Westwing Aviation Getting Saab 340's?

[Skystar320]

With the recent press release stating that Westwing Aviation are securing two 36 seaters.

I'm putting two and two together and coming up with those ex Vincent Aviation SF340's in Townsville.

Anyone confirm?

[Flying Bear]

From the QLD papers, they were taking on at least two ex-skytrans DH8-100s.

Makes a bit more sense, as I understand they have picked up a couple of the former skytrans pilots.

[Beech58]

Pretty sure they are 34 seaters.... A few different sources say they will be leasing two of Skytrans old dash 8s

[Arnold E]

I think REX has picked up at least one of the ex Vincent 340's :E

[Horatio Leafblower]

Pete Collings himself has said - on this very topic - "Nothing that you read on PPRuNe is true"

[Ixixly]

Soooo....he DIDN'T say that then Horatio? :}

[BPA]

And their press release;

http://www.westwing.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Cape-York-Air-Services-Media-Release.pdf

Another 19 seat aircraft (2nd 1900?) and two 36 seat (Dash 8?)next month.

[evolved]

A SAAB 340 isn't 36 seats anyway.

[gretzky99]

Two months just doesn't seem long enough to add a new type to their AOC, especially a Dash 8. Check & Training, maintenance, cabin crew, ground handling etc are all a big step up from a 1900.

What about a current Dash 8 operator flying a couple on behalf of West Wing?

My guess would be Maroomba, given there's a couple aircraft sitting in Cairns now that we're probabily on their AOC only six months ago. That would make the two month timeframe a lot more achievable.

[43Inches]

A SAAB 340 isn't 36 seats anyway.

SAAB 340 standard config is various layouts of 34 seats, there are also 36 seat configs (37 with one in the jump).

[Paragraph377]

Two months just doesn't seem long enough to add a new type to their AOC, especially a Dash 8. Check & Training, maintenance, cabin crew, ground handling etc are all a big step up from a 1900.
Absolutely correct. It will take at least 12 months to get a Dash 8 on their AOC. Don't listen to anything that their 'spokesman' says. He is a used car salesman ex Skytrans, his disdain towards regulatory requirements and his disdain towards compliance is immeasurable. Sorry, as much as I wish it were true as there are a lot of good unemployed pilots out there, the Dash onto the AOC won't happen in 8 weeks. No chance.

[evolved]

The biggest operator of the 340 in aus lists Max seats as 34 on their website. Most are 33 (11 rows of 3).

[43Inches]

Japan Air Commuter has SAAB 340 with a row 12, 3 seats in an alcove where the rear toilet usually goes, galley reduced and toilet moved to front, 36 seats. Not sure how many other operators used this option and how many have found their way here, I think there is at least one 36 seater in Australia.

[aviation_enthus]

It won't be a Saab 340 purely because it doesn't have the required performance to operate out of all the ports Skytrans served. If you read the Rex press releases there is no mention of Coen or Lockhart River for this reason. Why would West Wing choose an aircraft type that can't serve these places?

Besides, as others have stated the Saab standard config is 33/34 seats, so it's not going to be a Saab!!

[morno]

Here's hoping West Wing doesn't venture down the same path as Skytrans though, and rid of their GA down the track. Time and time again in that part of the world, it's been proven that it doesn't work.

The saving grace perhaps though, is Pete has been around for a long time and know's what he's doing. Nice guy to work for when I was there.

morno

[Defenestrator]

I'm not a betting man though I'd bet the house that WWA don't go bigger than the B1900. The set up costs and ongoing operational costs wouldn't add up to a profit on such marginal routes. And there's no guarantee, as history has shown on more than one occasion, that coming to the rescue in the short term will give any company any priority during the tender process.

D:ok:

[BPA]

Playing around with Flight aware tonight and discovered Awesome Aviation (B1900 lease company based in Perth) Beech 1900C VH-EMK flew from Perth to Cairns (including a night stop in Townsville) mid last week. The aircraft is still in Cairns according to Flight Aware.

Very good chance this is the extra 19 seat aircraft mentioned in the press release.

[BNEA320]

one of the ex Vincent Saab 304B's parked at TSV is 36 seats.

[BNEA320]

yes but who says that if WWA gets bigger aircraft that they will only do marginal routes. Plenty of routes out there that require something like a Saab 340/Dash 8/Atr 42 that are not operated at present (at least not operated nonstop)

[BNEA320]

didn't Macair have at least one ATR42 ?

