Thu, Jul 21, 2011
Aircraft To Be Operated By National Nuclear Security
Administration
Details of a joint project with the U.S. Department of the
Interior to convert a number of B737-400 passenger aircraft to
"Combi" configuration have been revealed by the Florida company
with the contract for the makeovers. These aircraft will be
operated by the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), a
separately organized agency within the U.S. Department of
Energy.

This 737 Combi modification is based on Pemco World Air
Service’s acclaimed 737-400 Combi aircraft design that was
built and certified in 2007 and has been operating very
successfully in Alaska supplying a critical network in a demanding
operating environment.
The NNSA’s Combi is operated by two flight crew members.
The Combi configuration is capable of transporting a combination of
4 ½ pallets of freight (forward) and 66 passengers (rear)
totaling approximately 40,000 lbs, with a range of over 3,000
miles. The NNSA configuration conforms to the highest standards for
safety and versatility ever deployed with the fully FAA-certified
Class C cargo compartment with automatic fire detection and halon
suppression. In addition, an installed forward and rear-airstair
assists in the boarding of passengers.
The first of the NNSA Combi’s inducted into Pemco’s
Dothan, Alabama conversion center in May of this year, and is
scheduled for delivery and induction into service in the fall. The
second B737-400 is scheduled to be inducted in July.
“This Combi conversion program is a substantial commitment
from the NNSA. We look forward to working with the NNSA to provide
an unparalleled product,” said Pemco CEO Bill Meehan.
President Kevin Casey added, "These special mission aircraft will
provide the flexibility, performance and safety to meet the
NNSA’s needs well into the future. Moreover, it is gratifying
to see the US government chose a terrific product, which has the
additional benefit of saving US taxpayers tens of millions of
dollars compared with new production aircraft with similar
characteristics. In today’s world, that just makes
sense.”
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