Boeing 737 Classic
Encyclopedia
The Boeing 737 Classic is the name given to the -300/-400/-500 series of the Boeing 737
following the introduction of the -600/-700/-800/-900 series. They are short- to medium- range
, narrow-body
jet airliner
s produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes
. The Classic series was introduced as the 'new generation' of the 737. Produced from 1984 to 2000, 1,988 aircraft were delivered.
, incorporating improvements to upgrade the plane to modern specifications, while also retaining commonality with previous 737 variants. Development began in 1979, and in 1980 preliminary aircraft specifications were released at the Farnborough Airshow. In March 1981 USAir
and Southwest Airlines
each ordered 10 aircraft, with an option for 20 more.
The new series featured CFM56
turbofan
engines, which yielded significant gains in fuel economy
and a reduction in noise, but also posed an engineering challenge given the low ground clearance of the 737. Boeing and engine supplier CFMI
solved the problem by placing the engine ahead of (rather than below) the wing, and by moving engine accessories to the sides (rather than the bottom) of the engine pod, giving the 737 a distinctive non-circular air intake.
The wing incorporated a number of changes for improved aerodynamics
. The wing tip was extended 9 inches (22.9 cm). The leading-edge slots and trailing-edge flap
s were adjusted. The flight deck was improved with the optional EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrumentation System), and the passenger cabin incorporated improvements similar to those on the Boeing 757
.
on 17 December 1999, registration ZK-NGJ.
In December 2008, Southwest Airlines
selected Boeing
to retrofit the 737-300 with a new set of instruments, hardware and software, in order to improve commonality with the 737-700, as well as to support the Required Navigation Performance
initiative.
The 737-300 can be retrofitted with Aviation Partners
Boeing
winglets. The 737-300 retrofitted with winglets is designated the -300SP (Special Performance). Used passenger -300 aircraft have also been converted to freighter versions. The 737-300 is now replaced by the 737-700
in the Boeing 737 Next Generation
family.
, and competed with the Airbus A320
and McDonnell Douglas MD-80. It stretched the 737-300 another 10 ft (3.45 m) to carry up to 168 passengers. It included a tail bumper to prevent tailscrapes during take-off (an early issue with the 757), and a strengthened wing spar. The prototype rolled out on January 26, 1988, and flew for the first time on 19 February 1988.
The aircraft entered service on September 15, 1988 with launch customer Piedmont Airlines
(25 aircraft ordered).
The 737-400F was not a model delivered by Boeing but a converted 737-400 to an all cargo aircraft. Alaska Airlines
was the first to convert one of their 400s from regular service to an aircraft with the ability to handle 10 pallets. The airline has also converted five more into fixed combi aircraft for half passenger and freight. These 737-400 Combi aircraft are now in service. The 737-400 is now replaced by the 737-800 in the Boeing 737 Next Generation family.
The 737-500 was launched in 1987 by Southwest Airlines
, with an order for 20 aircraft, and flew for the first time on 30 June 1989. A single prototype flew 375 hours for the certification process, and on February 28, 1990 Southwest Airlines
received the first delivery. The 737-500 has become a favorite of some Russian airlines, with Nordavia, Rossiya Airlines, S7 Airlines
, Sky Express
, Transaero
, and Yamal Airlines
all buying second-hand models of the aircraft to replace aging Soviet
-built aircraft and/or expand their fleets. Aerolíneas Argentinas
is replacing its 737-200s with second-hand 737-500s. The 737-500 is now replaced by the 737-600
in the Boeing 737 Next Generation family. However, unlike the 737-500, the 737-600 has been a slow seller for Boeing since its introduction, with only 69 aircraft delivered.
Sources:
Boeing 737
The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers...
following the introduction of the -600/-700/-800/-900 series. They are short- to medium- range
Flight length
In aviation, the flight length is defined as the time airborne during a flight.- Domestic :A short-haul domestic flight is commonly categorized into being no longer than 1.5 hours in length, meaning that all domestic flights within a country such as the United Kingdom are short-haul...
, narrow-body
Narrow-body aircraft
A narrow-body aircraft is an airliner with a fuselage aircraft cabin width typically of 3 to 4 metres , and airline seat arranged 2 to 6 abreast along a single aisle...
jet airliner
Jet airliner
A jet airliner is an airliner that is powered by jet engines. This term is sometimes contracted to jetliner or jet.In contrast to today's relatively fuel-efficient, turbofan-powered air travel, first generation jet airliner travel was noisy and fuel inefficient...
s produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Boeing Commercial Airplanes
Boeing Commercial Airplanes designs, assembles, markets and sells large commercial jet aircraft and provides product-related maintenance and training to customers worldwide...
. The Classic series was introduced as the 'new generation' of the 737. Produced from 1984 to 2000, 1,988 aircraft were delivered.
