Asa 737-800 Kord-panc

[blackswan]

hi there,

First of all, I'm not shure if I'm in the right corner of pprune :ugh:

But...

I would like to know...

...which alternates ASA uses to calculate the KORD-PANC leg?
...if they use any special 738 on that route (bigger fuel tanks)?
...what loads they carry on that route usually? (my guess, no cargo, full pax)?

cheers & many thanks,
tobi

[zerozero]

I'm not an Alaska Air pilot but I'm sure they use Elmendorf AFB (PAED) when the weather is good and Fairbanks (PAFA) when the weather is bad.

I can't answer any of your other questions.

[bburks]

I am an Alaska Airlines Captain based in Anchorage and have flown that route about a dozen times. This is the longest route we have currently in our system, slightly longer than MIA-SEA, ANC-OGG, ANC-HNL and SEA-LIH. The longest "block time" that I have flown is approx. 6 hours and 45 minutes. Winds in the winter can be very strong flying N.W. We usually fly this with a 737-800, and all are the same "standard" model fuel-wise; however most of the fleet are also ETOPS qualified to support the approx. 110 flights per week to 4 destinations in Hawaii (HNL, LIF, OGG, KOA). When we began this route (2001 I believe) it was flown with a B-737-700 (before we had -800's) and we have also flown it with a -900. We are rarely limited weight wise and can carry full passenger loads as well as mail, cargo (and out of ANC lot's of fresh fish in season).

The most advantageous alternates for ANC are Elmendorf AFB (800 pound burn) followed by ENA (Kenai....1100 lbs.), FAI (3800 lbs.) and CDV (Cordova ...2900 lbs.). I have also seen Juneau as an alternate (JNU....7600 lbs.) and also, rarely, Whitehorse, Y.T.

We usually dispatch with more contingency fuel when flying ANC-ORD due to weather, ATC delays, etc. associated with ORD arrivals, even though the flight time is much less than ORD-ANC (with prevailing winds).

Hope this helps.

Come fly us!

[blackswan]

hi,

Thank you for your fast reply ;) The ETOPS version does not mean bigger fuel tanks, right? There's only a maintenance difference?

cheers,
tobi

[Denti]

Interesting read bbunks. A full passenger load on a 6:45 sector however sounds interesting, how are your -800s configured? We flew once a 2800NM sector (MUC-SHJ) and had to restrict our passenger load to 160 pax and no cargo in order to always make it without a fuel stop. On our common 2000NM trips however we can carry full loads including cargo.

@blackswan: the 737 NG is ETOPS capable in its basic configuration (in fact you have to pay extra for example to get a non ETOPS low fuel warning), however you need to observe some additional maintenance and operational procedures.

[Northbeach]

Check your private messages, upper right hand corner next to Welcome, Blackswan.

[blackswan]

Thank you guys!

[bburks]

For clarification, our use of block time refers to push back at departure airport to block in at the arrival airport. In this example, we incurred a taxi-out of approx. 50 minutes departing ORD. I believe the total distance flown was approx. 2400 nm. We configure our 800 models with 16 in first class and 140 in coach.

Regards...

[Denti]

Thanks bburks. The CFMU advised slot system here in europe prevent taxi times that long during normal conditions even at most busy airports. And of course 156 seats is not all that much either compared to a one class configuration of 186 or more.