All-cargo plane being readied

Press, 27 July 1981, Page 4

All-cargo plane being readied

Air New Zealand’s first all-cargo international aircraft has arrived at Auckland and is being prepared to begin scheduled services. The DCB has been stripped of seats, galleys, and compartments and has been fitted with a strengthened floor and oversize door which will enable it to carry items which would not fit into a Boeing 747 or DCIO. The aircraft can carry 22 tonnes of cargo on long-naul flights, and on short runs, such as across the Tasman. The capacity increases to as much as 36 tonnes. '

As well as general cargo the DCB will give the airline the ability to freight big individual items, such as computers, livestock, and re-

stricted items not permittea on passenger flights. Although the route plan and timetable. for the new aircraft have yet to be finalised, it has already created much interest from freight-forwarders, the airline reports. The aircraft is expected to increase the airline's longhaul Pacific cargo capacity by 20 per cent. It would now be possible to take cargo direct from the United States to Wellington or Christchurch, and Wellington exporters will have a service which will connect with flights to the United States, Japan, and Hong Kong. Racehorses and bloodstock could also be transported between New Zealand's three main airports in the aircraft.