Sax Crj-700

[grjplanes]

With the 2 CRJ700s due to arrive, maybe we can have a seperate thread about it, not under the old 'CRJ900 demonstrator...'

Both is now scheduled, first one from 17 November doing JNB-Lubumbashi-JNB-GRJ. The second one from 1 December doing JNB-WDH-JNB-WVB-JNB-WDH.

Both JNB-GRJ and JNB-WDH is scheduled to take 15mins longer than what the current CRJ-200s do...any ideas why.
Also the one doing JNB-FBM&GRJ tends to stand at all the airports around 1h10 to 1h25mins, why so long turn-around times.
The last flight, JNB-GRJ is scheduled to arrive at 17:20, but only leave again at 18:55!
Wouldn't that cause unnecessary extra labour costs...pilots/crew, as well as groundstaff being the last flight out of GRJ?Or is there something wrong at the scheduling department...

Also, no flights loaded for weekends, only Mon-Fri...any ideas what they'll do weekends, take a break?

[reptile]

The airline is building in some extra fat in case of delays during turn around.

Keep in mind that it is a new type in operation. The 700 is from a technical viewpoint only 54% similar to a 200 (the cockpit is 89% hence the common crew qualification) and the ground handling personnel therefore may require some extra time to get to grips with the aircraft. Sector and turn around times are bound to be reduced as the operation matures.

[grjplanes]

One will work much harder every day.
JNB-WDH leaving 06:15 in the morning already, then just 25mins turn-around, back at JNB 10:55, then only 35mins turn-around at JNB, do JNB-WVB back 16:45, turnaround 35mins again, do JNB-WDH with 35 mins turnaround in WDH as well, arrive back 22:20.
So turnaround here is very little, while the other one is stupidly longer.

At the moment DH4 is turned around at GRJ around 30/40mins, is it really necessary to have the CR7 standing scheduled 1h35mins? This after coming down JNB-GRJ in 2h05...which I guess will rather be more like 1h45...so could stand for almost 2hours. The last SA flight before this from GRJ is Airlink BAe to CPT at 17:45. So I feel why do they have to keep this aircraft on the ground for almost an hour longer than necessary, and then have to pay the groundstaff that extra...as well as the crew (because it's not doing other flights after that)
Scheduled times for the other routing is:
07:50 JNB FBM 10:20
11:35 FBM JNB 14:05
15:15 JNB GRJ 17:20
18:55 GRJ JNB 20:45
That seems to be too much fat for in case of delays, since the other aircraft is operating almost anorexic!

[Q4NVS]

Well, when next there is a vacancy in the SAX Scheduling Department we will send them your details...:}

Other than that, I think it is fair to say that it is SAX's CRJ700's, their schedule and their crew, so they can do with it as they see fit.

:zzz:

[SAA201]

I would assume the longer schedules and turn around times are possibly to allow some slack in the schedules and to absorb any delays that may creep up as sometimes happens when a new aircraft is introduced into a fleet.

You might find that as the airline gains more experience with the type and more crew are trained that tighter schedules and weekend flights will be introduced.

Perhaps the initial weekend periods are to allow for crew base training or similar?

My 2c (at R11 to the $) worth!

[JTrain]

As for the FBM ground time being 1h 15 minutes, just remember, its Congo :-)

In all seriousness, the SAX FBM ground crew is usually pretty efficient. Many many times I've seen the Q400 that presently does the route or the CR2 that used to do it leave 5-10 minutes early. But with DRC, its always good to build in some wiggle room, because you never know what kind of b.s. will crop up.

JT

[Halfmonk Halfhitman]

No flying on weekends due servicing and training. Lubumbashi aircraft will come off GRJ next year and do JNB - LUB - KIN - LUB -JNB and then an overnight Kigali.

The long GRJ turnaround due slots into JNB but changed already.

CRJ 200 times used initially before decision on M.77 - M.82 cruise or not.

Extra time added to JNB GRJ as GRJ ATC insists on the step down approach / descend in the hold.

[JTrain]

Has SAX formally announced the Lubumbashi - Kinshasa route?

