Qantaslink MEL Base Q400 schedules loaded.

[Eastwest Loco]

Just got a bucketload of schedule changes on local bookings so had a rummage in Sabre.

From 16APR Q400 equipment appears on DPO MQL and LST selective MEL services.

No sign as yet on MEL CBR but the full scedule change run may not yet be complete.

From the look of the time spread on individual services, the aeroplane appears to be fully utilised on the above ports.

Best all

EWL

[Chadzat]

For those of us non eastern states locals and too lazy to look up those designators, can someone translate the schedule codes into place names thanks?

[limelight]

When in doubt..

use Welcome to World Airport Codes (http://www.world-airport-codes.com/)

[tasdevil.f27]

Yes, heard this morning that the 400's will be running out of LST. The 300's have been running pretty big loads of late. Who will be ground handling them & J* should be known next week. Rumor has it there's 3 companies left in the race. And if a certain one gets it the current QF staff wont sticking around. :(

LST = Launceston
DPO = Devonport
MQL = Mildura?

[sthaussiepilot]

I see a problem...

Are VB still Jungle Jetting into Mildura?

[Eastwest Loco]

South Aus

The jungle jet is 2-2 config. The Q400 is 2-2 config. Sama sama.

The Q400 is damned near as fast at the Jungle bunny. No contest with Club Rat as opposed to the Lizard Lounge and similar fares after the gloss wears off.

It will be nice to have the Q400 out of DPO after the 100/200 series were withdrawn. They did a wonderful job and were nice beasties if a little loud to ride on. There is nothing wrong as SLF with the 300 either/ Lovely solid machine.

One might also relate that the F27 100/200/500/600 (I cant remember which one was a 600 but am sure it was there) which were not big on "quiet" but we loved the old girls.

Go back to 5% Agent commission DJ, and you may just survive this mess. I will, however be protecting my Qantas Platinum Agent status for purely selfish reasons, as I need the extra level of consideration to take care of my Corporate clients. I wish you no ill will at all.

DPO has not seen a 72 seater since the green and gold girls graced our skies, and MQL would be in a similar position.

Well done QFlink. This is a good endorsement for the ports involved, and much appreciated in locations that need good consisted legacy coverage, not LCCs who will nick off as soon as something jucier is mooted.

DJ - take notice - we can be bought - but it will be expensive. It will also be more than lucrative. QF might take that on board too.

Best all

EWL

[sthaussiepilot]

Cheers EWL,

Only issue with the Q400, is PAX seem to have the ideas "oh Jets are safer, more comfortable, faster, and generally better"

Is that pretty well all DJ has going for the MQL route?

Anyone have the operating costs for Q400?

[Bang Bus]

I would be willing to bet that at the end of the day punters will buy the cheapest ticket, regardless of what is bolted to the wings

[sthaussiepilot]

I think that if it came down to 10 dollers or less difference in the fare, I think the engines might play a part.... for some pax

[Eastwest Loco]

South Aus

At the coal face,. people are choosing International through check baggage, no 24 hour cutoff (just next day) on changes, Qantas Club, good seat pitch which all the Dashes have and a free beer after 1700 departure. A Q300 or 400 is a damned sight more comfy than a 737 in sardine config.

On MQL there is one DJ service that connects to bugger all in late arvo as opposed to QLink and Rex all day spread.

They will no doubt attract traffic (most of which will be associated with my tight arsed relatives involved in Jewellery and Orchards who haven't spoken to me for 20 years) but seem to be there for nuisance value.

DPO loads extremely well for QF and I hope it continues to do so.

Best regards

EWL

[Dog One]

Whilst the Q400 is about 130 kts slower than the Embraer, on a short sector like DPO - MEL, there would be very little difference in flight times. Haven't flown in a Q400, but understand they are much quieter than the -300's. Connections and pricing will be the key, and as EW says, DJ connects with nothing.

[Eastwest Loco]

Dog

Did a BNE LRE a while ago on the dogs dick - Quebec Oscar Hotel and I can tell you it was a lot more comfortable and roomy than the 734 LRE SYD the next day.

Very quiet compared to a Q300, and positively silent compared to the 100/200 series that used to vibrate their way to MEL out of here.

Mind you, they were decent beasties, as were the F27s that went before them.

Best regards

EWL

[Normasars]

DOG


The Jungle Jet does not do 500kt mate, 450 actually.

The Q400 is a 370kt machine all day everyday BUT the current policy is 330 econ cruise.

Just the facts please.:ok:

[Dog One]

450 - 330 = 120 kts. Very sorry, next time I will get it to +/- 5 kts

[How's it Hanging]

Rumour has it Q400 for Hobart overnight in May when Jetstar base closes there.

[Eastwest Loco]

Still showing 738 overnight HBA for QF hanging.

No sign of a Q400 there yet.

