QF to use 717's on golden triangle

[BNEA320]

https://www.ausbt.com.au/qantas-to-fly-boeing-717s-between-sydney-melbourne-brisbane

Can understand this for Sat pm & Sun am flights, but not Sun pm.

+ the writer doesn't seem to understand the difference between legroom & seat pitch.

FYI
You can have same seat config & seat pitch on 2 identical aircraft, but one might have more legroom due to seat back thickness variations. New seats tend to have much thinner seat back, are lighter & actually more comfortable, but some might disagree.

One person in their forum suggested that the displaced 738's might be used to break the virtual VA/NZ monopoly on BNE/ZQN. But aren't current QF flights BNE/ZQN Jetconnect & VA use all lower cost, kiwi crews from memory.

"VA/NZ have up to a dozen or so services a week & operate year round. QF have 2 a week for only about 10 weeks a year.

Just looked at flying in August (15-20) & fare was over $1200 in economy return, while I could fly to LAX return in economy for less."

[BNEA320]

surely VA could do the same as QF, but instead of QFlink(Cobham) 717's use Alliance F70/F100's. Keep hearing how VA are short of 737 drivers.

[Check_Thrust]

BNEA320/flyOFTEN,

You seem pretty concerned about the seat pitch and size of the seat back. To put your mind to ease the seats of the Qantas 717s were changed to "modern" slim back seats about 3 to 4 years ago that allowed them to increase the seating capacity of the all economy aircraft from 115 to 125 seats. Does this answer your question and help you get past the seat pitch issue?

[Icarus2001]

They also ditched a toilet to help didn't they?

[Check_Thrust]

Right you are Icarus2001, I had forgotten about that. They removed the forward toilet (to the relief of the cabin crew I believe!) and moved the rear galley cart stowage forward to where the toilet was to assist in squeezing in another row. If they didn't do that I think the new seats would of only allowed either one extra row or one and a half (the half being a row of three seats instead of five).

In regards to the seats I do not know if they are the same type that the FAA have told Delta to remove within five years due to crash survivability concerns.

[The Green Goblin]

So how does this go with outsourcing mainline flying to a contractor industrially?

[Berealgetreal]

That'll keep the QF 73 guys nicely out of overtime..

[Icarus2001]

FAA tells airlines to remove seats that failed safety test - Portland Press Herald (http://www.pressherald.com/2017/05/24/faa-tells-airlines-to-remove-seats-that-failed-safety-test/)

Seems a little strange that seats, which must have been approved originally, are no longer.

[goodonyamate]

No, we are still getting absolutely flogged. While these have been downgraded, we will be picking up a heap of extra east west services. No change in hours. Would rather do the east west, and remove the tedious sits between sectors to be honest!

[SandyPalms]

Rumours have been circling for some time about a pacific island service when the aircraft and crew become available. Could it be that they want to operate this rumoured service on Saturday and Sunday only?

[Beer Baron]

That'll keep the QF 73 guys nicely out of overtime..
Haha... I said goodbye to overtime the day I transferred to Short Haul.

Less weekend flying suits me just fine but I agree with the idea of your post, losing more flying to Cobham is not a good thing, especially if this is just the thin edge of the wedge.

[feueraxt]

Is this likely to be viable medium/long term plan? I know the 717s have been a fine aircraft, but they must be getting a bit long in the tooth now.
I would have thought Qantas would be looking at CSeries or even A319s, rather than repurposing regional 717s.

[Keg]

If QF have shown anything recently it's that they don't like idle aeroplanes. If there is less flying by the 737s over the weekend on the triangle I can only think they'll find somewhere else to send them to keep the utilisation high.

[maggot]

Haha... I said goodbye to overtime the day I transferred to Short Haul.

Less weekend flying suits me just fine but I agree with the idea of your post, losing more flying to Cobham is not a good thing, especially if this is just the thin edge of the wedge.

Overtime aint overtime

[Transition Layer]

QF to use 717's on golden triangle

Well there goes our On Time Performance stats :rolleyes:

[Beer Baron]

Overtime aint overtime
Yeah, true. Working 11 and a half hours on a Sunday for 6 hours pay doesn't feel like overtime to me.

[Berealgetreal]

Pseudo Airport reserve?

When you break down the hourly rate it's quite astonishing. My local tradie makes more in 6 hours. Pulls up at 9 gone by 3 always has a big smile on his face and goes away for EVERY holiday and long week end.

No shift work, home every public holiday, no medical, no sim, no reading useless changes to procedures and the standard is mediocre at best. At least he turns up no matter what size job others won't touch it unless it's a big job.

Apologies for the thread drift. Rant over. Lol.

[Half Baked]

Nothing stopping you from giving it away and taking up a trade..........

[unobtanium]

Pseudo Airport reserve?

When you break down the hourly rate it's quite astonishing. My local tradie makes more in 6 hours. Pulls up at 9 gone by 3 always has a big smile on his face and goes away for EVERY holiday and long week end.

No shift work, home every public holiday, no medical, no sim, no reading useless changes to procedures and the standard is mediocre at best. At least he turns up no matter what size job others won't touch it unless it's a big job.

Apologies for the thread drift. Rant over. Lol.

My area is in the middle of a townhouse boom, and nearly all the tradie utes are top of the line Hilux SR5s, some full sized 'merican 'utes', and afew Amarok V6s appearing. Full A/Ts and lift kit are standard mods necessary for those rough worksites....

[Lezzeno]

Pseudo Airport reserve?

Don't play the game. Only answer your phone if you know it isn't crewing and under no circumstances extend your duty!

[BNEA320]

aren't most or all of Alliance crews on low contract rates cf. QF & VA ?

[Chris2303]

I would have thought that those who can be called by the company for reserve etc would have a separate prepay phone, the number of which would be given only to crewing.

[blumoon]

More 717's for the east coast?? 717's seem to be doing ok?

http://australianaviation.com.au/2017/08/qantas-to-redeploy-upgrade-two-wa-based-717s/

[RENURPP]

Right you are Icarus2001, I had forgotten about that. They removed the forward toilet (to the relief of the cabin crew I believe!) and moved the rear galley cart stowage forward to where the toilet was to assist in squeezing in another row. If they didn't do that I think the new seats would of only allowed either one extra row or one and a half (the half being a row of three seats instead of five).

In regards to the seats I do not know if they are the same type that the FAA have told Delta to remove within five years due to crash survivability concerns.

The aircraft used on "the golden triangle" have 110 seats. 2 dunnies one rear for economy and 1 for business (and flight crew) Q steaming for entertainment.

As for long in the tooth, maybe compare the age of them with the age of some of the other aircraft in the QF fleet?
The QF 717's vary in age, the first ever 717 produced was 1999.

[parishiltons]

No J Class on alliance

[knobbycobby]

Everyone talks tough but the company know there will always be someone to answer the phone
And save a cancellation. Still I've heard the phone call got to number 12 in ADL the other day before someone saved the day.
Until then more high duty days for low stick hours, no MDC.
As the song says, "Same as it ever was, same as it ever was".