[Defenestrator]

To ensure the success of these routes, West Wing Aviation has confirmed they will be utilising two ATR 42s to service these.


Now there is a load of crap if I ever heard it. You might want to check your sources.

D:D

[BPA]

ATR42, now that's a big jump and very hard to believe. If they make the move to a larger aircraft type, the Saab would have to be the choice given PC's has previously operated the type and I think their current CP flew them at Vincent.

I was in Cairns yesterday and the Beech 1900C (VH-EMK) is parked next to West Wings hangar so it would appear it will be joining the fleet very soon.

[onehitwonder]

BPA - think you'll find you're wrong

[Hot High Heavy]

EMK will more than likely be going Free Spirit in Essendon

[BPA]

onehitwonder, just like you were wrong with your post on the 29 Nov 14, saying West Wings B1900 was arriving a week later for FreeSprit Airlines. Here we are almost 2 months later and it's still operating out of Cairns.

[onehitwonder]

BPA, looks like you are correct. Guess that source of information wasnt to credible....But is it operating? I bet you a carton it heads south

[BPA]

onehitwonder, we are both correct. West Wing Aviation is operating the flights for Free Sprit.

[DeltaT]

two Dash 8-100s

[Skystar320]

2 x BAe 146's?

[DeltaT]

Fact it would seem....

19JAN2015
West Wing Aviation (WW, Mount Isa) will take delivery of two Dash 8-100s later next month the carrier's press service has said. The aircraft are part of a multi-million dollar investment the carrier plans to make in order to permanently assume the Skytrans (Q6, Cairns) routes it has been temporarily operating since January 5.

On the authority of the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), West Wing Aviation began emergency services from Cairns to Lockhart River, Aurukun Mission, Coen, Edward River, Bamaga, and Kowanyama, in the Cape York region on January 5 for a period of 14 days. The TMR have since extended this arrangement for an additional term.

"West Wing Aviation is the RPT (Regular Passenger Transport) service operator for the Torres Strait island network and also to Palm Island from Townsville. The airline moves over 50'000 passengers per annum in these markets and is progressing negotiations for additional aircraft to cater for the increased demand into the Cape York communities," the airline said in a statement.

An additional 19-seater aircraft - believed to be an Awesome Aviation Beech 1900C VH-EMK (cn UC-159) - was also delivered on January 13.

Use of the aircraft is subject to the type being incorporated into West Wing's existing Air Operator's Certificate, a process which can take months to successfully complete.

[BPA]

Delta T,

That's not an official release from the company. You have posted what CH-Aviation posted in their news section 11 days ago.

[Arnold E]

one of the ex Vincent Saab 304B's parked at TSV is 36 seats.

What's the call sign of that 36 seater?

[BPA]

Latest West Wing news;

West Wing have had their deal extended to 1 March and are moving ahead with a more permanent arrangement.

West Wing Aviation reveals push for longer term Cape York presence - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-02-05/west-wing-aviation-moves-ahead-with-longer-term/6072110)

[DeltaT]

Townsville-based West Wing Aviation has purchased the former airline’s air operator’s certificate (AOC) from Skytrans administrators Bentleys Chartered Accountants and leased two of its Dash 8 Q100 turboprops VH-QQA and VH-QQG.

cough, cough
disbelievers, tsk tsk tsk

[Led Zep]

Q100s? That's news to me!! :} :}

Good on them though, I wish them the best of luck.

[Justa Dash]

Absolutely correct. It will take at least 12 months to get a Dash 8 on their AOC. Don't listen to anything that their 'spokesman' says. He is a used car salesman ex Skytrans, his disdain towards regulatory requirements and his disdain towards compliance is immeasurable. Sorry, as much as I wish it were true as there are a lot of good unemployed pilots out there, the Dash onto the AOC won't happen in 8 weeks. No chance.

The AOC ownership transferred 17/3/15. They flew 31/3/15 So just over the eight weeks

[Defenestrator]

In his defence. The type wasn't processed as a variation to the WW AOC. It was a straight up purchase of an existing AOC. The former would have taken significantly longer to achieve.

[PLovett]

Since when has CASA allowed an AOC to be traded? :confused:

This is an honest inquiry as I was led to believe that they had stopped such activities decades ago. I thought that an AOC was issued to a company and in the event of that company going out of business then it lapsed. :(

My understanding, subject to any correction, was that the only way West Wings could obtain Skytrans AOC was to buy the company from the administrators. :hmm:

[Toodogs]

The company (and AOC) was purchased from the administrators and all key personnel came with it.