Cargo-in-Cabin China
Part 01.
by Jan Koppen
Last year (2020), next to my regular work, I was assigned to Cargo-in-Cabin duties for my long life employer KLM Cargo. Below an impression what I photographed at Seoul, Beijing and Shanghai. Enjoy the pics and captions.
The Queen is still on her throne.
In a corona infested world most pax 747's became OldJets overnight! - PH-BFV 'City of Vancouver' survived due to the fact she's a Combi.
|
|
PH-BFW 'City of Shanghai' on the ramp at Amsterdam.
KLM will started to phase out their 747 Combi's in 2016. Maintenance, for example D-check, was done in SBZ and PEK to control cost. But planes with around 120.000 hours on the clock and 25 years continuous in the air, are at the end of their economical life span. Its like driving in a Ford Capri from the 80's. Great drive experience but where to find spare parts and cheap fuel?!?
With fewer passenger planes flying, the resulting drop in belly-hold capacity meant these versatile workhorses were more important than ever.
The Boeing 747F, with its unique lifting nose and incredible range, has proven itself a crucial tool in the movement of goods, and its set to stay that way for some time yet.
The Boeing 747 remains in regulation operation around the world in another capacity – cargo.
'OldJet' category by now... KLM 747-400 Combi operation at Amsterdam-Schiphol, The Netherlands.
Boeing 777-300 PH-BVD 'Amboseli National Park'.
My first 'Tour of Duty' was o/b KL0895, May 27, 2020. Aircraft was 'PH-BFV' and destination Shanghai.
The Global Cargo Workhorse.
Still going strong in 2020. Now as semi-freighters. Fortunate to be onboard.
Over the course of 2020, the passenger fleet of Boeing 747's has declined significantly.
Your author flanked by two KLM Air Cargo legends. On the left Ronald Hankel and on the right Irwin Budding.
Our 'Queen' climbs up into the late afternoon sunlight over Amsterdam-West.
Let me stick my head into the cockpit for a quick look.
Sailing towards PVG.
The front office of PH-BFV, but can a photograph communicate the feel of this wonderful machine?
Boeing 747 drivers!
Early morning arrival over China.
Shanghai Pudong looked deserted during the Corana lock-down.
Most of the time we were parked on the tarmac indicated by the yellow arrow.
China Eastern Airbus line-up in PVG.
China Eastern Airbus 330-200 B-6546 is seen here departing on the late morning flight to Guangzhou.
China Eastern Airbus 321 B-6753, on a foggy Shanghai day.
China Eastern Airbus 350-900 B-304D, between jobs on a foggy Shanghai morning.
China Eastern Airbus 330-200 B-8863, stands out against the gloom of a May day at Shanghai-Pudong in 2020.
China Eastern Airbus 321 B-6753, waits on the parking ramp at Shanghai-Pudong airport for her next flight.
China Eastern Airbus 320 B-1076, morning departure to Fuzhou.
China Eastern Airbus 350-900 B-304D, as seen from our 'Queen'.
Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-900 B-7302, in the remants of her Kung-Fu Panda theme livery.
Juneyao Airlines Airbus 320 B-8235, is seen here almost ready for departure from PVG, for the short 57 minute flight to Chizhou.
China Eastern Boeing 777-300(ER) B-2003 is almost ready for push-back at Shanghai Pudong.
Juneyao Airlines Airbus 320 B-6602 heading purposefully towards runway 17L.
Another quick turnround for Shenzhen Airlines Airbus 320 B-307W, as it disembarks passengers from Changchun, China.
Ethiopian Airbus 350-900 ET-AUB, measures 66,8 meters from nose-to-tail.
Juneyao Airlines Airbus 321 B-1002, is seen here about to depart to Linfen as HO1031.
EL AL Boeing 787-900 4X-EDH, uplifting medical supplies.
EL AL was also in the Cargo-in-Cabin business.
PH-BFV above the Inner-Mongolia mountains, en-route from Shanghai to Amsterdam.
|
|
The loadsheet of KL0896/28MAY PVG/AMS
Four days later, I was assigned to flight KL0893/01JUN2020 AMS/ICN operated by Boeing 747-400 PH-BFV 'Vancouver'.
I always like a nice crisp morning to start an eastbound trip from Schiphol Airport.
Part of the 747 'stone-age' flight deck!
Her switches and controls, worn smooth by the touch of a thousand hands.
At the gate in Seoul-Incheon.
A delicious 'Korean barbeque' with the crew.
After a short night rest we left o/b Boeing 747-400 PH-BFW with destination Beijing.
