Originally Posted by
Flaflyer
Cargo planes are allowed to carry hazardous materials. FAA safety regs flat out prohibit Hazmat on passenger planes.
It's more complicated than that. Some HAZMAT can be, and is, carried on passenger flights. Other types of HAZMAT are designated Cargo Aircraft Only. Still other types of HAZMAT can not be carried by air at all.
An agent told me that if the total on any given plane is over a certain amount, the two pilots must wear their oxygen masks the whole flight so they don't pass out.
Not true. There is a limit to the amount of dry ice that can be carried based on the size of the airplane. There is no in between range that requires the use of oxygen. Cargo-only flights can carry a greater amount of dry-ice than can passenger flights.
Originally Posted by
FN-GM
Cargo planes dont have a the same range as a standard passenger aircraft. They won't go as far.
Sure they will. Range is not affected by the type of operation. Cargo airplanes may fly at higher average payload weights, though the max weights are the same, than passenger flights which might limit their range but the aircraft is capable of the same range given the same payload as a similar passenger-configured airplane.
Originally Posted by
YVR Cockroach
AS has a fair number of 737-400 combis where the pax sit behind the cargo on the main deck. Boeing can't build anymore IIRC as combis are not allowed these days.
Combi's are still allowed. ATI flies three or four DC8-62/72 combi's which hold, IIRC, 32 passengers and about 10 or 12 cargo pallets. I think most of those are usually flying military charters but I heard of a recent charter that they flew for the band Aerosmith in the combi. The combi allowed the band and the equipment to fly on a single airplane. The military is now taking bids for B757 combi charters.