N581AA

This airframe, bearing registration N581AA, is a McDonnell Douglas DC-9-82 (MD-82) built in 1991 with manufacturer serial number 53158. The airframe is manufactured by McDonnell Douglas and is recorded as owned by FRONTERA FLIGHT HOLDING INC, a corporation based in Dover, DE, US. The aircraft carries US registration and has been maintained in a configuration consistent with high-utilization short- to medium-haul revenue operations. Ownership has been held by a corporate lessor rather than a scheduled airline operator, and registry records emphasize its role as a commercially managed asset rather than a single-operator fleet ship.

As delivered the aircraft features a high-density 172-seat single-class cabin layout tailored for high-capacity short- to medium-haul routes, reflecting its use in dense scheduled or charter markets. The avionics fit is the Collins / Honeywell legacy MD-80 suite, a hybrid analogue/digital installation that requires operators to follow legacy systems maintenance practices and avionics upgrade planning if transitioning to modern glass cockpit standards. Typical mission profiles for this airframe type include short- to medium-range trunk routes within the 2,050 nm envelope at cruise speeds near 440 kts, operating from a home base consistent with its corporate owner and commercial leasing role. Maintenance considerations emphasize mid-age airframe structural and JT8D engine program continuity under established legacy support channels.

The DC-9-82 (MD-82) occupies a niche as a durable, high-density short- to medium-range airliner with robust JT8D propulsion and straightforward systems. Competing models historically included other narrow-body types optimized for high-frequency regional operations. Buyer and charter demand for this specific configuration tends toward operators valuing seat density and fleet commonality, while resale and maintenance considerations focus on legacy avionics retrofit needs and ongoing support for the JT8D-217C powerplants.