PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - preserving Retired Airliners in Flying Condition.
Old 7th Aug 2014, 10:02
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chimbu warrior
 
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Paradise
Age: 68
Posts: 1,551
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A great idea............but unfortunately beyond the bounds of possibility on economic grounds.

Airliners on low utilisation maintenance programs typically require more maintenance than those still out earning their keep.

Consider also that, unlike a DC-3, a jet can only use certain airports, and those airports are nowadays operated by avaricious banks and the like. Parking fees alone may cost several thousand dollars a week; most operators of large airports have no sense of history, or generosity, so will likely not be keen to waive parking fees. To be fair, a jet typically takes up a fair amount of tarmac space too.

Then there is the matter of stage 3 noise compliance.........

The other impediment to operation of something larger than a DC-3 is that a fair amount of GSE and support equipment is required. That also requires maintenance/fuel/somewhere to store it.

These are just the starting points; who would be keen to insure a jet flown by pilots who only do 50 hours a year? Where might they find an available B727 simulator? The closest one is probably in the US, and unlikely to be free.

Don't get me wrong, I'd love to see (and hear) a B727 gracing our skies, but sadly it won't happen.
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