Development and design
Following the success of the Boeing 737-200 Advanced, Boeing wanted to increase capacity and rangeRange (aircraft)
The maximal total range is the distance an aircraft can fly between takeoff and landing, as limited by fuel capacity in powered aircraft, or cross-country speed and environmental conditions in unpowered aircraft....
, incorporating improvements to upgrade the plane to modern specifications, while also retaining commonality with previous 737 variants. Development began in 1979, and in 1980 preliminary aircraft specifications were released at the Farnborough Airshow. In March 1981 USAir
US Airways
US Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
and Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
each ordered 10 aircraft, with an option for 20 more.
The new series featured CFM56
CFM International CFM56
The CFM International CFM56 series is a family of high-bypass turbofan aircraft engines made by CFM International , with a thrust range of . CFMI is a 50–50 joint-owned company of SNECMA, France and GE Aviation , USA. Both companies are responsible for producing components and each has its own...
turbofan
Turbofan
The turbofan is a type of airbreathing jet engine that is widely used for aircraft propulsion. A turbofan combines two types of engines, the turbo portion which is a conventional gas turbine engine, and the fan, a propeller-like ducted fan...
engines, which yielded significant gains in fuel economy
Fuel efficiency
Fuel efficiency is a form of thermal efficiency, meaning the efficiency of a process that converts chemical potential energy contained in a carrier fuel into kinetic energy or work. Overall fuel efficiency may vary per device, which in turn may vary per application, and this spectrum of variance is...
and a reduction in noise, but also posed an engineering challenge given the low ground clearance of the 737. Boeing and engine supplier CFMI
CFM International
CFM International is a joint venture between GE Aviation, a division of General Electric of the United States and Snecma, a division of Safran of France...
solved the problem by placing the engine ahead of (rather than below) the wing, and by moving engine accessories to the sides (rather than the bottom) of the engine pod, giving the 737 a distinctive non-circular air intake.
The wing incorporated a number of changes for improved aerodynamics
Aerodynamics
Aerodynamics is a branch of dynamics concerned with studying the motion of air, particularly when it interacts with a moving object. Aerodynamics is a subfield of fluid dynamics and gas dynamics, with much theory shared between them. Aerodynamics is often used synonymously with gas dynamics, with...
. The wing tip was extended 9 inches (22.9 cm). The leading-edge slots and trailing-edge flap
Flap (aircraft)
Flaps are normally hinged surfaces mounted on the trailing edges of the wings of a fixed-wing aircraft to reduce the speed an aircraft can be safely flown at and to increase the angle of descent for landing without increasing air speed. They shorten takeoff and landing distances as well as...
s were adjusted. The flight deck was improved with the optional EFIS (Electronic Flight Instrumentation System), and the passenger cabin incorporated improvements similar to those on the Boeing 757
Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
.
737-300
The prototype of the -300 rolled out of the Renton plant on January 17, 1984, and first flew on 24 February 1984. After it received its flight certification on November 14, 1984, USAir received the first aircraft on 28 November. A very popular aircraft, Boeing received 252 orders for it in 1985, and over 1000 throughout its production. The 300 series remained in production until 1999 when the last aircraft was delivered to Air New ZealandAir New Zealand
Air New Zealand Limited is the national airline and flag carrier of New Zealand. Based in Auckland, New Zealand, the airline operates scheduled passenger flights to 26 domestic destinations and 24 international destinations in 15 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania, and is...
on 17 December 1999, registration ZK-NGJ.
In December 2008, Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
selected Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
to retrofit the 737-300 with a new set of instruments, hardware and software, in order to improve commonality with the 737-700, as well as to support the Required Navigation Performance
Required Navigation Performance
Required Navigation Performance is a type of performance-based navigation that allows an aircraft to fly a specific path between two 3-dimensionally defined points in space. RNAV and RNP systems are fundamentally similar. The key difference between them is the requirement for on-board...
initiative.
The 737-300 can be retrofitted with Aviation Partners
Aviation Partners Inc.
Aviation Partners Inc. or API is a Seattle-based private corporation, which specializes in the production of performance enhancing winglet systems...
Boeing
Boeing
The Boeing Company is an American multinational aerospace and defense corporation, founded in 1916 by William E. Boeing in Seattle, Washington. Boeing has expanded over the years, merging with McDonnell Douglas in 1997. Boeing Corporate headquarters has been in Chicago, Illinois since 2001...
winglets. The 737-300 retrofitted with winglets is designated the -300SP (Special Performance). Used passenger -300 aircraft have also been converted to freighter versions. The 737-300 is now replaced by the 737-700
Boeing 737 Next Generation
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
in the Boeing 737 Next Generation
Boeing 737 Next Generation
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
family.
