First Singapore Cargo 744BCF coming soon
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First Singapore Cargo 744BCF coming soon
SIA engineering are converting two Singapore Airlines birds to freighters, one of which 9V-SPA done see below, they previously had decided not to go for converted versions.
Pic http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../9/1926975.jpg
Pic http://cdn-www.airliners.net/aviatio.../9/1926975.jpg
Last edited by newscaster; 1st Jun 2011 at 16:54.
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correct me if i'm wrong, but for the BCF, they do not have the distinctive nose loading door?
Would it be possible if they did that? or it would not be financially feasible to carve the nose door out.
Would it be possible if they did that? or it would not be financially feasible to carve the nose door out.
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Boeing predicted this shortfall of freighters a while ago already.
With the current recovery in the freight market, there are just not enough 747F´s to go around and the companies that do have them are holding on to them.
This has created a surge in requests for 747BCF´s.
Retro-Nose door is not a viable option for them and they have a lower MZFW and MTOW, and they carry less freight.
They need to get a move on with that 747-8F !!!!
With the current recovery in the freight market, there are just not enough 747F´s to go around and the companies that do have them are holding on to them.
This has created a surge in requests for 747BCF´s.
Retro-Nose door is not a viable option for them and they have a lower MZFW and MTOW, and they carry less freight.
They need to get a move on with that 747-8F !!!!
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Surprised everyone flying 744 are not turning them into freighters. Dinosaurs that are best served lugging freight on reasonably short routes. Noisy buggers too.
Join Date: Sep 2010
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Wasn't really baiting. Just opining.
The 747 WAS revolutionary....in 1970. The 777-300 ER and, unfortunately, even the A380 are revolutionary in this day and age. The 744 is best served being changed into a freighter. Even SQ has figured this out. They said they wouldn't operate the BCF but with more A380s than 744s in the fleet, they made the smart decision and are converting a couple of the remnants to BCF.
As for the noise, the BCF is horribly loud and has all sorts of pressurisation issues compared to the ERF. It's likely because of all the speed tape holding the conversion together.
The 747 WAS revolutionary....in 1970. The 777-300 ER and, unfortunately, even the A380 are revolutionary in this day and age. The 744 is best served being changed into a freighter. Even SQ has figured this out. They said they wouldn't operate the BCF but with more A380s than 744s in the fleet, they made the smart decision and are converting a couple of the remnants to BCF.
As for the noise, the BCF is horribly loud and has all sorts of pressurisation issues compared to the ERF. It's likely because of all the speed tape holding the conversion together.
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Heard that them conversion fellas in Israel can fix you with a nose door for a measly additional US$1.6 million - they even guarantee it won't fall off as long as u keep going above mach 0.2 
... Kidding aside, I have yet to see a BCF with a retro-fitted nose door. There are enough 'genuine' 747F around to cover the nose-load-only cargo market, so I guess it's not worth the investment.
... Kidding aside, I have yet to see a BCF with a retro-fitted nose door. There are enough 'genuine' 747F around to cover the nose-load-only cargo market, so I guess it's not worth the investment.
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Heard them fellas in Israel can fix you with a nose door for the measly fee of US$ 1,6 mill on top - they even guarantee it won't fall off as long as you go faster than mach 0.2 ... Kidding aside, I have yet to see a BCF with a retro-fitted nose door. There are enough 'genuine' 747F around to cover the nose-load-only segment of the cargo market, so I figure it's just not worth it investing that kind of money.
... Kidding aside, I have yet to see a BCF with a retro-fitted nose door. There are enough 'genuine' 747F around to cover the nose-load-only segment of the cargo market, so I figure it's just not worth it investing that kind of money.
744F Nose door
Flying the 744ERF you'll find that the nose door is an encumberance that's hardly used. Forwarders create trains of freight that pull up to the aft door. Then it's a case of unload onto empty dollies and load the ongoing freight. This can be done in well under 45mins.
The nose door merely ruins the flow of things. Once, just as we were leaving we found a pallet that was just aft of the flight deck ladder that should have been offloaded. Easy, open the nose door and get it out quickly...'cept it wouldn't go under the flight deck (this is an ERF remember) so the all the cargo was offloaded, the offending pallet removed and everything reoloaded. Time 38 mins.
No need for the nose door, certainly not at $1.6. That's why all the conversions are so popular, even with a (slightly) lower MTOW/MLW.
S
The nose door merely ruins the flow of things. Once, just as we were leaving we found a pallet that was just aft of the flight deck ladder that should have been offloaded. Easy, open the nose door and get it out quickly...'cept it wouldn't go under the flight deck (this is an ERF remember) so the all the cargo was offloaded, the offending pallet removed and everything reoloaded. Time 38 mins.
No need for the nose door, certainly not at $1.6. That's why all the conversions are so popular, even with a (slightly) lower MTOW/MLW.
S
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???? BCF's can't take temperature sensitive cargo??? Since when?
Same LLCCAFR switch on factory "F", BCF and IAI?ElAl conversion from what I have seen flying the 3 types.
Same LLCCAFR switch on factory "F", BCF and IAI?ElAl conversion from what I have seen flying the 3 types.
So many incidents of cargo fire warnings and other probs when configuring to take temp sensitive cargo that CX stopped carrying it on BCF's only use F's and ERF's for those cargo's.
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As far as MTOW differences go for a 400F vs. BCF it all depends on the operator.
SQ for example have the same MTOW on both.
The factory built freighters came with 394,626Kgs(870,000Lbs) and the BCF before conversion all had the 396,894kgs(875,000Lbs) but were lowered to 394,626Kgs(870,000Lbs) (as is standard for BCF conversions)
Any idea why they would have ordered the freighters with the second highest MTOW option and the pax with the highest MTOW?
Does this have anything to do with maxing out volume before weight?
SQ for example have the same MTOW on both.
The factory built freighters came with 394,626Kgs(870,000Lbs) and the BCF before conversion all had the 396,894kgs(875,000Lbs) but were lowered to 394,626Kgs(870,000Lbs) (as is standard for BCF conversions)
Any idea why they would have ordered the freighters with the second highest MTOW option and the pax with the highest MTOW?
Does this have anything to do with maxing out volume before weight?
Last edited by B-HKD; 20th Jun 2011 at 12:08.
