DL 739ERs - Will They Have Auxiliary Fuel Tanks?

1337Delta764 · Tue May 22, 2012 8:16 pm

From what I heard, the auxillary fuel tanks are optional on the 739ERs. Does anyone know if DL's 739ERs will have them? I would think they would be useful on transcon and Hawaii routes considering they are replacing 757s.

roseflyer · Tue May 22, 2012 10:51 pm

I would not expect DL to have auxiliary tanks. They are not very common on any planes other than BBJs or 737-700ER/IGW. Continental did not have them and use them on the same routes that DL is expected to. The 737 is not typically fuel volume related. The auxiliary tanks add weight and would effectively reduce payload and range on the typical transcontinental mission. I believe DL would be more inclined to take a fuel stop rather than decrease passenger count/payload and use aux tanks.

That however is speculation.

DL_Mech · Wed May 23, 2012 1:39 am

Also, maintenance on planes with the aux tanks is a major PITA. Access to air conditioning and avionics components is limited with the tanks installed. A simple task such as changing recirculation fan filters (a 20 minute job) turns into a 24 hour job. Airplanes like the C-40B (an extreme case) have the lower cargo capacity of a large cardboard box.

seabosdca · Wed May 23, 2012 8:31 pm

The only mission where they could be valuable is Hawaii, but I don't think DL will operate these birds to Hawaii. For Hawaii I think DL will wait for the neo or MAX, flying 757s and 763As in the meantime.

1337Delta764 · Thu May 24, 2012 1:06 am

Quoting seabosdca (Reply 3):
The only mission where they could be valuable is Hawaii, but I don't think DL will operate these birds to Hawaii. For Hawaii I think DL will wait for the neo or MAX, flying 757s and 763As in the meantime.

It has been confirmed that the 739ERs will be ETOPS from the factory, likely meaning Hawaii is one of the prime candidates to get 739ER service. Remember that the 75Vs are some of the oldest 757s in the entire Delta fleet.

FlyASAGuy2005 · Sat May 26, 2012 4:14 am

Quoting 1337Delta764 (Reply 4):

It has been confirmed that the 739ERs will be ETOPS from the factory, likely meaning Hawaii is one of the prime candidates to get 739ER service. Remember that the 75Vs are some of the oldest 757s in the entire Delta fleet.

That is true but I still don't see the business case for the 739ER with aux tanks. They'd be much more inclined to block a few seats in the back for their longest routes which is what they do already with the 738 during certain times of the year on JFK-PDX/SEA.

In DL's case (or most network carriers anyway), the issues isn't useful fuel load. Either way, by taking on more fuel their MTOW will increase considerably causing a weight penalty in the cabin and in the belly anyway. It's no secret that the 739 is a pig getting off the runway. The ER as it is is capable of doing transcons just fine for the most part but like I said that is remedied by capping Y.

deltal1011man · Tue May 29, 2012 12:00 am

Quoting FlyASAGuy2005 (Reply 5):

and I would bet that most of the 57s routes they will fly will be short hauls out of ATL/MSP and DTW. Younger 757s moved around to replace the 767/757 long hauls.

AA737-823 · Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:22 am

Quoting DL_Mech (Reply 2):
A simple task such as changing recirculation fan filters (a 20 minute job) turns into a 24 hour job.

Are you serious!?!? They put an aux tank in front of the snake pit access? I had no idea- glad we don't have them! I assumed they'd just stack them in the forward part of the aft pit, which would be relatively harmless. But we're getting into the air mix chamber area (aka snake pit) fairly frequently to access those filters, and the cargo fire bottles for periodic checks....

Quoting seabosdca (Reply 3):
The only mission where they could be valuable is Hawaii

I disagree- nearly a dozen carriers have operated 737NG's to Hawaii for over a decade, and none of them have used aircraft with AUX tanks.

Quoting FlyASAGuy2005 (Reply 5):
The ER as it is is capable of doing transcons just fine for the most part but like I said that is remedied by capping Y.

With Delta, ContiNited, and soon AA removing a row of coach seats to do EconComfort, E+, and whatever AA calls it, this will be less of an issue.

Viscount724 · Tue Jun 05, 2012 2:14 am

Quoting AA737-823 (Reply 5):
Quoting seabosdca (Reply 3):
The only mission where they could be valuable is Hawaii

I disagree- nearly a dozen carriers have operated 737NG's to Hawaii for over a decade, and none of them have used aircraft with AUX tanks.

I can think of:

WestJet
Alaska
Continental
Aloha
Air Pacific

I'm obviously overlooking quite a few. Who are/were the others?

1337Delta764 · Tue Jun 05, 2012 11:54 am

Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 8):
I can think of:

WestJet
Alaska
Continental
Aloha
Air Pacific

I'm obviously overlooking quite a few. Who are/were the others?

ATA flew their 738s to Hawaii.

seabosdca · Wed Jun 06, 2012 4:58 am

Quoting AA737-823 (Reply 5):
I disagree- nearly a dozen carriers have operated 737NG's to Hawaii for over a decade, and none of them have used aircraft with AUX tanks.

This is not about 737NGs in general, but 739ERs in particular. Only CO has operated that type to Hawaii, and they've had range issues without the aux tanks.

73Gs and 738s certainly don't need the aux tanks for Hawaii.