737-400
The 737-400 design was launched in 1985 to fill the gap between the 737-300 and the 757-200Boeing 757
The Boeing 757 is a mid-size, narrow-body twin-engine jet airliner manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. Passenger versions of the twinjet have a capacity of 186 to 289 persons and a maximum range of , depending on variant and cabin configuration...
, and competed with the Airbus A320
Airbus A320 family
The Airbus A320 family is a family of short- to medium-range, narrow-body, commercial passenger jet airliners manufactured by Airbus Industrie.Airbus was originally a consortium of European aerospace companies, and is now fully owned by EADS. Airbus's name has been Airbus SAS since 2001...
and McDonnell Douglas MD-80. It stretched the 737-300 another 10 ft (3.45 m) to carry up to 168 passengers. It included a tail bumper to prevent tailscrapes during take-off (an early issue with the 757), and a strengthened wing spar. The prototype rolled out on January 26, 1988, and flew for the first time on 19 February 1988.
The aircraft entered service on September 15, 1988 with launch customer Piedmont Airlines
Piedmont Airlines (1948-1989)
Piedmont Airlines was a major airline in the United States which operated from 1948 until its operations were merged into USAir in 1989. Its headquarters were located at One Piedmont Plaza in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, a building which is now part of Wake Forest University.As of April 1989,...
(25 aircraft ordered).
The 737-400F was not a model delivered by Boeing but a converted 737-400 to an all cargo aircraft. Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines is an airline based in the Seattle suburb of SeaTac, Washington in the United States. The airline originated in 1932 as McGee Airways. After many mergers with and acquisitions of other airlines, including Star Air Service, it became known as Alaska Airlines in 1944...
was the first to convert one of their 400s from regular service to an aircraft with the ability to handle 10 pallets. The airline has also converted five more into fixed combi aircraft for half passenger and freight. These 737-400 Combi aircraft are now in service. The 737-400 is now replaced by the 737-800 in the Boeing 737 Next Generation family.
737-500
The -500 series was offered, due to customer demand, as a modern and direct replacement of the 737-200, incorporating the improvements of the 737 Classic series in a model that allowed longer routes with fewer passengers to be more economical than with the 737-300. The fuselage length of the -500 is 1 ft 7 in (47 cm) longer than the 737-200, accommodating up to 132 passengers. Both glass and older style mechanical cockpits arrangements were available. Using the CFM56-3 engine also gave a 25% increase in fuel efficiency over the older -200s P&W engines.Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
, with an order for 20 aircraft, and flew for the first time on 30 June 1989. A single prototype flew 375 hours for the certification process, and on February 28, 1990 Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines Co. is an American low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas. Southwest is the largest airline in the United States, based upon domestic passengers carried,...
received the first delivery. The 737-500 has become a favorite of some Russian airlines, with Nordavia, Rossiya Airlines, S7 Airlines
S7 Airlines
OJSC Siberia Airlines , operating as S7 Airlines, is an airline headquartered in Ob, Novosibirsk Oblast, Russia, with offices in Moscow. S7 Airlines has been Russia's fastest-growing airline and recently passed Aeroflot as Russia's largest domestic airline.S7 has operated scheduled passenger...
, Sky Express
Sky Express
CJSC Sky Express , also known in Russian as Скай Экспресс, was the first Russian airline to present itself as a low-cost carrier focusing on domestic flights...
, Transaero
Transaero
OJSC Transaero Airlines or simply Transaero is an airline with its head office on the grounds of Domodedovo International Airport, Domodedovsky District, Moscow Oblast, Russia. It operates scheduled and charter flights to more than 99 domestic and international destinations...
, and Yamal Airlines
Yamal Airlines
Yamal Airlines is an airline based in Salekhard, Russia. It operates regional passenger services and was established in 1997.-Destinations:As of May 2010 Yamal Airlines operates flights to the following: Armenia...
all buying second-hand models of the aircraft to replace aging Soviet
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
-built aircraft and/or expand their fleets. Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aerolíneas Argentinas
Aerolíneas Argentinas , formally Aerolíneas Argentinas S.A., is Argentina's largest airline and serves as the country's flag carrier. Owned in its majority by the Argentine Government, the airline is headquartered in the Torre Bouchard, located in San Nicolás, Buenos Aires...
is replacing its 737-200s with second-hand 737-500s. The 737-500 is now replaced by the 737-600
Boeing 737 Next Generation
The Boeing 737 Next Generation, commonly abbreviated as Boeing 737NG, is the name given to the -600/-700/-800/-900 series of the Boeing 737 after the introduction of the -300/-400/-500 Classic series. They are short- to medium-range, narrow-body jet airliners...
in the Boeing 737 Next Generation family. However, unlike the 737-500, the 737-600 has been a slow seller for Boeing since its introduction, with only 69 aircraft delivered.
