Flying the B747-400(BDSF) Special Freighter: Airline Pilot Life

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Join me flying on a special B747-400 Special Freighter (BDSF) and experience life as a cargo pilot.

ER-BAS is a Boeing 747-409(BDSF), a BeDek Special Freighter conversion, owned by Aquiline International and operated by Terra Avia. The aircraft was originally a passenger plane and has been modified to carry cargo, specifically by adding a large cargo door and removing passenger amenities.

I followed the two Boeing 747 pilots from the start of their duty in Hong Kong, all the way to Brisbane, Australia. The B747 Special Freighter has over 100 tons of cargo loaded, and the takeoff weight is near its maximum limit. We flew at a lower altitude over Hong Kong harbour due to our heavy weight and were unable to climb further.

During the flight, the pilot dealt with a series of events. Over the Philippines, we suffered from sudden turbulence due to cumulonimbus cloud formation. The autopilot was disengaged for a brief moment. Next, the pilot have to troubleshoot on an error message of air conditioning pack. Over Indonesia, the pilot is watching out for volcanic ash clouds and possible route deviation. We reached Brisbane, Australia, around midnight. The cargo flight experience was completely different from a passenger flight.

Flying with the crew was truly inspirational, I’ve learnt so much and it motivates me to go further in my aviation training. I hope one day I can make it to the 747!