N553AA

This airframe, N553AA, is a McDonnell Douglas McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (DC-9-82) built in 1991 with manufacturer serial number 53083. The aircraft is owned by Frontera Flight Holdings Inc, a corporation based in Dover, DE, US, and is registered in the US. The airframe’s recorded profile emphasizes typical late-model MD-80-series configuration and operational readiness for short- to medium-haul revenue service; notable registry activity includes its maintained US registration under corporate ownership. Condition and valuation highlights are not published in the supplied data.

The cabin for N553AA is a typical single-class layout configured for approximately 172 passengers with five-abreast coach seating, reflecting common high-density short- to medium-haul service arrangements. Avionics and specific fitment details are not published, but the MD-82 airframe is typically equipped for conventional airline operations and airline-style dispatch; routine missions for this airframe would include domestic trunk routes and near-international sectors within its 2,050 nm range. The corporate owner base in Dover, DE, US suggests support and maintenance would be coordinated from US-based facilities; maintenance considerations align with MD-80 legacy support practices, including airframe-level checks driven by JT8D engine maintenance cycles and availability of age-dependent component spares.

The McDonnell Douglas MD-82 (DC-9-82) occupies a performance niche as a medium-capacity, short- to medium-range airliner powered by JT8D series engines, offering cruise speeds around 438 kts and a service ceiling near 37,000 ft. Competing models historically included stretched narrowbodies from Boeing and Airbus and later regional jets that offered newer fuel-efficient engines. Buyer and charter demand for airframes like N553AA is oriented toward operators able to support older JT8D-powered fleets or for conversion/secondary market roles; maintenance and resale considerations emphasize the impacts of legacy engine support, parts commonality, and the aircraft’s high-density 172-seat configuration.