Operators
Civilian
As of July 2010, 1,651 Boeing 737 Classic aircraft were in commercial service. This includes 879 -300s, 419 -400s, and 353 -500s.Military
Many countries operate the 737 passenger and cargo variants in government or military applications.- BrazilBrazilBrazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, ChileChileChile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
, ColombiaColombiaColombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, India (Indian Air ForceIndian Air ForceThe Indian Air Force is the air arm of the Indian armed forces. Its primary responsibility is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial warfare during a conflict...
), IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, KuwaitKuwaitThe State of Kuwait is a sovereign Arab state situated in the north-east of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the south at Khafji, and Iraq to the north at Basra. It lies on the north-western shore of the Persian Gulf. The name Kuwait is derived from the...
, MexicoMexicoThe United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, NigerNigerNiger , officially named the Republic of Niger, is a landlocked country in Western Africa, named after the Niger River. It borders Nigeria and Benin to the south, Burkina Faso and Mali to the west, Algeria and Libya to the north and Chad to the east...
, PeruPeruPeru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, PhilippinesPhilippinesThe Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
(Philippine Air ForcePhilippine Air ForceThe Philippine Air Force is the air force of the Republic of the Philippines, and one of the three main services of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Its official name in Filipino is Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas....
), South KoreaSouth KoreaThe Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
, Republic of ChinaRepublic of ChinaThe Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
on TaiwanTaiwanTaiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
(ROC's Air Force One), ThailandThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
(Royal Thai Air ForceRoyal Thai Air ForceThe Royal Thai Air Force or RTAF is the air force of the Kingdom of Thailand. Since its establishment in 1913, as one of the earliest air forces of Asia, the Royal Thai Air Force had engaged in many major and minor battles. During the Vietnam war era, the air force has been developed with USAF-aid...
), United Arab EmiratesUnited Arab EmiratesThe United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
, VenezuelaVenezuelaVenezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
. - The People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) of the People's Republic of China operates a 737-300 (registered B-4052) as an airborne command post.
Deliveries
| Type | Total | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994 | 1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 | 1989 | 1988 | 1987 | 1986 | 1985 | 1984 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B737-300 | 1113 | 29 | 52 | 65 | 37 | 52 | 54 | 54 | 57 | 69 | 67 | 89 | 141 | 137 | 120 | 83 | 7 | |
| B737-400 | 486 | 2 | 9 | 33 | 33 | 21 | 13 | 32 | 68 | 82 | 56 | 63 | 57 | 17 | ||||
| B737-500 | 389 | 4 | 31 | 34 | 18 | 24 | 35 | 30 | 79 | 90 | 44 | |||||||
| Total | 1988 | 2 | 42 | 116 | 132 | 76 | 89 | 121 | 152 | 218 | 215 | 174 | 146 | 158 | 137 | 120 | 83 | 7 |
- Source:
Accidents and incidents
The Boeing 737 Classic were involved into 26 Hull-loss Accidents with a total of 1050 fatalities as of January 2010. Notable accidents and incidents involving the 737 Classics (-300/-400/-500) include:- January 8, 1989: Kegworth air disasterKegworth air disasterThe Kegworth Air Disaster occurred on 8 January 1989, when British Midland Flight 92, a Boeing 737–400, crashed onto the embankment of the M1 motorway near Kegworth, Leicestershire, in England. The aircraft was attempting to conduct an emergency landing at East Midlands Airport...
: British MidlandBritish midlandBritish midland may refer to:*British Midland Airways Limited, also referred to as bmi and formerly as British Midland*The English Midlands, the central region of Great Britain...
Flight 92, using a 737-400, crashed outside of East Midlands Airport. Of the eight crew and 118 passengers, 47 passengers died. - February 1, 1991: USAir Flight 1493USAir Flight 1493USAir Flight 1493 was a scheduled United States domestic passenger flight from Syracuse Hancock International Airport, New York to San Francisco International Airport, California that collided with SkyWest Flight 5569 upon landing at a scheduled stopover at Los Angeles International Airport...
, using a 737-300, collided with a SkyWest AirlinesSkywest AirlinesSkywest Airlines Pty Ltd is a regional airline company based in Perth, Western Australia, Australia; servicing key towns in the state of Western Australia, Darwin, Northern Territory and Melbourne, Victoria; as well as charter flights to Bali, Indonesia....
Fairchild Metro IIIFairchild Swearingen MetrolinerThe Fairchild Swearingen Metroliner or the Fairchild Aerospace Metro is a 19-seat, pressurised, twin turboprop airliner first produced by Swearingen Aircraft and later by Fairchild at a plant in San Antonio, Texas, United States....
while landing in Los Angeles. All of the 12 people on the Fairchild Metro died while 20 passengers and 2 crew members out of 6 crew members and 83 passengers died on the 737. - July 26, 1993: Asiana Airlines Flight 733Asiana Airlines Flight 733Asiana Air Flight 733 was an Asiana Airlines passenger flight between Seoul, South Korea and Mokpo that crashed into Mt. Ungeo at 800 feet on July 26, 1993...