KL0897/02JUN20
KL0897/02JUN20
Somewhere between Seoul and Beijing.
For Chinese terms, 2012 built, Shandong Airlines Boeing 737-800 B-5649, is almost an OldJet.
Shandong Airlines is based in Jinan, Shandong. The Chinese carrier operates a sizable domestic network from Jinan, Qingdao and Yantai to major cities across China, together with an international network to regional Asian destinations. The airline's two largest shareholders are Shandong Aviation Group and Air China.
Shùnfēng Airlines (trading as SF Airlines) is a Chinese cargo airline owned by SF Express (Group) Co. The company is headquartered in the No.1 Freight Depot of the International Shipping Center of Bao'an International Airport in Bao'an, Shenzhen, Guangdong province.
B-2899 is a former China Southwest Boeing 757-200. In March 2009, she was sold to broker Pegasus Aviation and stored at Marana, Arizona. A few months later she was added to SF Airlines freighter fleet.
1993 built, China Postal Airlines Boeing 737-300F B-2656, is caught on camara in the early hours of June 03, 2020, at Peking Capital. In the mid '90s she started working for China Southwest. Several years later she saw service with Xiamen Airlines, before being acquired by China Postal in 2008.
Long distance shot of, 1996 built, Grandstar Cargo Boeing 747-400F B-2427. This Queen started her career with Korean Airlines. In 2008 she was acquired by Chinese Cargo operator Grandstar, which was a frequent visitor to Frankfurt Rhein-am-Main Airport. She was withdrawn from use at Peking Capital Airport during 2011. PEK, May 31, 2020.
Air China Airbus 320 B-6967.
Cocooned Dreamliners are a common sight at Peking Capital. Hainan Airlines Boeing 787 B-2730 arrived at PEK from Shenzhen on April 04, 2020 and is seen here awaiting better times. PEK, June 2, 2020.
Also Hainan Airlines Boeing 787 B-208S was wrapped-up. She arrived from Changsha on April 29, 2020, as HU7636. PEK, June 2, 2020.
Hainan Airlines -737 B-5662 was operational and flew the next day from Peking Capital to Nanning as HU7157.
We departed as KL0898/02JUN20 PEK/AMS with PH-BFW
Shunfeng Airlines Boeing 767-200(F) is a former Qantas flagship and seen here unloading her cargo, after flight O3/6914 from Hangzhou.
Hainan Airlines had been hit very hard by Covid-19.
Covid-19 restrictions has grounded many Hainan Airlines aircraft.
Covid-19 victims.
Some Hainan Airlines 737's were still operational.
Hainan Airlines Boeing 737-800 B-1997.
Another laid-up Dreamliner. B-2729 arrived from Toronto (YYZ) on February 28 and was subsequently stored. PEK, June 2, 2020.
In the Covid-19 infested world, a lot of brand new aircraft look like long-term stored Oldjets! - With her windows fully protected by tape and her engines removed, Hainan Airlines Boeing 787 B-1341, sits in the morning light at Peking Capital Airport on June 03, 2020, awaiting better times.
China Eastern B-6506 is a very scruffy Airbus 330-300.
China Southern Airbus 330-300 B-8362.
China Southern Boeing 777-300(ER) B-20C5.
Aer Lingus Airbus 330-300 EI-EDY is a frequent visitor of Peking Capital airport.
Lufthansa Boeing 747-400 D-ABVO 'Mülheim an der Ruhr' in front of the Ameco Beijing maintenance hangar on June 03, 2020. Three days later she was ferried, as LH9923, from Beijing to Twente Airport, Netherlands, for Covid-19 storage.
'Captains of Industry' are frequent visitors of Peking Capital.
The VIP terminal of Beijing Capital Int'l Airport is well-used by the rich and shameless in semi-communist China.
On July 28, 2020, I was assigned to flight KL0897 AMS/ICN, operated by Boeing 777-200 PH-BQO.
|
|
Back at Seoul-Incheon, which was in full lock-down.
We as Cabin in Cargo Crew, remained o/b and flew ICN/PEK/AMS, with only two hours gound-time for loading at Beijing!
We as Cabin in Cargo Crew, remained o/b and flew ICN/PEK/AMS, with only two hours gound-time for loading at Beijing!
Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-900 B-2729, at a foggy Beijing-Capital.
Flight deck windows, doors, hatches, engine and air conditioning intakes and other orifices are hermetically sealed to prevent dust and moisture penetrating the aircraft’s systems and interior, thus preserving the aircraft in as good a condition as possible.
Even with both engines removed, Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-900 B-1341, still manages to look classy.
Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-800 B-2739, imposed in the neightbourhood of Ameco's hangar.
Hainan Airlines Airbus 330-200 B-6089 is seen here stored in front of Ameco hangar.
Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Corporation Limited known as Ameco Beijing is the largest aircraft maintenance supplier in China.
Aircraft Maintenance and Engineering Corporation Limited known as Ameco Beijing is the largest aircraft maintenance supplier in China.
Hainan Airlines Boeing 787-900 B-1139, marooned in a corner of the airport.
Boeing 737-300 ACTT-01 is in use as a ground trainer and it is former Air China B-2535.
China Eastern Airbus 321 B-6329, seen uplifting catering and fuel.
Here, Sichuan Airlines Airbus 320 B-8331, is caught between flights on a foggy day at Beijing-Capital in July 2020.
Despite being a semi-communist state, the Private Jet Terminal of Beijing-Capital is home to the 'rich and shameless'.
Most of the time, we were parked on the tarmac indicated by the yellow arrow.
China Southern Airbus 321 B-1843.
Almost ready for departure as KL0898/29JUL20 PEK/AMS o/b Boeing 777-200 PH-BQO.
Gulfstream Aerospace G650 N706NR sitting idle at a foggy Beijing-Capital VIP ramp.
Gulfstream Aerospace G650ER VP-CML, was flanked by two other Gulfstream Jets.
Wilmington Trust Co. Boeing 737-7BC(WL) BBJ, had finished its day’s work by lunchtime and moved to a quieter part of the airport.
Nanchan Jet Gulfstream G550ER B-3226, turning away from its hard stand to depart back to Chongqing in mid China.
Our neightbour was this China Southern Airbus 321 B-1843.
Hainan Airlines Boeing 737-800 B-1795, departing for an early morning flight to Urumqi, in western China.
Our Boeing 777-200 is powered by a GE 90-115B.
The General Electric GE90 is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines built by GE Aviation for the Boeing 777, with thrust ratings from 81,000 to 115,000 lbf (360 to 510 kN). It entered service with British Airways in November 1995. It is one of three options for the 777-200, -200ER, and -300 versions, and the exclusive engine of the -200LR, -300ER, and 777F. It was the most powerful and was the largest jet engine, until being surpassed in January 2020 by its successor, the 110,000 lbf (490 kN) GE9X, which has a 6 in (15 cm) wider fan.
We had a full load of medical supplies.
My next flight was KL0895/08AUG20 AMS/PVG o/b PH-BFV.
He loves to fly and it shows!
Shanghai harbor is passing below us!
The yellow arrow marks our parking spot at PVG.
The personification of a 'stretch-777’, B-7367 sits next of us at Shanghai Pudong Airport.
China Eastern Airbus 330-300 B-5973.
KL0896, oper by PH-BFV, being prepared for push-back.
PVG, August 09, 2020.
PVG, August 09, 2020.
A great selection of dolly-cars occupy the Shanghai ramp, alongside a beautiful China Eastern Boeing 777-300(ER).
'China Girls' at work!
China Eastern Boeing 777-300(ER) B-7367.
A sad, scorched, Ethiopian Boeing 777-200F sits in the sunshine at Shanghai Pudong airport.
PVG, August 2020.
PVG, August 2020.
Our Queen has taken-up station on the taxiway behind a Juneyao Airlines A320.
Shanghai-Pudong's runway 17L, as seen through the flight deck windows aboard KLM's flight 896.
Off it was on a bright sunny day, in the first week of August 2020, rocketing down to Amsterdam in merely 12 hours.
Sun-glasses protect the eyes of the KLM Boeing 747-400 crew against the metallic glare of a summer day.
In Shanghai airspace with some storm clouds brewing.
We got rewarded with bright sunshine on this lovely Sunday, August 09, 2020.
The atmosphere in the cockpit was relaxed and professional.
Powered by four General Electric Commercial Fan CF6-80C2B5F, high-bypass engines, our 747 is sailing towards the Ulan Bator VOR.
PH-BFV is seen here rocketing down to Amsterdam, high above the Gobi Desert, with a heavy load of medical equipment.
KL0896/August 09, 2020 PVG/AMS.
KL0896/August 09, 2020 PVG/AMS.
A couple of days later, I was called-up for flight KL0895 AMS/PVG, operated by PH-BFV 'City of Vancouver'.
PH-BFV 'Vancouver', in typical Dutch weather; grey and wet!
Close cropped front starboard side view of KLM's Boeing 747-400 PH-BFV 'City of Vancouver', in dull cloudy conditions.
