MD-80 Series (DC-9-80) Undifferentiated or Other Model
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Flight Crew Diverted; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; General Declared Emergency
Aircraft
During cruise at FL330; at night; an electrical malfunction occurred resulting in multiple bus failures; flickering of lights; loss of both PFD's and ND's; loss of flight guidance; loss of GFMS; erratic/pulsating CSD needles; erratic and inappropriate CAWS alerts (too low gear; for example); loss of both NAVs; loss of VHF1; multiple flickering caution lights and a fail light on the transponder. Partial use of VHF2 was available.The Captain had me declare an emergency immediately; which after several tries; I did with ATC on VHF2. We requested and received vectors to the nearest suitable airport. Emergency power was selected; to no avail; until the Captain turned the left generator off. The APU was started and we landed safely although overweight at 136;400 LBS. No known ATC deviations occurred; and a normal approach and landing were made. CFR scanned our E&E compartment and confirmed no fire or hot spots.
[No substantive additional information was included in the secondary narrative.]
An MD-80 flight crew successfully diverted to the nearest suitable airport when electrical anomalies resulted in multiple bus failures and system losses while enroute at FL330.