Combi Aircraft
 

Hi all,

I may have an opportunity that would require a combi airliner. I need a large cargo door, seats for 40 or so passengers and room for palets with cargo. I have found some old 747 combis for sale but that is too big and expensive for this opportunity. There are also numerous freighter aircraft available. Does anyone know of any DC9s, 737s, or 727s that are already configured for combi operation and would be available for Part 125 operation on a lease or lease purchase basis?

Thanks,


Bill

I have a friend who runs C130(s), I will ask how many seats are in it, if you'd like.

OK Thank you!


Bill

Check with ATI or National.

Long Post
 

National does not have any combi aircraft. They gave up on the combi 757s earlier this year. The only company would be ATI (like niteav8tor said). "We" have four aircraft currently flying on a contract for the military. Three are -62 aircraft and one is a -72. They can be chartered though.

Keep an eye open if you're really serious because the -62s are going to be replaced by 757s starting in the next month or so. The -72 (721CX) would be your best bet to acquire but ATI isn't going to get rid of that one for a long while. Overall though, they are in great shape with FMS and EFIS.

http://www.airtransport.cc/Charts/CombiFloorplan.pdf

I wrote up a business plan for a 125 operation (757) once with another person (I was in charge of the operations side of the plan) as a project. Word of advice to you would be to do all certification/tests to 121 standards and run your operation like a 121 operation (flight following, records keeping, etc). This will allow for an easier conversion to a 121 certificate down the road if future business dictates. In fact, the FAA will probably try to get you to go down the 121 supplemental road, anyway, especially if they think your business could cross over into holding out. You really have to prove your case with them.

If you do go the 125 route, I would recommend working with the Detroit FSDO at YIP (they have a new name now; something like East Michigan FSDO or something). They've certified and oversee quite a few 125 operations relatively speaking (Detroit Tigers/Red-Wings DC9, Detroit Pistons MD80, the old Nomad Travel Club 727, and a few others). I'm 99% positive that they do the most 125 work out of all FSDOs.

What do you think they will want for a DC8?


Bill

I have no idea...... they're in great shape though. Right before I was laid off I was told that there was some interest in them after their life at ATI. So don't expect to be saving them from the scrapper is what I'm trying to say. They are very versatile aircraft that are great for a ton of missions.

I would call CAM or ATI just to put some feelers out I'd guess.

Alaska can't wait to get rid of our 737-400 combi's... No idea what it would take to actually buy/lease one though...

How are the performance numbers? I've wondered about them before with the older CFM-56 engines. Is the range good?

We were able to send an almost empty DC8-62 combi 91 ferry flight non-stop from FJDG to RJTY. We had to go around Vietnam to. Flight time was north of 12 hours. So it does have some legs.

National has 4 757 combis sitting in Oscoda, MI. All are for sale for the right price.