Best all

EWL

[SGT Schulz]

When are the 400s taking back over from Alliance on the MK-BN runs?

[KABOY]

Does the ECON cruise also apply to the pay scales??

330 kts TAS for a 260 kt airplane payscale, hey!!

[Stationair8]

A quick question for EWL, what was the seating capacity of the East West F28's and Bae-146?

A mate works for QLink, reckons the rumour mill has Dash8-400 running to Hobart ex ML over the weekend during winter, and possibly Sydney - Launceston service instead of the A320. Interesting times!!!

[Eastwest Loco]

Stationair

EWA B C & D (F28-4000) were 72 seat standard config and 69 seat NLK config.

They were fitted with centre wing tanks to allow NLK ops more comfortably with PNR in sight of the island.

EWF & G (F28-3000) were 64 seat config but cant remember if they were centre tank fitted. I think they may have been. Both were ex Saudia and arrived with no drop oxy system, which was actually manufactured and fitted in TMW.

The 146-300s were 96 seat all Y config, but had a short stint at around 115 I think with 3 3 config - another bit of genius from the Evil Empire that didnt work.

Best regards

EWL

[Stationair8]

Thanks for that EWL.

[tasdevil.f27]

I see the 400 only knocks off 10 minutes of flight time between LST - MEL. I thought it might have been a tad more than that. Still the business people will be happy getting in a bit earlier into MEL.

[Led Zep]

It probably would take more off assuming Normasars is correct about cruise settings.

[Stationair8]

Is the Dash8-400 a Cat B or C aircraft for IFR?

[SGT Schulz]

Flight Plan as C

[Normasars]

DOG,

There is a big difference between what the a/c is certified at than what QL operate it at buddy. Fly it at its designed speed and it is 80kt slower not 130kt.
It is just the been counters saying "keep the fuel burn down" that is incurring the speed penalty as the previous issues re EMU/ITT/EGT have been fixed by P&W.

BTW the Q400 is being certified to operate as 74pax as we speak. The mods are currently underway and awaiting regulatory approval.

[dizzylizzy]

Removal of the rear wardrobe and replaced with 2 pax seats. When will they start changing the fwd cargo into seat areas aswell?

[Hugh Jarse]

Gidday Normas',

So how does that affect the cabin crew ratio 1:36 with 74 seats? Or have QL gone to 1:50 ratio?

Regards.

[Eastwest Loco]

Hiya Hugh

Haven't seen you in a donkeys age!

Good call. One more FA would be needed and the maximum SOB including infants would be very very stretched if no extra FA.

Over water, definitely 36 per FA under what I understand is the current reg.

We used to get into untidy places with the F28-4000 with previously undeclared rug rats, or when trying to jump-seat on a full ship with the max INF count. I think it was 3 on the type.


Best all

EWL

[apacau]

74 seat option will only be sold as 74 seats when exemption given for 2 F/A per flight. Have they been fitted yet? Last I heard seats were purchased but not yet installed?

No doubt DJ are waiting on this with their E170s which must be at a significant cost disadvantage (aside from fuel burn aspect) with 3 F/As vs Q400's 2 F/As

[Normasars]

Hi Jarse,

Hope all is well with you and yours mate.

As I understand it, CASA approval for 74pax to 2 CC is pending. They have been pursuing this vigourously now for a while.

I spoke to M.B. from CASA the other day on the jump seat but he was a tad "non-committal ".

Like everything within QF; as pillots we will be the last to know.

APACAU,

only when ALL the Q400 fleet is config'd will the approval be issued and only then will the "74 seats be released for sale" their words not mine:ok:

This will take a couple of mths according to the FOAB/FOSO.

[Eastwest Loco]

Can I take it that the extra 2 seats will be rearface as in the Q300?

Regards

EWL

[Icarus53]

Nope - they're taking out the rear wardrobe/storage locker to make 19A/B. There has always been a 19C/D but on the other side of the aisle was just a locker and an emergency equipment cupboard behind 18A/B. Now 19 will be a complete row.

I know the CC aren't all that enthused - not only will we all have to put our luggage in the forward compartment, there will be no room to stow all the used catering items (empty SUs, drained waste etc.) But it's not like we should expect anyone to consult with the people who actually operate the aircraft before changing the config.:ugh:

[Eastwest Loco]

Ask the CC their opinion?

Never has and never will happen.

Any airline should run an average of 80% occupancy over a given week. Anything over that reflects under capacity.

The Q300 and Q400 (and their little sisters) are configured at a comfortable seat pitch that makes LCCs look like a Chiropractos dream.

My youngest son is 6'8" and is at Uni in HBAS so has to put up with Crapstar or DJ out of their and just adores the Dash out of here.

Ansett tried to apply a 3-3 config to the BAe 146 fleet after they sto;e us. It was a nightmare.

Leave the girls as they were designed.