, using a 737-500, crashed into a mountain, killing 68 of 110 occupants. - September 8, 1994: USAir Flight 427USAir Flight 427US Air Flight 427 was a scheduled flight from Chicago's O'Hare International Airport to Pittsburgh, with a final destination of West Palm Beach, Florida...
, using a 737-300 with 127 passengers and 5 crew members, lost control after a rudder malfunction and crashed outside of Pittsburgh International AirportPittsburgh International AirportPittsburgh International Airport , formerly Greater Pittsburgh Airport, Greater Pittsburgh International Airport and commonly referred to as Pittsburgh International, is a joint civil–military international airport located in the Pittsburgh suburb of Findlay Township, approximately west of...
, killing everyone on board. - May 8, 1997: China Southern Airlines Flight 3456China Southern Airlines Flight 3456China Southern Airlines Flight 3456 was a flight from Chongqing to Shenzhen Huangtian Airport, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China crashed while attempting to land in a thunderstorm...
, using a 737-300, crashed while landing in ShenzhenShenzhenShenzhen is a major city in the south of Southern China's Guangdong Province, situated immediately north of Hong Kong. The area became China's first—and one of the most successful—Special Economic Zones...
, killing 33 of 65 passengers and 2 of 9 crew members. - December 19, 1997: SilkAir Flight 185SilkAir Flight 185SilkAir Flight 185, a Boeing 737-36N, registration 9V-TRF, was a scheduled passenger flight from Jakarta, Indonesia to Singapore, which crashed on 19 December 1997 into the Musi River after abruptly plunging from its 35,000-foot cruise altitude, killing all 97 passengers and 7 crew on board.The...
, using a 737-300 with 97 passengers and 7 crew members, crashed into a river in IndonesiaIndonesiaIndonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
, killing everyone on board. - September 16, 1998: Continental Airlines Flight 475, using a 737-500, received windshear while landing in GuadalajaraGuadalajaraGuadalajara may refer to:In Mexico:*Guadalajara, Jalisco, the capital of the state of Jalisco and second largest city in Mexico**Guadalajara Metropolitan Area*University of Guadalajara, a public university in Guadalajara, Jalisco...
, Mexico. None of the passengers and crew received injuries. The aircraft was written off. - April 7, 1999: Turkish Airlines Flight 5904Turkish Airlines Flight 5904Turkish Airlines Flight 5904 was a Boeing 737-4Q8 operated by the Turkish Airlines, registered TC-JEP and named Trakya, on a repositioning flight that crashed on 7 April 1999 in Ceyhan, Adana Province in southern Turkey...
, using a 737-400 with six crew members, crashed in TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. All of the crew on board died; no passengers flew on that flight. - March 5, 2000: Southwest Airlines Flight 1455Southwest Airlines Flight 1455Southwest Airlines Flight 1455 was a scheduled passenger flight fromMcCarran International Airport , Las Vegas, Nevada to Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport , Burbank, California that overran the runway during landing on March 5, 2000. The aircraft came to rest on a city street adjacent to a gas...
, using a 737-300, overran the runway upon landing in Burbank, CaliforniaBurbank, CaliforniaBurbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, United States and crashed. All of the passengers and crew survived. - March 3, 2001: Thai Airways International Flight 114Thai Airways International Flight 114Thai Airways International Flight 114, a Thai Airways International Boeing 737-4D7 bound for Chiang Mai from Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok, was destroyed by an explosion of the center wing tank resulting from ignition of the flammable fuel/air mixture in the tank while the aircraft was parked,...
, a 737-400 bound for Chiang MaiChiang MaiChiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
from Bangkok, was destroyed by an explosion of the center wing tank resulting from ignition of the flammable fuel/air mixture in the tank. The source of the ignition energy for the explosion could not be determined with certainty, but the most likely source was an explosion originating at the center wing tank pump as a result of running the pump in the presence of metal shavings and a fuel/air mixture. One flight attendant died. - May 7, 2002: EgyptAir Flight 843EgyptAir Flight 843EgyptAir Flight 843 was a flight from Cairo International Airport to Tunis Airport. On 7 May 2002, the Boeing 737-566 on the route crashed near Tunis. Of the 6 crew members and 56 passengers, 3 crew members and 11 passengers died, making a total of 14 fatalities.The airline continues to operate...
, using a 737-500, crashed during approach to TunisTunisTunis is the capital of both the Tunisian Republic and the Tunis Governorate. It is Tunisia's largest city, with a population of 728,453 as of 2004; the greater metropolitan area holds some 2,412,500 inhabitants....
, TunisiaTunisiaTunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
. 3 of 6 crew members and 11 of 56 passengers died. - January 3, 2004: Flash Airlines Flight 604Flash Airlines flight 604Flash Airlines Flight 604 was a charter flight operated by Egyptian charter company Flash Airlines. On 3 January 2004, the Boeing 737-300 crashed into the Red Sea shortly after takeoff from Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport, killing all 142 passengers, many of them French tourists, and all six...
, using a 737-300 with 135 passengers and 13 crew members, crashed into the Red SeaRed SeaThe Red Sea is a seawater inlet of the Indian Ocean, lying between Africa and Asia. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb strait and the Gulf of Aden. In the north, there is the Sinai Peninsula, the Gulf of Aqaba, and the Gulf of Suez...
, killing everyone on board. - June 9, 2005: 2005 Logan Airport runway incursion – A 737-300 operated by US AirwaysUS AirwaysUS Airways, Inc. is a major airline based in the U.S. city of Tempe, Arizona. The airline is an operating unit of US Airways Group and is the sixth largest airline by traffic and eighth largest by market value in the country....
as US Airways Flight 1170 avoided collision with an Aer LingusAer LingusAer Lingus Group Plc is the flag carrier of Ireland. It operates a fleet of Airbus aircraft serving Europe and North America. It is Ireland's oldest extant airline, and its second largest after low-cost rival Ryanair...
Airbus A330Airbus A330The Airbus A330 is a wide-body twin-engine jet airliner made by Airbus, a division of EADS. Versions of the A330 have a range of and can accommodate up to 335 passengers in a two-class layout or carry of cargo....
at Logan Airport in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. - August 14, 2005: Helios Airways Flight 522Helios Airways Flight 522Helios Airways Flight 522 was a Helios Airways Boeing 737-300 flight that crashed into a mountain on 14 August 2005 at 12:04 EEST, north of Marathon and Varnavas, Greece. Rescue teams located wreckage near the community of Grammatiko from Athens...
, using a 737-300, suffered a gradual decompression which incapacitated 5 of the 6 crew members and all of the 115 passengers. The plane circled around Greece before crashing into a hill, killing everyone on board. - October 3, 2006: A man hijacked Turkish Airlines Flight 1476Turkish Airlines Flight 1476Turkish Airlines Flight 1476 was a Turkish Airlines flight that was hijacked by Hakan Ekinci in Greek airspace on October 3, 2006. Ekinci wanted to go to Rome to speak with the Pope, but Greek and Italian F-16 Fighting Falcon jets intercepted and escorted the aircraft until it landed in Brindisi,...
, Boeing 737-400. The aircraft landed in Italy and all of the passengers and crew survived. - January 1, 2007: Adam Air Flight 574Adam Air Flight 574Adam Air Flight 574 was a scheduled domestic passenger flight operated by Adam Air between the Indonesian cities of Surabaya and Manado that disappeared near Polewali in Sulawesi on 1 January 2007. The plane, a Boeing 737-4Q8, was ultimately determined to have crashed into the ocean, from...
, using a 737-400 with 96 passengers and six crew members, crashed off the coast of SulawesiSulawesiSulawesi is one of the four larger Sunda Islands of Indonesia and is situated between Borneo and the Maluku Islands. In Indonesia, only Sumatra, Borneo, and Papua are larger in territory, and only Java and Sumatra have larger Indonesian populations.- Etymology :The Portuguese were the first to...
. the occupants were never found, and were presumed dead. - February 21, 2007: Adam Air Flight 172Adam Air Flight 172Adam Air Flight 172 was a serious incident involving a Boeing 737-300, registered PK-KKV, flying on a scheduled domestic passenger flight in Indonesia between Jakarta and Surabaya. Officials stated the aircraft passed safety checks prior to its departure. On 21 February 2007, the plane bent on...
, using a 737-300, suffered a structural failure when landing at Juanda International AirportJuanda International AirportJuanda International Airport , is an airport located in Sidoarjo, a small town near Surabaya, East Java. This airport serves Surabaya and surrounding areas. Juanda International Airport is operated by PT Angkasa Pura I. The airport takes its name after Djuanda Kartawidjaja, the last Prime Minister...
. All of the passengers and crew survived. - March 7, 2007: Garuda Indonesia Flight 200Garuda Indonesia Flight 200Garuda Indonesia Flight 200 was the scheduled domestic passenger flight of a Boeing 737-497 operated by Garuda Indonesia between Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The aircraft crashed and burst into flames while landing at Adisucipto International Airport on March 7, 2007...
