I was just wondering what mods you guys had to make to your 757's to operate into La Paz? Also, are there any other airports that require the special 757's, or were the 10 or so special airplanes modified for just one airport?

Thanks

 

The only mod I'm aware of is the high altitude landing switch.... which all of our 757s have. It reprograms the system logic to reset the cabin altitude/aural warnings to 14,650ft instead of the usual 10,000ft (obviously due to La Paz field elevation.) So any/all of our 757s can do the flight.

The only flights we have in there are from MIA. It is a MIA-La Paz all nighter, followed by a tag leg to VVI (Santa Cruz) where they lay over. Flown by three pilots. They all have to be on O2 on the approach/landing, and the FO usually takes a bottle (of O2, that is...) with him/her on the walkaround. Interesting stuff.

I think LPB is the only airport we serve that requires exclusively a 757. The 738 could probably do it, but it would need that high-alt landing switch.

 

Good info, but i've flown it many times. I've never seen anyone or have I used the O2 bottle for the walk-around. The extra FO (FB we call them) does the post flight walk-around. The jetbridge stairs is really steep. You start walking towards the nose-wheel and after three steps you realize you cannot walk your normal 3.7 mph stride. You must slow way down. 13,308' it's the longest slowest walk-around you'll ever do. There are two mechanics that come up and want to chat. They've already done most of their checks by the time I get out there. I have no air to chit-chat.
After the walk-around, the jetbridge stairs look really steep. At the top I open the jetbridge door and there's the CA and the FO in the jetbridge smoking cigarettes. I'm in shape. My facial expression of surprise is noticed, and they look at me say say "What?" I shake my head and go into the cockpit and put on my O2 mask, which now had Make-up from the FA's using it. I'm totally tired and all I can think of is in the Movie M*A*S*H near the end there is a SGT in a jeep and he keeps saying "*&# @#*% Army"

Additionally when on the ground and doing anything with the FMC or running a checklist you must be on O2 at that point.

There are several reasons we TO and Land unpressurized at La Paz Bolivia. Obviously the APU inlet door is considered drag on the TO roll. But also on the 757 a left engine fire on TO using the APU on packs off bleeds off TO like in UIO, a left engine fire T-handle being pulled closed the APU bleed valve. So it could be that those two reasons and more. Risk of multiple abnormal/emer on TO.
I've been flying La Paz over the years since 2000. I'm not an expert. Not even close.
They just never really tell us why we do it this way.
We also land flaps 25. And the short final sensation of speed (GS 175) is something everyone should experience at least once.
Great cafe con leche in terminal.
This airport makes me really love the 757 with the Rolls engines.
For years there was a Cessna 150 parked just off the ramp. The service ceiling on a 172 is like 14,000 isn't it. I always thought it was a joke.

Just adding a little info here.

 

I used to live in La Paz as an infant and have been back several times. Every time I arrive I must go to the little clininc in the airport for O2 and to make matters worse the place I stay at is on the 4th floor with no elevator.

Not to get nostalgic but flying on AA in and out of LA Paz and VVI was the reason I wanted to fly

By the way is it true most of the CA have 2 or 3 gf in VVI??

 

That is certainly possible and available in VVI (Santa Cruz). Some might, some might not. We have some stories of alternate Girlfriends in Lima rather than in VVI.
I'm not a Cub Scout or Tiger Woods, I just am involved with my home life.

I always feel really relaxed in VVI. The dry air after being in Miami so long is refreshing to me.

And to be fair, many pilots i've flown with have married women from South America and are very happy. Not all women south of 5 degrees North are rental friends, one only has to look to the news to see Tiger Woods latest example.

adding to my earlier post. On the ground in La Paz the FA's have several walk-around bottles of O2 for the pax, but they like to come up and use the positive pressure masks we have. Hence leaving make-up on my O2 mask.
So if you see me walking into the hotel in VVI, looking sharp in make-up after flying 8 hours don't get suspicious unless i'm humming a Adam lambert tune.

 

Funny stuff, 7576!! Thanks for the corrections... never flown it, prob never will unless I bid MIA.