Aeroplane manufacturers know a whole heap more than accountants who use their personality as a contraceptive.

Best all

EWL

[Stationair8]

6'8", wtf did you feed him as a young fella?

Make him stand in cow patties on a cold morning?

Suppose he was fed on mothers milk then weaned onto Boags?

[Southern handler]

Q400'S are being sold a 72 seats on some routes, not sure when this started but yep yep its happenng

[Going Nowhere]

SH,

The Q400's already seat 72 as standard, the increase will be to 74 seats.

And apparently all crew bags will be stowed in the rear hold.

[burger61]

First aircraft was had mods done when it was in for its check - next aircraft in for check at the moment - as someone said the seats are not installed as yet.
re the question asked about CC being consulted - yes they were as I was involved in some of the risk assessments - my opinion is rubbish will be the big issue now the cupboards gone

[Southern handler]

opps i meant 74 :\

[apacau]

Q400 now also loaded on selected MEL-CBR flights, shaving 15mins off the block time.

[tasdevil.f27]

The Hobart refuellers have done the fuel panel training for the Q400 for future flights into HBA

[Going Nowhere]

Or for diversions from LST?

[Cravenmorehead]

I reckon Qf should bring back the 146's
Ha Ha only kidding! Don't know why there is an issue with F/A to pax numbers of a ratio of 50:1. They do it in Europe and many other places.
But I bet that one has been tossed around ad nauseam in the past on this site

[Stationair8]

You will see the Dash8-400 into Hobart to cover Qantas's weekend schedule.

[CharlieLimaX-Ray]

CASA please drug test Stationair8 asap.

Stationair8, WTF would Qantas stick props into Hobart, when Jetstar, Tiger and VB operate jets on the route?

[Normasars]

Cause they are a sh1tload cheaper to operate. Why else would they do it.

[tasdevil.f27]

Or for diversions from LST?

More likely to divert to DPO if the weather is better before heading to HBA. Be quicker.

There's a few "rumours" going around that the 400's will replace the 737 morning / overnight into HBA at some stage, even the training guy mentioned it.

[CharlieLimaX-Ray]

Wonder what sought of flight time they will be showing with a stiff north westerly blowing?

Props on the turboprop go round and round, round and round!

Now for your inflight entertainment today we will count how many cars pass us on the midlands highway.

[roger_ramjet]

CLX,
Qantas will put the Q400 in anywhere they want full service Qantas brand available without the cost of a 734 or 738. They do it already on the BN-WLM sector, and despite Jet* offering $49 fares BN to WLM they still get good load factors on the Dash, at double or more ticket price!
Many big corporations have travel contracts with Qantas, their employees want a red tail and they want to re-connect to another flight without having to get their bags and stand in the Jet* check-in line again. Mining companies are a classic, they want to wait out the connection in the Q club lounge, not in the check-in line.

As for sector times, the difference between a jet and a q400 on the HBA-ML run would be measured in minutes, particularly if the q400 gets a quicker STAR into ML.

[fritzandsauce]

The Q400 and even the Q300 compete with the Jets of Jet*, VB and Tiger on the LST run ... the Q300 has been doing the runs for a few years now

[400ER]

G,day all. Just got new roster, looking fwd to heading back to DPO and LST in 2 weeks in the Q400. Haven't heard anything about HBA.

[teggun]

Don't be surprised to see the Q400 doing more and more 737 runs.

As of June QLink go to Qantas uniforms, making it more seamless to the paying pax.

Cheers.

[roger_ramjet]

Yep - getting the red hat badge, wings and even get Q club membership now. All that's missing is the pay scale! :rolleyes:

[slice]

Mahogany row will be having a heart attack!!!!:}:E

[eff aye]

Does anyone have any insight as to if Qlink will continue to rollout the remaining 8 or 9 Q400s on order, relatively soon. The common theme in the thread suggests the loads are high and competition with 737 routes is growing. I certainly hope so, im trying to snag a job with Qlink SYD and need all the good news i can get lately :ugh:

[newsensation]

All Q400's confirmed for delivery :D
What's the Q club membership not aware of that one...

[roger_ramjet]

7 Q400's still to come this year.
Q club entry for Captains (only) on duty travel approved in last Sunstate EBA. Wasn't approved for FO's since most of them are too young to drink! :}

[grumpy greyhound]

Nice one Ramjet,good to see the southern blokes and girls get a crack at the 400 you should enjoy the machine. Of course the qf caps will make all the difference the qf captains on the car park bus might even lower their noses to a friendly level and actually speak :rolleyes:. GG.

[tasdevil.f27]

Shame they didn't put the hold door on the other side to allow the use of the rear pax door, sure would speed up boarding. The front locker next to R1 door / exit is interesting..

http://http://www.flickr.com/photos/aviation_rutherford/3439782742/