An Alaska Airlines 737-900 has been reconfigured for cargo
Brekke Fletcher/CNN • Published 3rd December 2020
(CNN) — The global pandemic has created a new aviation trend known as "preighter" flights, in which airlines retrofit their passenger cabins to hold packages instead of passengers, to increase their overall cargo capacity.
With the holiday season approaching, Alaska Air Cargo has joined the fray, introducing an Alaska Airlines 737-900 passenger aircraft with seats that now serve as stowage containers. Alaska's retrofitted plane's cargo flights first took off in late November.
Alaska Air Cargo enlisted HAECO Cabin Solutions, a division of HAECO, a global enterprise that provides aircraft engineering and maintenance services, to retrofit a single Alaska airlines passenger aircraft for cargo-only flights. HAECO Cabin Solutions designs have also been utilized by Cathay Pacific.
According to a press release, "Our teams have been working since spring to identify the safest and most effective processes to increase our cargo capacity," said Torque Zubeck, managing director of Alaska Air Cargo. "HAECO's design will allow us to maximize the available space, increase our cargo capacity and protect the supply chain by connecting critical cargo to the communities we serve during this public health crisis."
Each reconfigured 737-900 flight can carry up to 30,000 pounds, including storage in the aircraft's belly, filling "the main cabin passenger seats with an additional 13,500 pounds of cargo on top of what a passenger-only cargo flight can carry."
The crew for these flights includes two pilots and two Cargo Load Agents who, as stated in the press release, "provide oversight of loading, ensure proper tagging, cargo integrity, provide fire suppression if required, and make sure cargo is safe and secure within the in-seat package stowage system."
PP
Re: Impact of coronavirus on aviation industry.
Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2020 7:04 pm
by PHXPhlyer
Not just Max-8s. Max-9s and soon Max-10s.
PP
Re: Impact of coronavirus on aviation industry.
Posted: Sat Dec 05, 2020 5:46 pm
by Woody
G-BNLY departing from Cardiff on the way to Dunsfold for preservation
If they're reconfiguring passenger planes for cargo, I'd like to see them set up a couple that allows passengers and crated pets to share the cabin. I am not keen to put our dogs in the hold, and there's no way they qualify for the cabin, but it would cut down on the driving immensely to be able to put them in a crate where I could either be sat across the aisle from the crate(s) or at least be able to get up in-flight and check on the dogs' welfare.
Re: Impact of coronavirus on aviation industry.
Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2020 7:31 pm
by PHXPhlyer
My Ex was tagged to work a flight to Honolulu. The airline does not provide Covid testing and Hawaii gives no exemptions for crew so she has to quarantine in her hotel room for the full 33 hour layover.
Some layover!
Earlier this month I was hovering like a typical Jack Russel terrier behind the front door, awaiting a delayed delivery from the Craft Gin club, a gift from a very good friend.
By coincidence, I received a parcel which was not the regular spirit plus accessories ration and was even more surprised to open the box and to find a beautiful table lamp fashioned from an air-cooled aero engine finned cylinder pot complete with piston protruding from the top with a stylish old-fashioned squirrel-cage filament bulb and shade.
There was no indication inside the box as to whom I should thank for this lovely surprise except for an enclosed flyer packed therein from this company - - aerotiques.co.uk
Some weeks of discomfort and wondering who was responsible followed as I queried relatives and friends as to their possible generosity for Christmas...
Having contacted Darren at the company today I was pleased and surprised to learn that my contribution towards the pilotstogether raffle, link referred to above, had borne fruit.
I'm not connected in any way to the company but if any of the ex-aviation curmudgeons in O-N fancy a piece of aviation conversation stopper in their living room or a suitable gift for someone from the industry, I can recommend a ferret around the aerotiques site.
They have a wide range of bits 'n bobs from aircraft various and if your 'thing' is not featured in the shop, they may be able to source one and make it up to your spec.
They have a wide range of bits 'n bobs from aircraft various and if your 'thing' is not featured in the shop, they may be able to source one and make it up to your spec.
Pilots have never faced this level of disruption and uncertainty. There is also a common misconception that all pilots are wealthy
These guys will get a donation from me. The "donate as you work" goes straight to my better half, and the ex...
Re: Impact of coronavirus on aviation industry.
Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2020 10:41 am
by barkingmad
This ad for Alaskan Airlines, promoting draconian lockdown policies with happy, smiley faces, feels like a parody – what authoritarian propaganda would look like if America was a Communist country. But it’s real (we think). Breathtakingly awful.
Covid-1984 is having different effects on the airline management, who obviously have lots of money to spend now they’re saving on fuel costs;
Some fit lads and lasses there, but at least it was not performed against the background of a 73Max ! !
