How Some Boeing 737s Are Equipped To Land On Gravel

Not all runways are smooth; some are rough surfaces such as gravel while others use grass or sand surfaces. This has implications for which aircraft can use them. A modification kit was offered to help the Boeing 737 with gravel runway landings, and in this article, we explore the details.

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#Aviation #Flight #Avgeek

[Quicksilver]

I think this is one if the best channels for av geeks keep up the good work!!!!

[rileybrown]

My favorite plane, the Boeing 737 with grass and gravel kit. Great video, thank you!

[AidenTheAviator]

The First Air 737-200C at 2:55 was involved the crash of First Air Flight 6560 in August of 2011. C-GNWN was on approach to Resolute Bay, Nunavut in Canada in heavy fog when due to pilot error, the autopilot disconnected from the ILS glideslope signal which caused the plane to start drifting to the right of the runway. The plane hit the crest of a hill adjacent to the runway and broke into pieces. Only 3 of 15 people on board survived the crash.

[marc-antoinehaddad]

Landing on a gravel strip frequently with those birds as a pilot never gets old! I will never trade that for any boring long haul!!

[davidoldham]

One thing not mentioned was how short some of these gravel air strips were. Thought the thrust reversers were going to tear the plane apart and even then we have very little room left at the end of the strip. Would not like to have to make that flight in winter. We got on a bush plane for the next leg of the flight and that landing was the real adventure.

[marshalllpearson]

I rode in the Alaska Airlines combo once. Saudia also had it. My father flew it for them in the early 70’s. Mostly picking up hajj’s from gravel strips in Africa dropping them off in Mecca.

[brookeking]

That was quick from the other 737 video to this hinted video about landing on gravel. Thanks!

[theodoretikhomirov]

The coolest aircraft that can land on gravel is the tu 144, or the Soviet concord

[rubetz]

Now, that's a cool piece of aviation history! Really fascinating!

[BlueBug]

Saw this one coming after the mistake you guys did before :) Amazing video regardless!

[alanm]

I remember landing on a gravel runway in Aniak, Alaska around 1977 on Wien Air Alaska. That airline was not mentioned in the video, but sadly is no longer around. It was supposed to have been the first airline in Alaska.

[bytefree]

LOL, after seeing a neglect old 727 cargo plane landing on a dirt strip with leaks and totalled tires, this old planes can do everything even without the mods. The vid I mentions is from Gemini Cargo. This was a testamente of Boeing quality and values, back on its days.

[xBris]

I've seen this thumbnail before ;)

[christopherescott]

The 732 still flying here in Canada with the Reg C-GOPW still flies for Canadian North. My Dad flew it 30 years ago for? Yup>>> Pacific Western Airlines. Hence>> GO PW in the Reg. They are by far the most durable and robust jet powered frames in the north. As for later models being used on grave? Doesn't happen. There is no mod kits for any later models.

[michaelhall]

Worked a lot of those at SLC when Wein Air (Alaska) flew in.

[zulfiqaralikhurrum]

I have seen this gravel strip landing video on Sam chui channel where he flies on a 737 200 combi of nolinor airlines

[igorvasiljev]

One important feature that doesn't allow is that the engines are way bigger to be more efficient so the gravel kit wouldn't be enough to stop gravel to enter the airplanes! And another fact is that nolinor said that doesn't see no near end for their 737-200!!

[teabag]

Even his voice is like a flight attendant.

[ykaplun]

I was disappointed that you didn't include, now defunct, Canadian carrier Nordair. Which was one of the first operators of this modified B737 along with Alaska Airlines. I wouldn't be surprised that most of the type now used by the Canadian carriers mentioned are ex Nordair. The City of Iqaluit, the capital city of Nunavut, then known as Frobisher Bay was one key Nordair destination using the modified B737. The aircraft included a large cargo as it not only brought in cargo but would provide medivac services. You really missed out on what an important lifeline this aircrafts' capabilities provided to for the Canadian North and Alaska.
In fact, I recall reading that when Alaska Airlines decided to retire the type, veteran pilots who flew it actually wept...
Follow-up and more comprehensive video is in order.

[tomstravels]

It was one of those First Air planes that crashed at Resolute in 2011