Canadian North has officially retired its last Boeing 737-200 passenger and cargo jet. It came after its last run from Cambridge Bay to Yellowknife on May 6.
Dawn MacFarlane, one of the captains of the final flight, said that since the company decided to replace the 737-200 with the ATR-72 SA国际影视传媒� sheSA国际影视传媒檚 only been certified to fly the 737-200 and 737-300 SA国际影视传媒� it means that she will have fewer chances to go back to communities not as a captain, but as a passenger
That triggered a twinge of sadness.
SA国际影视传媒淭he plane flew to communities where I have family and family connections,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
The 737-200 was the only jet in the Canadian North fleet that could land on a gravel runway courtesy of the gravel kit the plane employed. But because the 200 series has been in use since 1968, maintaning the ageing aircraft and its modifications had become increasingly difficult and costly.
The ATR-72 requires less maintenance for upkeep.
Because of the ATR-72SA国际影视传媒檚 top-wing design and because itSA国际影视传媒檚 propeller-driven, it has become more capable of landing on gravel compared to any other jet engine aircraft such as the 737.
But there is a downside of it: the capacity.
SA国际影视传媒淭he capacity is going to be decreased,SA国际影视传媒� MacFarlane said. SA国际影视传媒淭he payload we could carry on the 737-200 is unmatched and I donSA国际影视传媒檛 think it ever will be matched again.SA国际影视传媒�
She also shared some memories during her time flying the aircraft.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檒l always have a sense of nostalgia for any pilot whoSA国际影视传媒檚 flown it,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淏ecause itSA国际影视传媒檚 part of Northern operations, pilots of my generation have pretty much flown bush planes in the North. The 737-200 for a lot of us was the first jet, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 certainly a unique style of jet flying you will never see again. It gave me a good sense of satisfaction at the end of the day.SA国际影视传媒�
MacFarlane will be retrained on the 737-700, the newer model in Canadian NorthSA国际影视传媒檚 fleet. There are plenty more hi-tech items built into it with all the flight instruments fitting into a couple of big screens.
But she said sheSA国际影视传媒榣l always love flying the 737-200.
SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 an older aircraft as far as its systems,SA国际影视传媒� MacFarlane said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 much more hands-on flying compared to what they make today.SA国际影视传媒�
People may still see some of the 737-200 models flying in the air, but MacFarlane said that since the airframe on each of them are timing out due to replacement parts not being available, they will slowly become the thing of the past.
