(Above) Blank windows on the forward fuselage are a distinctive feature on the 737-400 Combi. N764AS lifts off Runway 32 at Anchorage with snow capped Chugach Mountains in the background. (Insert) Boarding pass for the AS 61 “milk run” flight. This was a mileage award ticket. The $10 was for the tax.(Left) View of Situk River and frozen tundra while on approach to Runway 29 at Yakutat. (Ben Wang)

Alaskan AdventureFlying on a Combi Milk Run

by Ben Wang

22 • AIRLINERS • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009

“Combi” is short for combina-tion freighter and passenger aircraft. Perhaps the most commonCombi seen in the skies today is the747-400 Combi. Airlines such asKLM use the Combi to haul passengers and large volumes ofcargo between Europe and destina-tions throughout the world.

The unique geographic nature ofAlaska is a perfect fit for the Combiwhere there may not be enoughdemand to fly a dedicated freighteror passenger aircraft to small communities. For 26 years through

2007, Alaska Airlines operated afleet of nine Boeing 737-200QCs –or Quick Change – where the cabincan be reconfigured within a short time period to a differentcombination of seats and cargo pal-lets. These -200s were alsoequipped with a gravel kit,allowing the aircraft to operatefrom unpaved runways.

The -200s were due for replace-ment by a newer aircraft that wasmore capable, more fuel efficientand had more advanced avionics.The last gravel runway in Alaska

Airlines’ system was paved, makingthe gravel kit unnecessary. In Julyof 2004, Alaska Airlines announcedthat it would spend $15 million toconvert five of its existing fleet of737-400 aircraft used for cargoservice. One aircraft was to be converted to become a dedicatedfreighter and the other four wouldbe converted to become Combis.

737-400 ConversionPemco World Air Services in

Dothan, Alabama, performed the737-400 freighter and Combi

Alaska – the largest state in the United States – is known for its ruggedisolation, wildlife and natural resources. Geographically isolated communities are sprinkled throughout the state, making air service themost efficient method of travel. Bush flying and floatplanes are synonymous with Alaska. Another unique aircraft type that can befound in Alaska is the Boeing 737-400 Combi.

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conversion work. The AlaskaAirlines’ 737-400 Combis were thefirst of their kind in the world andremain so even today. The -400Combi features 72 all economyseats located in the aft of the aircraft. A side cargo door wasadded to the forward section behindthe left forward door allowing four LD7 containers (measuring 88 x 108 inches or 88 x 125 inches)to be loaded on the main deck. Each container/position has a maximum capacity of 6,000pounds. Other changes includefloor strengthening, hydraulic andelectrical system upgrades and theaddition of cargo loading andsmoke detection systems.

A fixed bulkhead separates thecargo and passenger cabins. Due tochanges in fire and safety regula-tions, it is no longer possible tooperate the Combi in the more flex-ible Quick Change configuration.This actually benefits the cargo customer because cargo capacity isnow predicable. When loaded withcontainers, the cockpit, cargo areaand passenger cabin become isolated.

737 Combi flights operate with astandard crew of two pilots andthree flight attendants, with theunique arrangement of two flightattendants in the aft cabin tendingto the passengers while the loneflight attendant is in the front cabintending to the needs of the pilots!

The first 737-400 Combi wasintroduced into the Alaska Airlinessystem in February of 2007. Atservice launch, Bill MacKay,Alaska Airlines’ Senior Vice-President for the state of Alaskasaid, “by upgrading the fleet andmodernizing cargo infrastructure,we are providing more cargo capacity, a more comfortable passenger experience and a morereliable flight schedule.” Exercisingits option in 2007 to convert anadditional aircraft, Alaska Airlinestoday operates a fleet of five 737-400 Combis and a single 737-400 Freighter – all convertedby Pemco. Combi aircraft alsooperate regular freighter flights carrying only cargo.

Major shipments to Alaskainclude mail, supplies, cargo and

packages. The main shipment coming out of Alaska is freshseafood. Thirty million pounds ofseafood are shipped annually fromAlaska to the Pacific Northwest andbeyond. Alaska Airlines ships atotal of 150 million pounds of cargoannually, and in 2008 cargo revenueexceeded $99 million, an increaseof 5% over 2007. The airline attributed this increase to freighterand Combi aircraft running at fullcapacity since coming on-line inaddition to an increase in mail andseafood volumes.

In ServiceCombi flights originate or

terminate at Alaska Airlines’ hubcities of Anchorage or Seattle.Combi flights can be found in allregions of Alaska ranging from thefar northern towns of PrudhoeBay/Deadhorse and Barrow, to thefar western town of Adak in theAleutian Islands and to the south-eastern coastal town of Ketchikan.

