Tag Archives: Alaska Air Cargo

Alaska Air Cargo’s Newest Freighter – Finally!

Alaska Air Cargo has a bunch of converted 737-700s that it uses to run freight around Alaska and down to Seattle.  The -700 is not a popular freighter conversion with the -800 being the basis for most NG freighters around the world.  Alaska must have decided that they too need the additional capacity and are converting a pair of their passenger jets.  The first returned from Kelowna, where the conversion was undertaken, and entered service.  I went out one weekend to catch it heading north.  I waited a long time as its departure time slipped and slipped before it eventually canceled.  It then flew to Oklahoma City for some work of some sort.  It did return but then went back to OKC so something was clearly not right.

Recently, it finally returned to Seattle.  The weather was not great but it was a weekend and I had some time so I decided to catch it coming in from Ketchikan and then heading back the same way.  With the cargo door in the front fuselage and the Air Cargo markings added, it looks pretty good.  It hasn’t been used hard yet, so the paint is in good shape.  Let’s hope its teething troubles are behind it and I might catch it in nicer conditions.  Its sister ship is in conversion currently, so we should have a pair of them before too long.

Alaska Air Cargo Finally in Good Conditions

Alaska Air Cargo operates some 737-700s that have been converted to freighters.  For some reason, I feel like I have struggled to get any good shots of them.  I have either been too distant or the weather was crummy or I just made a bad job of the shots.  They operate in and out of SEA daily so you would think that, after six years up here, I would have got something of them that I liked.  Finally I got a bit more lucky.  Some afternoon departures to the north on days when I could be there and the light was cooperating meant I was able to get something better.  The -700 is not a big jet so, even with the 500mm, I was stretching things a bit but winter light makes everything better.  If only the Cargo logo wasn’t hidden behind the wing for a good chunk of the time.  The low light does make the texture of the door conversion on the front of the fuselage show up, though.