Airlines Fly Stuff in the Absence of Passengers
Flying dogs? In the aviation business the folks responsible for flying cargo are called Freight Dogs. And these days they’re having their day in the sun.
Fancy pants airlines used to touting their on-board chefs and lie-flat seats are now working overtime to re-purpose their airplanes for the transportation of stuff.
“Demand is off the charts,” said Shawn Cole Vice President Cargo for Delta Air Lines.
Sure, there are the pharmaceuticals and medical supplies so much in demand to deal with Coronavirus, but there is also mail to deliver and the not-so-glamorous but exceedingly important transportation of components for manufacturing.
“We’re here to help keep global commerce moving and supply lines open,” Cole said in a video produced by Delta. “Transforming our operation to provide cargo-only charter flights allows us to diversify our business at a time where the global need to move critical supplies is significant.”
Meanwhile, in Washington, DC (or more likely from their homes) officials at the Federal Aviation Administration are trying to determine how to safely reconfigure space designed for cargo of the self-loading kind, AKA passengers.
Because of their inaccessibility during flight, cargo compartments are lined with materials that suppress fire and systems that contain smoke. The liners are the white panels on the sides of the fuselage in the Boeing provided photo below. You can also see smoke detectors embedded in the ceiling.
These kinds of fire protection systems are not in use in the passenger cabin and the FAA is considering whether firefighters might be needed to fly on airliners moving cargo anywhere other than in the belly. How many firefighters and what tools and techniques they should use are two of many questions still being discussed along with what kinds of freight are cabin-suitable.
Batteries, many chemicals and live animals? Nope, nope and nope. But what about hand sanitizers? Normally they’re allowed only in limited quantities. Now, it is open for discussion.
Then there is the question of passenger seats; Should they stay or should they go? Seat tracks are not certified to secure pallets or containers, according to the International Air Transport Association. But the FAA is taking a look at whether under special circumstances that might be allowed. Overhead storage bins and under-seat storage are also being looked at.
Colibri Aero, a Lithuanian company specializing in aircraft components has a European Aviation Safety Agency certified Cargo Seat Bag which can secure loads of 555 pounds or 252 kilos on a three-seat row.
At Lufthansa (and Lordy, Lufthansa knows cargo) four of the company’s A330s have had their premium and economy seats removed to create cargo space. The airline is also securing cargo in seats, as demonstrated by this video the company released on Twitter.
With the majority of the global airliner fleet parked for lack of passengers, it has to be frustrating for airline executives not to be able to fly the things that must be flown.
American Airlines, which so far has been carrying freight only in cargo areas is working with the FAA, as well as Boeing and Airbus to be among those approved when the full safety risk assessment is completed, according to Ross Feinstein, a spokesman with the carrier.
“Once approved, American Airlines plans to utilize the passenger cabin to move additional medical supplies and personal protective equipment,” Feinstein said.
The FAA is under considerable pressure to come up with a plan quickly and I was told by someone knowledgeable about the agency’s activities that action would come in days, not weeks.
The creativity emerging as the industry sorts through the challenges is something to see. The wanna-be freight dogs may be confined by caution and regulations for now, but don’t be surprised if they’re let loose in the yard before too long.