, using a 737-400, crashed upon landing at Adisucipto International AirportAdisucipto International AirportAdisucipto International Airport is the principal airport serving the Yogyakarta area on the island of Java, Indonesia....
. Out of 133 passengers and 7 crew members, 20 passengers and 1 crew member died. - September 14, 2008: Aeroflot Flight 821Aeroflot Flight 821Aeroflot Flight 821, operated by Aeroflot-Nord in a service agreement with Aeroflot and as its subsidiary, crashed on approach to Perm Airport on 14 September 2008 at 5:10 local time . All 82 passengers and 6 crew members were killed...
, using an Aeroflot-NordAeroflot-NordJSC "Nordavia" , formerly known as Aeroflot-Nord is an airline with its head office on the grounds of Talagi Airport in Arkhangelsk, Russia. It operates mainly scheduled domestic and regional services...
-operated 737-500, crashed shortly before its scheduled arrival at Perm, Russia. All 82 passengers and six crew members were killed. - December 20, 2008: Continental Airlines Flight 1404Continental Airlines Flight 1404Continental Airlines Flight 1404 was a Continental Airlines flight from Denver International Airport in Denver, Colorado, United States to George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas...
, a 737-500, veered off the runway and caught fire at Denver International AirportDenver International AirportDenver International Airport , often referred to as DIA, is an airport in Denver, Colorado. By land size, at , it is the largest international airport in the United States, and the third largest international airport in the world after King Fahd International Airport and Montréal-Mirabel...
during an attempted departure. There were no casualties. - July 13, 2009: Southwest Airlines Flight 2294Southwest Airlines Flight 2294Southwest Airlines Flight 2294 was a scheduled US passenger aircraft flight which made an emergency landing at Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia, on July 13, 2009, after what was described as a "football sized" opening in the airplane's fuselage caused rapid depressurization of the...
while airborne had a football shaped hole appear and made an emergency landing at Charleston, WV. All 131 onboard survived. The cause is still under investigation. - January 16, 2010: UTair Aviation Boeing 737-500 VQ-BAC departed the runway on landing at Vnukovo International AirportVnukovo International AirportVnukovo International Airport , is a dual runway international airport located southwest from the centre of Moscow, Russia. It is one of three major airports serving Moscow...
and was substantially damaged when the nosewheel collapsed. - April 13, 2010: Merpati Nusantara AirlinesMerpati Nusantara AirlinesMerpati Nusantara Airlines is a commuter airline based in Central Jakarta, Jakarta, Indonesia. It is a major domestic airline operating scheduled services to more than 25 destinations in Indonesia, as well as scheduled international services to East Timor and Malaysia. Its main base is...
Flight 836Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 836Merpati Nusantara Airlines Flight 836 was a scheduled domestic flight between Sorong and Manokwari, Indonesia. On 13 April 2010, the flight, operated by Boeing 737-300 PK-MDE, overran the runway on landing. The aircraft broke into three pieces...
, operated by 737-300 PK-MDE overran the runway at Rendani AirportRendani AirportRendani Airport is an airport in Manokwari, West Papua, Indonesia . It is also one of the largest and busiest airports on the Bird's Head Peninsula.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
, ManokwariManokwariManokwari is a city in Indonesia. It is the largest city and, since 2003, the capital of the province of West Papua, at the western end of New Guinea. The city has many resorts and is a major tourist area. It is one of the seats of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manokwari–Sorong. It is also the...
, Indonesia and broke up in two pieces. All 103 passengers and six crew escaped alive. - November 2, 2010: Lion AirLion AirNot to be confused with the Sri Lankan airline Lionair.PT Lion Mentari Airlines, operating as Lion Air, is Indonesia’s largest private carrier and Asia’s first hybrid carrier which offers both economy and business-class seating, based in Jakarta, Indonesia. Lion Air also flies to Singapore,...
Flight 712, operated by Boeing 737-400 PK-LIQ overran the runway on landing at Supadio AirportSupadio AirportSupadio International Airport is an airport in Pontianak, West Kalimantan, Indonesia.-Airlines and destinations:-Accidents and incidents:...
, PontianakPontianak, IndonesiaPontianak is the capital of the Indonesian province of West Kalimantan. It is a medium-size industrial city on the island of Borneo. Pontianak occupies an area of 107.82 km² in the delta of the Kapuas River...
, coming to rest on its belly. All 174 passengers and crew evacuated by the emergency chutesEvacuation slideAn evacuation slide is an inflatable slide used to evacuate an aircraft quickly. An escape slide is required on all commercial aircraft where the door sill height is such that, in the event of an evacuation, passengers would be unable to "step down" from the door uninjured An evacuation slide is...