Additionally, is there anywhere to confirm the Kigali flight. I've also heard rumors of Bujumbura or Entebbe - anything firm?

Thanks for any/all information.

jt

[grjplanes]

Any news on when the first of these two jets will arrive in SA, first one is scheduled to go into service in 2 weeks time. Will they be re-registered and painted in SAX colours?
There is a discussion on Airliners.net now about Horizon Air and their CR7s again, with some people suggesting that now that the oil price came down again Horizon might rather want to hang on to some of the CR7s again.

Btw, schedules have been adjusted again, with shorter turn-around times at GRJ and also weekend flights to GRJ over December, as extra flights.

[nugpot]

Mid-November.

Will be painted and re-registered here.

[grjplanes]

Just noticed that EIS for the 1st CR7 to go on JNB-FBM-JNB-GRJ-JNB has changed from 17 November to 28 November, so some delay?

[BEEDEE]

Last (fairly recent) information was that lease agreement still not signed due to Horizon not happy with the financial side - and being a bit selfish about it. Also no ferry contract signed yet. 406 ELT's still being fitted to make the a/c legal outside the USA, etc., etc. Then, on arrival, have to be re-registered, re-sprayed (???), C-checked (???). Once that's done, then it's crew (flightdeck and cabin) to be trained. Some flightdeck crew have already completed the technical and simulator differences courses at CST in Berlin and CAE in Montreal and just need to do the 5 take-offs and landings (in the aircraft) to legalise the whole process and to make SACAA happy. All of this then makes it anybody's guess as to when the first scheduled flight will REALLY take place, despite SAX's scheduling department's optimism!!!

[cigar]

Just read on the net that the deal has been finalised and N607QX and N602QX are the 2 birds destined for SAX. They are expected to leave the QX fleet shortly.

[grjplanes]

N607QX has been with Horizon for almost 5 years now. N602QX seems to be an ex-Frontier bird, was still in Frontier colours last December, now in special livery for University of Washington Huskies.
Both are CRJ-701s.
Now scheduled to go into service on JNB-GRJ 20 December...seems to be giving SAX scheduling department alot of headaches, now have to replace the previous already increased capacity flights now with more CRJ flights.

[grjplanes]

According to a special thread about the ferry flight, the first of these two is on it's way to JNB, think N607QX, so I would guess they'll arrive tomorrow or early Friday?
Would they need 4 weeks to do the C-checks, re-register and repaint, or would they go into service a little earlier again, before 20 December?

[pilot de peste]

Anybody knows where to call or apply for CRJ positions as a pilot in SAX?

Thanks:E

[VortexGen300]

If you are a South African citizen with a South African license it might work to try and get in otherwise it will be virtually impossible.

VG300

[Q4NVS]

It's here...:ok:

The first SAX CRJ 700 arrived at 5am this morning and was in the SAX Hangar by 8am.

:zzz:

[IBM400]

Not bad, saw it this morning, might still be a while before operational:D

[theBOSS]

Well done to SAX and all the big guns. Now how do i apply?

[BEEDEE]

Now scheduled to leave Portland Oregon on 4 December for Johannesburg. Time will tell.

[BEEDEE]

Arrived in Johannesburg yesterday (Monday 8th) evening.

[nugpot]

CRJ 700 #1 should have test flight 10 or 11 Dec. Base training for new crews 12, 13 and route proving 14th.

Starts commercial operations 17 December. Initially on JNB-WDH and JNB-WVB for crew training.

[cigar]

Caught at JNB today:

Photos: Canadair CL-600-2C10 Regional Jet CRJ-700 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net (http://www.airliners.net/photo/South-African-Express/Canadair-CL-600-2C10-Regional/1449577/L/)

[Phenom]

Yeah, :ok: Sax...

[9XR-SC]

Additionally, is there anywhere to confirm the Kigali flight


Any news about flights to Kigali??

[9XR-SC]

SA Express want to fly to Rwanda :

SA Express to fly to Kigali? (http://www.btnow.co.za/NewsDetails.aspx?newsId=41368)