QF A332s on MEL-PER route

[Luke Chittock]

Howdy geeks

Good news... effective 01JUL A332s will ply the skies between MEL & PER in lieu of B743 a/c.

Ops QF485/802/481/648 MEL-PER-MEL-PER-MEL.

SYD-PER remains double daily B743 ops for the time being.

Regards

Luke/PER

[Jamie D]

now this is good news! loved flying the A332 between melbourne and perth

[Tim C]

Thanks for the solid info Luke,

Now to get a bit of reliability back on the route! I know they are going U/S every second but I will be sad to see the 743's finally go when they do.

Cheers

[Brenden S]

PER-SYD-PER is tripple daily luke.

[Luke Chittock]

Hey Brend

Ok ok, 2-3 times a day - depends on day of week.

Regards

Luke/PER

[Tim C]

You could probably average it out at 2 per day with the amount of times they are U/S and they send the 744 instead! :D

[Gareth U]

Does this mean the next 332 will be delivered in Domestic configuration, as rumoured? Any more news on that front?

[Eli B]

I think a 743 will be doing some 330 flying. BNE SIN PER SIN BNE as QFs 51, 72, 71, 52 and a random one or two QF82 SIN ADL SYD. between 14/04/08 and 05/07/08

[Luke Chittock]

G'day Eli

I think a 743 will be doing some 330 flying. BNE SIN PER SIN BNE as QFs 51, 72, 71, 52 and a random one or two QF82 SIN ADL SYD. between 14/04/08 and 05/07/08

Correct - it will position SYD-BNE-SIN as QF51/14APR then operate daily shuttles SIN-PER-SIN as QF72/QF71 before operating QF82/10MAY SIN-ADL-SIN.

Gareth - A332 will be in dometic config - 38J/265Y.

Regards

Luke/PER

[Brenden S]

Hmm SIN-PER-SIN at least they will get a longer turn around!

[Luke Chittock]

Howdy all

THe B743 SIN flights are now in the system.

THe SYD-BNE & ADL-SYD sectors are available for sale - perhaps a last chance for folk to get on a B747 classic unless you want to visit Perfff.

Regards

Luke/PER

[Montague S]

G'day Eli



Correct - it will position SYD-BNE-SIN as QF51/14APR then operate daily shuttles SIN-PER-SIN as QF72/QF71 before operating QF82/10MAY SIN-ADL-SIN.

Gareth - A332 will be in dometic config - 38J/265Y.

Regards

Luke/PER

wouldn't want a u/s stranding passengers here overnight... :eek:

[David Wilkie]

The Adelaide flight QF82 is on the 11th of MAY

[Brenden S]

Lucky ADL people getting 747 pax flights there.

[David Wilkie]

The A330 is usually empty on QF82. So there will be a lot of empty
seats on the B743

[Marty H]

The A330 is usually empty on QF82. So there will be a lot of empty
seats on the B743

Why is it not utilised well?

[David Wilkie]

I think a lot of people prefer to fly direct to SYD. And most people that
fly it get of in ADL so the final leg is fairly empty

[Ben O]

A330-200 delivery schedule.

VH-EBJ: JUN 2008 (QF domestic A/C)
VH-EBK: AUG 2008 (Either QF domestic or JQ Intl config)
VH-EBL: DEC 2008 (Skybed Intl config)

This info was accurate as of FEB

[Daniel W]

Howdy geeks

Good news... effective 01JUL A332s will ply the skies between MEL & PER in lieu of B743 a/c.

Ops QF485/802/481/648 MEL-PER-MEL-PER-MEL.

SYD-PER remains double daily B743 ops for the time being.

Regards

Luke/PER
Good news for some :(
I was enjoying the odd flight to Melbourne on a B743

[Anthony J]

A330-200 delivery schedule.

VH-EBJ: JUN 2008 (QF domestic A/C)
VH-EBK: AUG 2008 (Either QF domestic or JQ Intl config)
VH-EBL: DEC 2008 (Skybed Intl config)

This info was accurate as of FEB
I'm hearing EBK will definitely be QF Domestic to allow retirement of the Classic.

[Craig Murray]

to allow retirement of the Classic.

AJ couldn't you have brought us some cheery news instead of this inevitable bombshell? I thought the Classics would live on forever. Time to plan a trip using the QF travel benefits my sister recently afforded me to fly on the RB211-524D4 powered 747 one last time!

[Rhys Xanthis]

flying on a 743 mid april. Guess its the last time...:(.

I've flown on the 743's at least 6 times i reckon since they have been flying PER->MEL/PER->SYD.

