Key facts
- A DHL Boeing 777 freighter, originally a passenger jet, has been outfitted with a crew rest area.
- The rest area includes bunk beds and reclining seats to ensure pilots remain rested on long-haul flights.
- This feature allows pilots to alternate shifts and maintain alertness during overnight cargo operations.
- The converted aircraft can carry a payload of up to 102 tons.
- DHL has a fleet of over 200 planes and 13 converted 777s on order from Mammoth Freighters.
Business Insider gained exclusive access to the crew rest area of a DHL Boeing 777 freighter, a converted passenger jet designed to facilitate long-haul cargo operations. The aircraft, originally operated by Delta Air Lines, was sold during the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently converted by Mammoth Freighters.
Malcolm Macbeth, DHL's senior vice president for global air fleet management, provided a tour of the plane, highlighting features crucial for pilot well-being. The interior, stripped of its passenger amenities, now includes a 'supernumerary area' equipped with bunk beds and reclining seats. This dedicated space allows pilots and mechanics to rest and alternate shifts, ensuring they remain alert and sharp during extended flights, which often operate through the night.
The converted Boeing 777-200LR, registered as N703DN, has a payload capacity of up to 102 tons. Macbeth noted that the 16-year-old aircraft had been out of service for six years before its conversion, effectively making its operational age closer to 10 years. DHL, a global logistics giant, operates a fleet of over 200 aircraft, including 35 standard Boeing 777F models, and has placed orders for 13 additional converted 777s from Mammoth Freighters.