Air service by various airlines to45 towns and villages in the state ofAlaska are funded by a federal

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The side cargo door on the 737-400 Combi measures 140 2 x 86.5 2. N768AS was one of the first aircraft to be converted and delivered by Pemco inFebruary of 2007. (Alaska Airlines)

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24 • AIRLINERS • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009

737-400 Combi N768AS unloads shortly after arriving in Anchorage. Four LD7 containers load through the forward side cargo door while 72 passengers board through the rear main passenger door. (Ben Wang)

program known as Essential AirService (EAS). Following airlinederegulation in 1978, airlines weregiven the freedom domestically toserve any market and charge anyfare that they wished. EAS was cre-ated to guarantee that small com-munities, which had air serviceprior to deregulation, would main-tain that air service. The rule hassince been updated to exclude citieswithin a reasonable driving distanceto a medium or large hub airport.EAS’ annual budget in 2009 is $123million, serving 153 communitiesaround the United States. Between2009 and 2011, Alaska Airlines willreceive a $7.1 million annual sub-sidy to provide air service toCordova, Gustavus, Yakutat,Petersburg and Wrangell in southcentral and southeast Alaska. Adak, in the western AleutianIslands, is also operated under sub-sidy by Alaska Airlines but under aseparate agreement. Service to allafore-mentioned cities is flownusing the 737-400 Combi.

Perhaps the most interestingAlaska Airlines’ flights are the

“milk run” flights between Seattleand Anchorage through south central and southeast Alaska. Theflights are called “milk run” flightsbecause of the many stops, often insmall communities, along the way.The flights are mostly short in flying distance and duration withabout 40 minutes scheduled at eachstop to drop off and pick up passengers and cargo. Two suchflights are operated using theCombi: Flight AS 61 northboundoriginating in Seattle with stops inJuneau, Yakutat, Cordova and afinal destination of Anchorage.Southbound, Flight AS 64 origi-nates in Anchorage with stops inJuneau, Petersburg, Wrangell andKetchikan with its final destinationbeing Seattle.

Flying the Milk RunThis spring, Airliners had the

pleasure of experiencing the Combimilk run on AS 61 from Juneau to Anchorage. This author was fortunate enough to be rewardedwith perfectly clear skies and beautiful sights along the entire

trip. Seasoned locals and touristsalike were glued to their windowsfor the spectacular scenery.

Onboard the milk run, one willencounter passengers not typicallyexpected: a mother returning homefrom Juneau after a grocery trip,fishermen joining boat crews intime for the salmon season, a plantmanager travelling to his nextassignment at a fish processingplant, a wildlife photographer mak-ing sales calls to local lodges andforestry service professional –everything one would expect on alocal bus trip between small townsin Alaska – except on a 737!

Alaska Airlines allows threepieces of free checked baggagewithin the state of Alaska and it isno wonder why. These flights thatservice small communities are lifelines to the outside world asexemplified by the sight of manyice chests filled with perishablegoods being loaded onboard thebelly as checked baggage.

Juneau – YakutatJuneau is the state capital of

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Seen from the rear boarding door, a forklift is used at Yakutat for container loading and unloading duties. (Ben Wang)

Alaska with a population of 30,000.The city is accessible only by wateror air. Roads in Juneau do not con-nect to the outside world other thanthe one provided by the AlaskaMarine Highway ferry.

The side cargo door on theCombi was closing when boardingcommenced for Flight AS 61.Boarding involved walking on theopen ramp to the rear stairs, wherethru passengers from Seattle werewaiting onboard. The flight took off on Runway 26 in the shadows of Mendenhall Glacier,routing along the shores of Gulf ofAlaska, over the town of Gustavusand skirting Glacier Bay NationalPark over Fairweather Glacierbefore making the approach overSituk River to Yakutat. Landing wason Runway 29 at Yakutat. We taxiedpast the cross runway, still beingcleared of snow, and World War IIera hangars to the small but practical terminal building. The dis-

tance between Juneau and Yakutatis 197 miles and flying time was ashort 34 minutes at an altitude of30,000 feet. A large number of passengers deplaned at Yakutat, asdid a number of containers mostlyfilled with fresh produce. Emptycontainers were then loaded backonto the aircraft. Deplaning andboarding was through open air thenonto the ramp, while the loadingand unloading of cargo was donesimultaneously by forklift.

Yakutat – CordovaThe population of Yakutat is just

808. Fishing is the town’s largestindustry as seen by the large number of fishing crew getting offthe aircraft. The town is also up-and-coming in tourism andrecreation with a particular emphasis on surfing, hunting andfishing. The town is isolated andonly accessed by water and air.Alaska Airlines’ service is an

essential lifeline to the outsideworld for the town as the ferry onlyoperates during the summer season.

A small number of passengersboarded in Yakutat with most headed for Anchorage. The totaltime on the ground was 40 minutes.We taxied away from the rampahead of the scheduled departuretime and back taxied to Runway 29for departure. We continued alongthe Alaskan gulf coast, passing thetown of Yakutat on climb out, flyingpast Malaspina Glacier, the largestpiedmont glacier in the world,and Bering Glacier, the largest glacier in North America, before descending over the Copper RiverDelta. This delta is considered to bethe largest contiguous wetland inthe Pacific in North America.Copper River is also famous for itswild salmon run with a shortsalmon season lasting for a fewmonths in the summer. This wasalso the snack portion of the flight

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with a bag of potato chips, a cookieand a container of orange juice! Wetouched down on Runway 27 andmade the short taxi to the terminal.The distance between Yakutat andCordova is 212 miles with a flyingtime of 33 minutes. Maximum altitude was 30,000 feet. The unassuming terminal at Cordova isabout twice the size as Yakutat anddeplaning and boarding once againtook place on the open ramp. Asmall number of passengersdeplaned at Cordova – mostlyremaining passengers from Seattleand Juneau. A standard containerloader (not forklift) was used inCordova to load and unload cargo.

Cordova - AnchorageCordova’s Merle K. (Mudhole)

Smith Airport is named after thePresident of Cordova Air Service,later Cordova Airlines, whichmerged with Alaska Airlines in1968. Smith was a pioneer bushpilot in Alaska who started hiscareer with Cordova Air Service in1937 and ultimately retired in 1973as the Director and Vice-Presidentof Alaska Airlines. Smith earned his“Mudhole” nickname from a competitor, fellow Alaskan aviationpioneer, Bob Reeve, by nosing hisStearman bi-plane into the mudwhile attempting to takeoff from amuddy field! The “Mudhole”nickname endured and stuck withSmith until his death in 1981.

Cordova has a population of2,400 and is located on the easternside of Prince William Sound nearthe mouth of the Copper River andthe Orca Inlet. Historic industriesinclude copper mining, oil andclamming. Today, the leadingindustry is fishing and fish canning.With the town isolated and alsoaccessible only by water and air,Alaska Airlines’ cargo service is acrucial component to the fishingindustry. Last year, Alaska Airlinesshipped 400,000 pounds of freshCopper River salmon from Cordova

to the lower 48 states. A large contingent of passengers

boarded in Cordova for Anchorage.The total time on the ground inCordova was about 45 minutes.Once again, we back taxied onRunway 27 to continue our tripwest. We climbed over the town ofCordova and the mouth of the OrcaRiver before cutting through PrinceWilliam Sound. Along the way wesaw famous sights such as theColumbia Glacier, College Fjordand Harriman Fjord – all normallyseen by cruise ship passengers –before making the descent over theChugach Mountains for Runway7R at Anchorage. The distancebetween Cordova and Anchorage is159 miles with a flying time of 33 minutes and maximum altitudeof 28,000 feet. Total time from pushback in Juneau to wheel stop inAnchorage was 3:37 (compared to1:44 scheduled on a non-stopflight). We pulled into gate C0 and deplaned down the stairs to walk past four empty cargo

containers being unloaded from ourflight. The ground crew busily prepared the Combi for the nextflight as passengers walked into themodern terminal.

Alaska Airlines’ 737-400 Combiis truly a unique aircraft, flying aunique mission that can be foundonly in Alaska. The milk run flight,in particular, is a fun way to fly, tomeet and experience local Alaskansand to enjoy the beautiful Alaskanscenery. While the -400 Combi willnever replace the romance and theallure of the 737-200QC, the -400is well prepared to take over for thefuture and carve out its own legacy.

Alaska Airlines’ 737-200QCN740AS is on display at the AlaskaAviation Heritage Museum locatedat Lake Hood next to AnchorageInternational Airport.

If interested in taking a Combiflight, Alaska Airlines’ Freighterand Combi timetable can be foundon the Alaska Cargo website:www.alaskaair.com/cargo.

26 • AIRLINERS • NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009

View of Yakutat (population 808) - the town and bay - as we takeoff to continue the flight west.Alaska Airlines provides year-round access to the outside world for Yakutat. No roads lead to thistown, and ferry service runs only in the summer. (Ben Wang)

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