Summary
- Bulgarian air cargo airline, Compass Cargo Airlines, has increased its capabilities by acquiring a Boeing 747-400FSCD freighter, complementing its existing fleet of 4 leased Boeing 737-800SF converted freighters.
- The arrival of the 747-400F marks a milestone for Compass Cargo Airlines’ plan to determine Bulgaria as an air cargo hub.
- The used 747-400FSCD freighter, gifted by AirACT, comes with impressive capabilities and a long-term contract with DHL to haul cargo throughout the European Union.
Bulgarian air cargo airline Compass Cargo Airlines has selected a large capability boost in taking delivery of a Boeing 747-400FSCD on July 19. For Compass Cargo Airlines, it is a substantial capability increase for an airline that also has 4 737-800(SF)s readily available via leasing.
Adding capability with a splash
In line with Epicenter.bg on July 19, the Boeing 747-400F freighter’s arrival is an element of a plan to show Bulgaria into an air cargo hub. For Compass Cargo Airlines, the 747-400F complements 4 leased Boeing 737-800SF converted freighters. Compass Cargo Airlines also has a long-term contract to assist DHL haul cargo within the European Union.
Photo: Compass Air Cargo
The 747-400F arrived with a celebration, as pictured above. Despite the fact that the used aircraft was the 747-400FSCD freighter variant with 22 years of life, the 747 freighter got here with incredible capabilities for Compass Cargo Airlines. Unlike the Aeronautical Engineers converted 737-800SF freighters that may haul eleven 88″x125″ AAA full height containers or pallets, the 747-400F could carry 30 such pallets on the major deck and more capabilities.
The Bulgarian airline is owned by Turkish tycoon Daglar Cizmeci who also owns AirACT. The identical AirACT, which not only gifted the 747-400F but additionally two 747-400(BDSF) converted freighters with the longer passenger deck and two Boeing 747-400ERFs – the prolonged range variant of the Boeing 747-400 freighter.
Concerning the 747-400 Freighter, LZ-CJA
In line with ch-aviation.com’s database, the brand new Boeing 747-400FSCD variant of the 747-400F had its first flight on September 6, 2001 – over a decade since Singapore Airlines’ March 15, 1991, order. The 747-400FSCD was delivered on September 17, 2001, and Singapore Airlines Cargo used the aircraft until March 18, 2016. The following day the aircraft was registered as TC-MCT and flying for AirACT until July 11. Then it transferred, in response to ch-aviation.com’s news service, to Compass Air Cargo.
The SCD in 747-400FSCD means side cargo door. The side cargo door placed on the left side between the wing root and the tail allows loads 118 inches high and 132 inches wide to slip through the side cargo door without opening the nose door.
Photo: Compass Air Cargo
The 747-400FSCD freighter can carry the next within the major deck, in response to Atlas Air:
- 23 pallets 96 in x 125 in x 118 in
- 5 pallets 96 in x 125 in x 96 in
- 2 special pallets 96 in x 125 in x 96 in
Within the lower deck, there’s space for:
- 9 pallets 96 in x 125 in x 64 in
- 5 pallets 60 in x 92 in x 64 in
- 1 bulk space towards the tail
The Boeing 747-400F can take all this freight 8,250 km or 5,125 mi at a cruise speed of Mach 0.845 but can reach Mach 0.92 and 13,700 m or 45,100 ft if essential. For this 747-400F, the airplane can do that with 4 Pratt & Whitney PW4056 turbofans. Finally, 126 regular 747-400Fs were built, after which 40 prolonged range 747-400 freighters were also made.
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