GOL Linhas Aéreas is currently returning a historic aircraft, the first Boeing 737-800 in the world to receive the performance improvement package called Short Field Performance (SFP).
The PR-GTA was one of the most important aircraft in GOL's fleet, as it was the first Boeing 737-800 in the world and consequently in the company's fleet to allow operations on short runways.
GOL participated in the development of the Short Field Performance package with Boeing between 2005 and 2006. The company wanted an aircraft capable of operating at Congonhas and Santos Dumont airports with a capacity greater than the 737-700.
The first aircraft was the Boeing 737-800 that flew with the test registration N6067U, and that would become the PR-GTA after the tests.
The jet underwent several tests, as the SFP package includes some changes to the wings and also to the engines to improve performance. You can check the details and configurations used in the performance package for the Boeing 737 in a special article from Aeroflap.
After the tests, GOL then decided to receive that first 737-800 SFP as part of its fleet, and soon after, the aircraft received the company's painting and the PR-GTA registration, in addition to the given name 'Team of Eagles', in honor of the company's employees and also the name 'Flagship' next to the left front door, where boarding and disembarking takes place.
The arrival of this new aircraft in July 2006 allowed GOL to increase its operating capacity in Congonhas and Santos Dumont, as the new Boeing 737-800 SFP carried 176 engers against 144 on the 737-300, -700 and Airbus A319.
The new aircraft was a milestone in the airline's history, allowing it to have greater operational efficiency in relation to the old 737s already operated, in addition to offering a greater number of seatsA. GOL's initial order was for 101 new aircraft of the type, something that was later expanded.
The SFP package became available as an option on all Boeing 737, -600, -700 and -800 series airplanes and as a standard modification on all Boeing 737-900ERs. For the new version that is the 737 MAX, the modification is also standard but with the most recent package being the 3.0, also present in some airplanes of the GOAL.
PR-GTA has now fulfilled its mission, and the company is returning the aircraft to the lessor at this time. After almost 18 years flying only with GOL, the plane is headed to Liége in Belgium where it will be converted into a freighter and transferred to another operator.
The aircraft has not flown commercially since January, when it flew between João Pessoa (JPA) and Confins (CNF), where the company maintains its GOL Aerotech maintenance unit.
Follow the PR-GTA return flight on FlightRadar24, by clicking here.
