Originally Posted by
davidclarke
Does it really matter how reliable they are?
They will operate maybe 3-4 hours per day on mine runs. Plently of down time for the engineers to work on them.
Just like the old JQ 321s going to EFA. They only really fly at night, so they have all day to be worked on.
That’s a lot cheaper than having a brand new aircraft being under-utilised.
Well for East Ops as the discussion at hand, sunrise to sunset, most certainly not.
Mining runs. Go for your life.
Virgin does (or did) fly some 320 services Adelaide/Melbourne however they did pickup some of the Tiger machines only 10 years old.
An Airbus Test Pilot once told me, anything at the gate approaching 20 years old, bring a overnight bag. So far his on the money.