PH-BFW arriving from PVG and our 'BFV' departing to PVG.
Our Queen 'City of Vancouver' speeding down Airway "Yankee 681" at FL340, towards the Irkutsk VOR.
Shanghai Hongqiao Jichang International Airport was our alternate airport in case of emergency.
The Yangtze River Delta is a triangle-shaped megalopolis. The area lies in the heart of the Jiangnan region (literally, "south of the River"), where the Yangtze River drains into the East China Sea.
'KL0895' approaches Shanghai-Pudong on a clear August day in 2020.
Cleaners at work o/b China Eastern Boeing 777-300(ER) B-7368.
Shanghai Airlines Boeing 737-8Q8 B-5142, receives attention to its pitot-tubes at the PEK ramp.
Shanghai Airlines Boeing 737-86D B-5523, takes a breather at Pudong airport.
Here, a China Eastern Airbus 320 is caught between flights, on a sticky day at Shanghai airport in August 2020.
An Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) advertising column is seen here flanked by two China Eastern Airbuses.
Marketing space on jetways was uncommon until the early 2000's when HSBC launched their campaign "The World's Local Bank.
Peter Stringham, head of marketing for HSBC worldwide, worked closely with Lowe's, the Group's global agency, in developing the campaign which required a single global platform. Stringham noticed jetways were a global medium which had not been tapped. HSBC thus bought the rights to jetways across major localities in 81 countries and territories.
Peter Stringham, head of marketing for HSBC worldwide, worked closely with Lowe's, the Group's global agency, in developing the campaign which required a single global platform. Stringham noticed jetways were a global medium which had not been tapped. HSBC thus bought the rights to jetways across major localities in 81 countries and territories.
China Eastern Airbus 321 B-8860.
|
|
Dutch and Chinese KLM staff discussing the best way to load the cargo into the cabin of our 747.
Pictured in the twilight of its career, KLM Boeing 747-400 PH-BFV has still some months to go!
China Eastern Airbus 319 B-6428, at rest besides our 747.
A sad, scorched, Ethiopian Boeing 777-200F sits in the sunshine at Shanghai Pudong airport.
PVG, August 2020.
PVG, August 2020.
End of the line for this triple7
An Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 777-200 freighter, registration ET-ARH performing flight ET-3739 from Shanghai Pudong (China) to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) on July 22, 2020, was preparing for departure at the apron, when at about 15:57L (07:57Z) smoke was observed from the aft crown of the aircraft, emergency services responded and extinguished the fire by about 17:01L (09:01Z). No injuries are being reported. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The aircraft had safely arrived as flight ET-3738 (dep Jul 21st) from Brussels (Belgium) to Shanghai Pudong (China) and had taxied to the apron at about 11:53L (03:53Z). Ethiopian Airlines confirmed the aircraft caught fire in Shanghai. It was scheduled to fly from Shanghai to Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) and further on to Sao Paulo,SP (Brazil) and San Diego,CA (USA) (info Av. Herald).
Topping-up 96 ton Jet-A1.
Loud beast ready for take-off from Shanghai to Anchorage, U.S.
Atlas Air Boeing 747-45E-BDSF N473MC.
Atlas Air Boeing 747-45E-BDSF N473MC.
Jet fuel is a type of aviation fuel designed for use in aircraft powered by gas-turbine engines. It is colorless to straw-colored in appearance. The most commonly used fuels for commercial aviation are Jet A and Jet A-1, which are produced to a standardized international specification. The only other jet fuel commonly used in civilian turbine-engine powered aviation is Jet B, which is used for its enhanced cold-weather performance.
Her TOF was 104 ton, of which 96 ton was trip-fuel.
Closing the MCD.
China Eastern Boeing 777-300(ER) B-2001.
China Eastern Airbus 330-200 B-5938, stands idle at Shanghai, in August 2020.
China Southern Boeing 787-800 B-2735 in the unique 'Wings of Dreams' livery.
China Eastern Boeing 737-800 B-1535 is seen here departing for a late morning run to Zhanjiang.
'KL0896' to Amsterdam, lining-up runway 17L for departure to Amsterdam.
PH-BFV is seen here rocketing down to Amsterdam, high above the Gobi Desert, with a heavy load of medical equipment.
KL0896/August 09, 2020 PVG/AMS.
KL0896/August 09, 2020 PVG/AMS.
|
|
Travelling on KLM's Economy Comfort Class.
Our Queen nears the threshold of runway 36R at Amsterdam-Schiphol one day in August 2020.
