tendency to end up with the sharks. :-)Martin767 fetishistPS. The "Boooring!" comment was said with a Homer Simpson voice (naturally).It's a lot like life and that's what's appealing