SAA gets 1st A319

[SAA201]

Hi all,

The aircraft, ZS-SFD, has just landed at Jo'burg International as SA4269 from Hamburg via Accra.

The aircraft goes into service on the Durban route on 2 Sept 04.

For more info, go to: http://www.flysaa.com/navigate.jhtml?win=about_saa/media_corner/news_flash_frameset.html&num=4&sta=0&origin=0

[orangesky]

for those who are interested, while she was still wearing her German registration(thanks to Frank Unterspann @ Airliners.net)

http://www.airliners.net/open.file/632571/L/

[SAA201]

Some interior and exterior shots taken just after the aircraft arrived at JNB:

http://photos.groups.yahoo.com/group/asanews/slideshow?&.dir=/SAA%27S+first+A319&.src=gr&.view=t

(need to join to view)

[Gauteng Pilot]

Did she come in at night???

Thought i saw a Small airbus in SAA colors flying into JHB latish at night on that day

[SAA201]

Yes the aircraft arrived at about 21h15 on 24/8/2004

I had the chance to look at the new A319 yesterday.

The cargo hold appears to be configured for bulk cargo only as with the B737 series, ie not able to carry containers.

Can anyone confirm if this is indeed the case. I understood that one of the reasons SAA wanted the A319 was due to its containerised cargo ability.

[planecrazi]

Our A319's carry containers, but I believe there is no option like this on the A318.

Most come with containers.

[Deanw]

Hi SAA201

I suspect you have already seen this reply on another forum, but for the interest of others, herewith an anwer from an SAA employee:

The A319 was selected as a bulk loaded aircraft due to the small size if its holds.In fact not much bigger than the B737-200 in terms of length but a bit higher.If we had gone the container route on this aircraft we would have lost 30% of the available volume and incurred a weight penalty for the container loading fixtures.lastly the containers and the container loading
equipment are of a special make and specific to this aircraft. SAA would have had to spend tons of money buying this equipment and placing it all over southern Africa.This aircraft will be operating some of our regional routes and these stations will not have the equipment needed to handle the aircraft if it were containerized.

I am on the work group that made this decision and if we get A320/A321s they
will be containerized.

[Gauteng Pilot]

But now Transnet have said the A320's have been cancelled.

Wasnt part of there argument to get rid of the 737-800's that they wanted a aircraft with containers ? :rolleyes: :rolleyes:

:mad: