Pionair Cargo

[tasdevil.f27]

Has something happened with Pionair as the Convairs have disappeared from LST?
So has there forklift & bits and pieces.

[ciscodiscocisco]

well i have spotted both of the aircraft in a hangar at bankstown 3 weeks agi getting maintenance dont know by who but it was the biggest hanger next to the runways.and seen them in perth, kalgoorlie and Sydney..... seen them once in hobart a few years ago....

[c100driver]

I had heard but not confirmed that it is Tango Uniform.

[tasdevil.f27]

Just heard on the grape vine that Toll have ceased the LST - MEL run and is putting its freight on AAE instead. Where will the old girls end up now?

[727ace]

yep heard also toll out of LST and now utilising AAE also heard that AAe Bae 146s been redeployed from ADL to east coast, anyone have an update?

[Stationair8]

BAE-146 maybe going to Hobart to replace B737.

[Skystar320]

How do you come to the conclusion that TOLL will be dead soon?

[CharlieLimaX-Ray]

Toll are going to base an ATR in Hobart in the near future, it will go via Launceston to Melbourne.

[tasdevil.f27]

Stationair, is the 146 going to replace the 737 altogether on the MEL - tassie runs?
Now that Air Trade have J* they can now push more freight onto J* as room allows. So I can see the load for the 737 decreasing.

ATR in tassie, believe that when i see it. Isn't the ATR already used else where?

Funny, the first night that AAE had the Toll freight again there aircraft when U/S and it didnt go.

[Stationair8]

Believe BAE-146 to replace some of if not most of the B737 services for the time being.

Doubt if you will see the ATR's in Tasmania, Toll aren't keen to get anymore at this stage the story goes.

May see the odd GAM DO-228 down that way if extra capacity is required.

[Skystar320]

So what routes did the Pionair Convairs work on?

[tasdevil.f27]

4 nights a week on the LST - MEL - LST route.
And was there a MEL - SYD - MEL service as well?

[Engineer_aus]

Haven't Cobham purchased a 146-300 pax converted into a Freighter? The first one off memory (Was in Australian Aviation a little while ago)

[Skystar320]

They already have one

[desmotronic]

Heard a totally unsubstantiated rumour :} that both toll and gam are in deep doo doo and to cease operations... cam anyone confirm or deny?

[j3pipercub]

Yeah heard that one too, Easter Bunny told me, ran into him while I was on a date with the tooth fairy. I know I shouldn't, but I've got a thing for wings...

J3

[chimbu warrior]

I wouldn't be too worried about Toll, one of the largest transport companies in Australia.

[tasdevil.f27]

There was a push to get Pionair to depart LST in the early hours, as VB freight (or what ever there new name is) could have filled the aircraft with all the fish products, boxed flowers and other stuff.

I was told that PA did ask there crews to relocate to Tas, but they said no (dont know if that is true or not)

[tasdevil.f27]

thanks On Guard, I did wonder if the last bit was true or not.

[CharlieLimaX-Ray]

There was talk of them sourcing another two or three C580's for freight work, including another one to be based in Tasmania.

Didn't they lease the old Airlines of Tasmania hangar for spares and engineering staff?

[tasdevil.f27]

There was an engineer based in an office at the aero club hanger.

[Engineer_aus]

4 convairs were parked up at Bankstown today.

[Stationair8]

What's the latest with the Convair 580's?

Would it be right to assume a cargo uplift of between 5000 and 7000kgs on the Melbourne-Sydney sector depending on weather requirements?