US Airways is refitting 8 of its Boeing 747's—under 2% of its fleet— in an effort to attract more passengers flying to Philadelphia this spring. The target market is the collegiate rowing teams throughout the country traveling to City of Brotherly Love—a US Air hub—for the Dad Vail Regatta.
The regatta is the largest intercollegiate rowing competition in the country, where entries can surpass the one hundred mark and often do. This year the event falls on May 8th and 9th.
The jetliners are being refitted so that individual overhead compartments will be joined to form one long storage area to accommodate rowers' sculls (boats).
Programs attending the race come from as far away as California, Alaska and, yes, even Hawaii, forcing athletes into long, exhausting road (or boat) trips and unnecessary time away from classes.
California's Pepperdine University has booked the first flight offering this service and the rowers all seem to be looking forward to the shorter travel time.
"We usually drive cross-country to Philly for the race, which is exhausting," said Pepperdine's head coach John Farrows. "We will be much more energized this year and the boats will feel like they are more part of the team."
Ten years ago the University of Hawaii crew team was forced to row, for ten days, from Honolulu to the California coast because no airline could easily fit their sculls. Arriving in Los Angeles they chartered a bus and trailer to Philadelphia, needless to say, that was their first and last Dad Vail Regatta—they finished one place below last.
"It was a harrowing experience," said Rainbows head coach, Hugh Kellerman, about the journey from Hawaii to California. "We lost five good rowers during that crossing. Yes, we're going to Philly this year, but on US Air."
Sculls will be loaded and offloaded through the cockpit windshield in the front of the plane with the help of the pilots, copilots and flight attendants. Then after being carried down the aisle, rowers will takeover to hoist the boat overhead and into place, much like loading onto a trailer.
Overhead units are not the only feature to be refitted, as seats will be elevated several inches so that up to four boats fit comfortably under the two rows. This brings the total capacity for sculls to six per 747.
"We're pleased with the response to the new product," said US Air public relations manager, Leslie Bayliss. "We have sold ticket packages to over 20 schools including Anchorage State (their first regatta), Michigan Agriculture & Mining, Seattle and Northern Cal."
Sadly, the elongated compartments and elevated seats mean no pillows or blankets and a massive loss in legroom. Stiff necks, pneumonia, and leg cramps are expected to be only minor side effects from the prescribed refitting.
No comments:
Post a Comment