Atlantic Airlines has decided that the Lockheed Electra will form the basis of its ad hoc cargo charter business for at least the next 10 years, as it expands its fleet to nine aircraft.
The UK cargo airline has acquired two aircraft from Fred Olsen Airtransport and is investing heavily to upgrade and extend the 15t payload turboprop's life.
Atlantic Airlines, the commercial arm of UK-based historic aircraft specialist Air Atlantique, specialises in ad hoc charter cargo work using Douglas DC-3s, DC-6s and Electras. The acquisition of a jet freighter such as the McDonnell Douglas DC-8-70 is on the agenda for the longer term to help the airline expand its transatlantic operations.
Atlantic's fleet of nine 39-41-year-old Electras represents a quarter of the worldwide operational fleet. Group managing director James Foden says that with its low fixed costs (examples typically trade for around $2 million each), good payload and low noise levels, the Electra makes an ideal freighter for European and transatlantic ad hoc cargo flights.
"From our point of view, it is the only show in town," says Fodden. "We are investing a huge amount in the fleet - $500,000 to upgrade each aircraft - and working on the Electra's ageing aircraft programme for the UK CAA [Civil Aviation Authority]," he adds. This programme is expected to be in place by 2002.
To meet new requirements, Atlantic is installing traffic alert and collision avoidance systems, Mode S transponders, and upgraded radios to 8.33kHz.
It has already modified and re-certificated its Electras from three to two flightcrew operation and installed global positioning systems in two aircraft for transatlantic flights. One aircraft has been hard wired for propeller balancing diagnostics, to help Atlantic reduce wear and tear.
A new generator and control system is being designed to ensure that the electrical systems to cope with the modern avionics, and to help improve reliability.
Source: Flight International