Also remember flying first class once on a 743, Nalanji dreaming when i was about 8-10 years old.

http://www.kunama.com/personal/blog/2006/09images/20060919c-nalanji-dreaming.jpg

Nothing like booking economy (frequent flyers), upgrading to business (i believe you could once pay a few thousand points and get un-confirmed business?), and then getting stuck on First Class (shoved towards the front of the plane for whatever reason).

All for a SYD -> MEL flight!

What an awesome day that was. Never forget the massive plate of food they stuck in front of us for a 1.5hr flight!! (and the mr. bean episode that was on :p)

Memories!

[Daniel W]

How many A380 deliveries would it take to free up a couple of 744's to resume the duty of PER - MEL/SYD flying? If that would even be considered? (This is assuming the first 744's freed up by A380's are being utilised to add additional frequency to the US and to add flights to South America?)

[Brenden S]

EBX is the next one to be grounded later on this year.

[Malcolm Parker]

The first A380 will be used to add the Sth America Flights. The second will no doubt be used for Nth America Expansion. The third and subsequent could likely take care of this. The third aircraft was not likely to early next year wasn't it. Would this mean the 744 back on BNE-SIN / PER-SIN and SYD-TYO. This could put A332's and A333's back on the SYD/MEL to PER runs

[Ben O]

Would this mean the 744 back on BNE-SIN / PER-SIN and SYD-TYO. This could put A332's and A333's back on the SYD/MEL to PER runs

If any B744s end up replacing A330s on Intl routes I think you will see the spare A330s used for more Intl expansion.

QF have already mentioned they plan more flights to BOM, MEL-HKG, as well as BNE/PER-China.

[Ben O]

A332s should now appear in the schedules between SYD-PER-SYD 2x daily from early SEP08.

Should also still be 1 daily B743 flight.

[Malcolm Parker]

A332s should now appear in the schedules between SYD-PER-SYD 2x daily from early SEP08.

Should also still be 1 daily B743 flight.

Do we know if these 2 domestic A332's that will be delivered in AUG and SEP will have PTV screens in Economy and /or will be convertible to INTL standard if required? or is it too early to tell at this stage.

[Michael Morrison]

Looks like the 743's are completely removed from PER-SYD/MEL runs from 3 Jan also.... The timetable says all flying is done with 763/332/738's

[Rhys Xanthis]

Looks like the 743's are completely removed from PER-SYD/MEL runs from 3 Jan also.... The timetable says all flying is done with 763/332/738's

:(

I liked having my own TV screen! ANd also flying on 747's a lot :p

And i believe the 332's will be in a domestic config.

[D Chan]

AJ couldn't you have brought us some cheery news instead of this inevitable bombshell? I thought the Classics would live on forever.

It wouldve lived for many more years if fuel price isn't as high as it is!
A sad sight to see the 743 ops wound down because when it is eventually retired, it will mark an end of F/Es at Qantas.

[Ken K]

-EBX will be operating QF72/71 for a few days more:

.SINKOQF ~1 SIN AIRPORT
HI QF71.BAY C25. A/C NITESTOP.
OPTG QF72/11MAY.
RGDS...

[Krzysztof M]

Thanks for the solid info Luke,

Now to get a bit of reliability back on the route! I know they are going U/S every second but I will be sad to see the 743's finally go when they do.

Cheers


Tonight flying as QF583 SYD PER they went all the way to 34L then said they had a problem and need some time. Then they called for engineers, then changed their mind, then again no take off. So ATC agreed they would enter 34L, exit via L and to holding point again, possibly several times. After changing their decision once more they were ready to go. Then just before take off they said they would be going back to the terminal with avionics problem.

Two minutes later they say they will go and off they did.

20 mins later heard them talk to MEL CTR about available runways (didnt catch where) and about their decision. Another 10 mins and they request climb again.

Might be nothing, but as much as love them, maybe it is time to retire?

[Rhys Xanthis]

I cant remember the last time i flew on time on QF on PER-MEL-PER route...

about time for the 743's to move on.

[Brenden S]

The aircraft need at least a 2hr on the deck time for them to rest. I am being serious. When I started working on them when they first started domestic ops they were good reliable aircraft. Now they are barely keeping them going as such ie plenty of defects, and with 2 aircraft out of the system now leaving only 4 you dont have much down time. There is another to be parked up against the fence soon, which means they are going to be working harder than ever.

[Marty H]

The aircraft need at least a 2hr on the deck time for them to rest. I am being serious. When I started working on them when they first started domestic ops they were good reliable aircraft. Now they are barely keeping them going as such ie plenty of defects, and with 2 aircraft out of the system now leaving only 4 you dont have much down time. There is another to be parked up against the fence soon, which means they are going to be working harder than ever.


Which rego is going to be put out of service next?

[Rhys Xanthis]

Whats wrong with them exactly?

Or are they just completely run down, had it?

And also, were they just parked at AVV before moving to domestic ops, or doing something intl?

[Montague S]

Whats wrong with them exactly?

Or are they just completely run down, had it?

And also, were they just parked at AVV before moving to domestic ops, or doing something intl?

what's wrong with them? ummm... they chew more fuel than I chew big-macs that's what's wrong with em.

70 ton of fuel just for Perth-Singapore opposed to the A330-300 which carries half that for the same journey...and with oil at $124 p/b its a pretty expensive gig keeping them.

[Rhys Xanthis]

what's wrong with them? ummm... they chew more fuel than I chew big-macs that's what's wrong with em.

70 ton of fuel just for Perth-Singapore opposed to the A330-300 which carries half that.
whoa...thats ridiculous!

always wondered how much fuel they take up...cant be very profitable at all then!

[Marty H]

whoa...thats ridiculous!

always wondered how much fuel they take up...cant be very profitable at all then!


Also consider a B738 or an A320 would use around 15 to 20 tonnes of fuel, so unless they are full capacity every single flight or have huge amount of freight on board then they would be stretching the QF finances.

They are very old aircraft delivered in 84/85.

[Rick K]

Just a thought!
Can an aircraft be re-engined with a more state-of-the art engine which might acheive latter-day frugality - but retain the airframe?

[Marty H]

Just a thought!
Can an aircraft be re-engined with a more state-of-the art engine which might acheive latter-day frugality - but retain the airframe?

Airframes are in very poor condition get up close to one and you will see what I mean.

[Anthony J]

Airframes are in very poor condition get up close to one and you will see what I mean.
That is just not correct. The condition of the paint does not define the condition of the airframe. They are in good nick.

[Marty H]

That is just not correct. The condition of the paint does not define the condition of the airframe. They are in good nick.

Where did I say paint:confused: I said take a good look at it and they are in poor condition, ther is more patches on QF 743 than there is a on a patchwork quilt.

[Montague S]

well Martin if they were in the condition that you suggest then they'd probably have crashed by now. They are old units but have been well maintained over time but the access to parts has become harder and the technology is now dated.

if QF 743's are in very poor condition then what they hell does that make the 40 y/o 727's & 737-200's flying around Australia?

[Marty H]

well Martin if they were in the condition that you suggest then they'd probably have crashed by now. They are old units but have been well maintained over time but the access to parts has become harder and the technology is now dated.

if QF 743's are in very poor condition then what they hell does that make the 40 y/o 727's & 737-200's flying around Australia?

Doesnt mean they will crash at all, I never said that I said after a CLOSE observation of serveral QF B743s they are in poor condition, but unless you standing with the guy refueling the thing then you dont see what I have seen.

VH-VLI is 81 build so its that much older the the QF B743's and I havent seen the state of it to make a valid comment and the Ozjet B732's I havent seen close enough to make a valid comment either VH-OZD isnt in bad shape from a distance but what is all the paint hiding? She has quite large amount soot deposit build up behind the engines on the fuselage though.

[J Brown]

-EBX will be operating QF72/71 for a few days more:A333's are back on the QF71/72 run effective yesterday with -QPD positioning into SIN from HKG as QF6008. -EBX ferried SIN-HKG yesterday and went straight to HAECO.

[Montague S]

I never said that I said after a CLOSE observation of serveral QF B743s they are in poor condition.

Airframes are in very poor condition

that's what you said...very poor condition to me means they shouldn't be in the air.

but unless you standing with the guy refueling the thing then you dont see what I have seen.


when you hold a airframe engineering degree then I'll take your word for it...no offence, but your not qualified to make the call as to what is or isn't very poor condition.

[Anthony J]

Where did I say paint:confused: I said take a good look at it and they are in poor condition, ther is more patches on QF 743 than there is a on a patchwork quilt.
Any airframe that does high cycle flying gets ramp rash. Patches do not mean the aircraft is in poor condition.

[Rhys Xanthis]

-EBX ferried SIN-HKG yesterday and went straight to HAECO.

Whats it doing there? Getting Checked over? (QF could do that at AVV ...?)

[Brenden S]

EBX - C check
Patches, nothing wrong with them
Paint, just protects the airframe from corrosion better than just having bare metal.
Condition, they are fine, they just need to be on the deck long enough for the engineers to fix all the hold items on the aircraft. Things break, and out comes the CDL/MEL book to just keep the aircraft going, very legal.