Oil spill 727s to be replaced
(Photo Key-Jamie Ewan)
UK-BASED 2Excel Group will retire its veteran Boeing 727s in favour of specially modified 737-800s as part of a new 20-year contract with Oil Spill Response Limited (OSRL) for global oil spill dispersant services. Set to enter service in 2028, the pair of 737s will succeed the two long-serving trijets that have formed the backbone of OSRL’s response service since operations began in 2016. G-OSRA (c/n 22938) and G-OSRB (c/n 22929) were among the last 727s off the production line and were delivered to FedEx in September 1984 and October 1983, respectively. Both were retired in September 2012 and were then fitted with 2Excel’s TERSUS dispersant system.