Georgia-based Geo Sky received a Christmas gift in the form of a 747-200F (23735, ex-Air Atlanta Icelandic) [FAT 005275]. The carrier now has a fleet of four 747-200Fs.
Geo Sky told Cargo Facts that the aircraft is leased from a Dubai-based lessor, and expects to deploy unit 23735 in service on or around Jan. 7. While it’s surprising to see a 747 Classic being reactivated, Geo Sky said that it is happy with the type and intends to continue operating it for at least another two or three years, mainly flying ACMI services for Azerbaijan-based Silk Way Group as well as charter flights.
Having said that, Geo Sky told Cargo Facts that it is planning to upgrade to 747-400Fs going forward. The carrier is in negotiations and hopes to be able to secure one soon.
Unit 23735 first entered service with British Airways in passenger configuration in 1987, and was later converted to freighter configuration. After operating in the Air Atlanta Icelandic fleet for nearly a decade, the aircraft was placed in storage at Marana (MZJ) in 2012. The reactivated 747 Classic was ferried to Tbilisi (TBS) on Christmas Day after a short stop in nearby Tucson (TUS).
For now, only one Geo Sky 747-200F (23111, ex-Kalitta Air) is in active service. Two other aircraft are in maintenance, but are expected to fly again. One aircraft (23711, ex-Air Atlanta Icelandic) is undergoing a scheduled C-check at the GMF AeroAsia facility in Jakarta (CGK). This is almost three-quarters complete and unit 23711 is expected to resume service by the end of January. Geo Sky’s other 747-200F (23736, ex-Kalitta Air) has been in TBS since June 2019. The carrier told Cargo Facts that the aircraft is under maintenance with Boeing and is awaiting a spare part.
While unit 23711 is currently registered under The Cargo Airlines (TCA), which holds a separate Georgian AOC, Geo Sky said that TCA is a sister company and will eventually only run the group’s helicopter business, and unit 23711 will ultimately be transferred to the Geo Sky AOC.
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