Brazil's GOL Has 67 Planes On Order
Boeing announced last week it has delivered the first Next
Generation 737 with enhanced short-field runway landing and takeoff
capabilities to Brazilian low-cost carrier GOL. The 737-800 is the
first of that model type delivered to GOL, as the
carrier increases capacity on domestic and regional
international routes.
Last Friday's delivery also marks the first delivery of 67
737-800s the all-Boeing carrier has on order for delivery out to
2012. The airline currently operates 50 737s.
"We have worked with GOL to enhance the 737 and add value to its
operations. Our partnership drove development of these enhancements
that now will benefit the product line and many airlines around the
world," said John Wojick, vice president Sales, Latin America and
the Caribbean, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
To make the airliner better capable of handling short fields,
the 737 design enhancements include a two-position tail skid that
enables reduced approach speeds, sealed leading-edge slats that
provide increased lift during takeoff, and increased flight spoiler
deflection on the ground that improves takeoff and landing
performance.
Boeing says 737s equipped with the mods allow operators to fly
increased payload in and out of airports with runways less than
5,000 feet long. The short-field performance changes were developed
starting in 2004, in response to GOL's needs at Santos Dumont
airstrip in Rio de Janeiro. That 4,300-foot runway is short
compared to other runways and could not accommodate larger
airplanes at higher approach speeds with full payloads.
"Boeing helped us to expand our capacity on the most profitable
route in Brazil, (Sao Paulo-Rio De Janeiro) while offering comfort
and safety to our clients," said GOL technical VP David
Barioni.
The short-field design package is an option on the 737-600, -700
and -800 and is standard equipment for the new 737-900ER. The
enhancements increase payload capability for landing up to 8,000
pounds on the 737-800 and 737-900ER and up to 4,000 pounds on the
737-600 and 737-700. They also increase payload capability for
takeoff up to 2,000 pounds on the 737-800 and 737-900ER and up to
400 pounds on the 737-600 and 737-700.
To date, 11 customers have ordered the short-field performance
package for more than 250 airplanes. In addition to GOL, Alaska
Airlines, Air Europe, Air India, Egyptair, GE Commercial Aviation
Services (GECAS), Hapagfly, Japan Airlines, Pegasus Airlines, Sky
Airlines and Turkish Airlines are among some of the operators that
have ordered the design package.