Corrosion Strikes GF A/C Again

[Chuck Y]

Round 2 of GF v. Corrosion is in full swing!!!
3 A320's are grounded & under going serious maintenance in various places due to severe corrosion. It could be a blessing in diguise since things only seem to happen here when our planes are reduced to piles of rust & crap.

[brassplate]

i know you're fishing. they are not as bad as you say, at least nothing like the 76 fiasco.

[Panama Jack]

Will be a boon to Gulf Air for us operating in this salty, sulfuric environment when the "less metal" airplane Boeing 787's arrive.

[jbsig]

......when the "less metal" airplane Boeing 787's arrive.


In the year .........:}

[Warbirds]

How come other middle east airlines like EK, EY, Oman Air, SV, Kuwait etc, etc, have'nt reported similar problems ??? Either GF's maintanance sucks or the others keep quiet !!! :sad:

[Desert Diner]

How come other middle east airlines like EK, EY, Oman Air, SV, Kuwait etc, etc,

No one else has had their planes as long as GF.

[boiler]

Rumor has it GF is considering getting new A340-600s. Any truth to that?

[TZZ]

no they r getting 380's

[brassplate]

three reasons. old planes (possibly the oldest airbus in the world), lack of parts (partly due to discontinued 'older' parts and funding), some (10%) unenthusiastic engineers.

[A Bunker]

Boilermaker, it is true and new 320s, but the question is when?

[stefan1138]

If true, where shall the 340-600s come from?

[brassplate]

321s coming at the end of the month apparently. don't think they are new though.

[ironbutt57]

321's indeed not new, coming from Royal Jordanian...

340-6's suspected to be "remarketed" by Boeing who apparently takes them in on trade for 777's which prove to be more fuel efficient than the 4-holer bus

[Sal-e]

I hope they're in good nick. There is no point bringing in hardware that has more of the same issues as the ones we already have.

[brassplate]

if their gingerbeers are anything like ours, gf will only end up stretching their maintenance resources.

[Mustapha Rex]

Thought corrosion was just a "psychological" issue at GF, obviously it is not just that.

[Sal-e]

Is GF planning on acquiring the 340-600s or not?

[boiler]

If they do, it will be a great challenge to make them profitable given the high fuel prices.

[ironbutt57]

Don't know If GF has a specific mission to acquire the big big bus, rather somebody is offering them as readily available for fleet expansion..as previously mentioned, it is a mission specific type aircraft, and rather thirsty as well for our CURRENT route structure...but I'm sure if the price is right they may turn up...

[ODMEA]

Could they get a BAH-HKG or a BAH-SYD non-stop out of an A346?

[Panama Jack]

ODMEA, I am not sure of whether you are asking whether the A340-600's are capable of making these legs or whether this is in the GF plans. The -600's are capable of flying non-stop practically anywhere in the world from Bahrain (based on a great-circle routing). Hong Kong and Sydney would be relatively "easy" hops for the -600. Any location in the continents of North or South America, Europe, Africa, Asia or Oceanea is within range. The only area that is out of range is the Southeastern Pacific-- so no Bahrain-Easter Island or Bahrain-Tahiti nonstops. Probably a good, relatively easily available aircraft if GF has North American ambitions again, and there are probably some destinations that could be lucrative linking sizeable Indian communities in in the Americas with India via Bahrain.

Some large airlines have not been entirely enamored by their experience with the 340-600's-- (I heard Thai Airways dumped some of their relatively new -600's). However, after what I've seen at GF during the last year I really wonder whether economics is the main driving concern and in any case, if GF wants airplanes right now, there are few attractive options-- so they might just have to bite the bullet.

Heard a rumor that these A321's may not be here by the 18th, as previously forecast. Big question on WHEN exactly. I guess I'll just keep reading the GDN for more info.

[boiler]

Just to add one more thing to what Panama Jack said. While these planes can reach very far places non-stop, they will be however payload restricted. For example, while this plane can reach JFK, and ORD, cargo payload will be almost nill. So you will have a huge aircraft with tones of cargo potential, but it will be practically empty and un-utilized. MNL is as far as it may go with full payload (cargo and pax). SYD cannot make it unless it is passenger-restricted as well (if memory serves from looking at the performance graphs of this aircraft). Recall it is the A340-500 that is the long-range aircraft and not the -600.

[40&80]

No worries mate...GF will probably in their wisdom put them on the Dahrans and Doha sectors only.