At the moment G-LGTH (-300) is in maintenance at GLA, and GTI was in before it, so there are still -300's about.
The G-LGTx aircraft are -300's; there are 5 of these GTE - GTI,
the G-GFFx aircraft are -500's; there are 10 of these FFA - FFJ, and the G-DOCx machines are -400's; there are 22 of these OCA - OCZ (with the exception of OCC, OCD, OCI, OCJ, OCK and no OCQ!) and there is G-GBTA, and G-GBTB. This is a list produced from the CAA's online registration database on 21 July 2004.
Obviously there were other aircraft that operated in BA's fleet such as ex-Dan Air -400's such as G-BPNZ, BSNV*, BSNW*
(* these 2 had extra fuel tanks in the aft hold),
G-BUHJ, UHK, UHL (these had end-of-lease checks to FAA spec and were sold/handed back),
G-BNNL, NNK operated with GB Airways, and there have been various other -300/400/500's leased for short term periods, over the years.
There is a current program of End-of-Lease maintenance checks, but not specifically on the -300's/500's, as G-DOCI and OCK have both moved on. OCK went to S. Africa after an input at the Polar Air hangar at PWK a year or 2 ago, OCI was more recent and done at GLA.
UHJ,UHK and UHL were also handed back following inputs at GLA, and just last Xmas ('03/'04) VNM, VNN, and VNO were also done at GLA. Most have the maintenance carried out here as its the 737 major maintenance base, (although the Airbus line in Bay 2 is well up and running), and the aircraft are then repainted at LHR/LGW. G-BVNM, VNN, and VNO were to be sold to an Italian operator but I believe VNM is still registered as such and is still in the UK.
The lease agreements are the main consideration for choosing which aircraft are disposed of. I had asked a member of one of the hand-back teams as to why we were keeping all the "odd-ball" aircraft and not trying to re-establish a consistent fleet of the same type i.e all the G-DOCx -400's. This would make maintenance and spares holdings easier to manage as there is commonality. Cabin layout on the current fleet can vary quite dramatically as do the spares reqd and as such interchangeability.
Eng