, with few injuries reported. - April 1, 2011: Southwest Airlines Flight 812Southwest Airlines Flight 812Southwest Airlines Flight 812 was a scheduled US passenger aircraft flight between Phoenix, Arizona and Sacramento, California . On April 1, 2011, the Boeing 737–300 operating the route made an emergency landing in Yuma, Arizona after a hole appeared in the top of the airplane's fuselage above...
had a six-foot tear in the upper fuselage on a flight from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport to Sacramento International AirportSacramento International AirportSacramento International Airport is a public airport located 10 miles northwest of the central business district of Sacramento, in Sacramento County, California, USA. It is run by Sacramento County...
, and diverted to YumaYuma-Places:* Yuma Desert, desert in southwest U.S. and northwest MexicoUnited States* Yuma County, Arizona** Yuma, Arizona** Marine Corps Air Station Yuma** United States Army Yuma Proving Ground** Yuma Territorial Prison* Yuma County, Colorado** Yuma, Colorado...
after an emergency descent. One minor injury was reported.
Specifications
| Measurement | 737-300 | 737-400 | 737-500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cockpit crew | Two | ||
| Seating capacity | 149 (1-class, dense) 140 (1-class, typical) 128 (2-class, typical) |
168 (1-class, dense) 159 (1-class, typical) 146 (2-class, typical) |
132 (1-class, dense) 122 (1-class, typical) 108 (2-class, typical) |
| Seat pitch | 30 in (76.2 cm) (1-class, dense) 32 in (81.3 cm) (1-class, typical) 36 in (91.4 cm) & 32 in (81.3 cm) (2-class, typical) |
||
| Seat width | 17.2" (1-class, 6 abreast seating) | ||
| Overall length | 33.4 m (109 ft 7 in) |
36.5 m (119 ft 6 in) |
31.1 m (101 ft 8 in) |
| Wingspan | 28.88 m (94 ft 8 in) |
28.9 m (94 ft 9 in) |
|
| Overall height | 11.13 m (36 ft 6 in) |
11.1 m (36 ft 5 in) |
|
| Wing sweepback | 25° | ||
| Aspect ratio | 9.11 | 9.16 | |
| Fuselage width | 3.76 m (12 ft 4 in) | ||
| Fuselage height | 4.11 m (13' 6") | ||
| Cabin width | 3.54 m (11 ft 7 in) | ||
| Cabin height | 2.20 m (7 ft 3 in) | ||
| Operating empty weight, typical | 32,700 kg (72,100 lb) |
33,200 kg (73,040 lb) |
31,300 kg (68,860 lb) |
| Maximum Takeoff Weight | 62,820 kg (138,500 lb) |
68,050 kg (149,710 lb) |
60,550 kg (133,210 lb) |
| Maximum landing weight | 51,700 kg (114,000 lb) |
56,200 kg (124,000 lb) |
50,000 kg (110,000 lb) |
| Maximum zero-fuel weight | 48,410 kg (106,500 lb) |
53,100 kg (117,000 lb) |
46,700 kg (103,000 lb) |
| Cargo capacity | 23.3 m³ (822 ft³) |
38.9 m³ (1,373 ft³) |
23.3 m³ (822 ft³) |
| Takeoff field length (MTOW, SL, ISA) | 2,300 m (7,546 ft) | 2,540 m (8,483 ft) | 2,470 m (8,249 ft) |
| Service ceiling | 37,000 ft | ||
| Cruising speed (Mach Mach number Mach number is the speed of an object moving through air, or any other fluid substance, divided by the speed of sound as it is in that substance for its particular physical conditions, including those of temperature and pressure... ) |
0.74 | 0.74 | |
| Maximum speed (Mach) | 0.82 | ||
| Range fully loaded | 4,204 km (2,270 NM Nautical mile The nautical mile is a unit of length that is about one minute of arc of latitude along any meridian, but is approximately one minute of arc of longitude only at the equator... ) |
4,204 km (2,270 NM) | 4,444 km (2,402 NM) |
| Maximum fuel capacity | 23,170 L 6,130 USG |
23,800 L 6,296 USG |
23,800 L 6,296 USG |
| Engine manufacturer | CFM International | ||
| Engine type (x2) | CFM56-3B-1 | CFM56-3B-2 | CFM56-3B-1 |
| Takeoff thrust | 90 kN (20,000 lbf) | 98 kN (22,000 lbf) | 90 kN (20,000 lbf) |
| Cruising thrust | 21,810 N (4,902 lbf) | 21,900 N (4,930 lbf) | 21,810 N (4,902 lbf) |
| Fan tip diameter | 1.52 m (60 in) | 1.52 m (60 in) | |
| Engine bypass ratio | 5.0:1 | 4.9:1 | 5.0:1 |
| Engine length | 2.36 m (93 in) | ||
| Engine weight (dry) | 1,950 kg (4,301 lb) | ||
| Engine ground clearance | 46 cm (18 in) | ||
Sources: