EIPremier From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1533 posts, RR: 2 Posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 1514 times:
I have been tracking the AS ANC-LAX flight prior to taking it, and have noticed on at least two occasions that a 737-400 was subbed for a 737-700 on this route (once in each direction). I guess I'm surprised the 737-400 has sufficient range to make the trip non-stop. The distance is 2345 miles, although it must be routed along the coast as a non-ETOPS aircraft, this adds another 50 or so miles. Isn't this pushing max range? I know US used 737-400 for some transcons, although I believe these aircraft had auxilary fuel tanks. I know AS had a 734 flight on ORD-SEA (1721 mi), and the westbound trip actually had to make a fuel stop on one occasion I can recall due to very strong headwinds.
AS739X From United States of America, joined Apr 2003, 5834 posts, RR: 23 Reply 2, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 1486 times:
Alaska -400 do not has aux tanks. But with a light load the -400 can do the ANC-LAX with sufficient reserve. The flight you see (Flight 106) has less then 60 passengers. The tough flight is LAX-ANC which I don't think can be done with bad weather on the ANC end and I never saw it leave with more the 45 pax.
ASSFO
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EIPremier From United States of America, joined Sep 2000, 1533 posts, RR: 2 Reply 3, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 1 day 2 hours ago) and read 1482 times:
AFAIK, AS did not install auxillary tanks on the 734s, because AS carries so much cargo to/from Alaska and that would take away from payload. I know they did (perhaps still do) have auxillary tanks on a few MD-80s, but they are no longer needed since AS uses 737NG for all it's long-haul routes now.
According to the airliners.net aircraft info page, the max range of a 737-400 with full load of 146 pax is 1960 nm which is 2260 mi. Obviously there are a lot of factors (pax/cargo load, temp and wind at departure city, dept runway length, en route weather/winds) that will affect the range. But, I still wonder if this flight would be even possible with max payload.
RoseFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8787 posts, RR: 52 Reply 4, posted (6 years 1 month 1 week 1 day 1 hour ago) and read 1463 times:
Why is this route being operated with so few passengers?
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