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View Full Version : 15 hour long haul in an a330?

a334
28th Jun 2020, 14:10
Hi everyone

I was browsing through flight radar 24, and I noticed hainan airlines operating San Jose to Shenzhen with an a330-300. The total flight time for this flight is usually around 15 hours, with a total great circle distance of 11126km
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The stated max range for the -300 variant is 11750km...so my question is how do they manage this long haul flight? My guess is obviously full fuel and barely anything for min fuel, nevermind extra for contingency... Also, why stretch a 330 to it's limits? I've seen them using the 330 on flights like Shenzhen to LAX, or Changsa to LAX...
Sidestick_n_Rudder
28th Jun 2020, 14:25
Lightly loaded plane with an active center tank could do it.
DaveReidUK
28th Jun 2020, 14:30
That was my thought too. SJC-SZX isn't a scheduled route, so the chances are the aircraft was carrying bulky, but relatively light freight in the cabin and few, if any, passengers.
a334
28th Jun 2020, 14:57
Indeed these are flights that aren't regularly scheduled, and definitely wouldn't be able to fly with a heavier load. It's really cool to see that it's possible, it's just so odd to push a 330 to it's operating limit
ElectroVlasic
28th Jun 2020, 15:32
Indeed these are flights that aren't regularly scheduled, and definitely wouldn't be able to fly with a heavier load. It's really cool to see that it's possible, it's just so odd to push a 330 to it's operating limit
Right, but we live in odd times. Late A330CEO are very capable, new A330NEO are even more so. A330 started out needing to leave space for the A340 to fill. That's no longer an issue, it can grow till it laps up against A350 with its eXtra Wide Body. It's a very impressive product line up.
a334
28th Jun 2020, 21:35
Right, but we live in odd times. Late A330CEO are very capable, new A330NEO are even more so. A330 started out needing to leave space for the A340 to fill. That's no longer an issue, it can grow till it laps up against A350 with its eXtra Wide Body. It's a very impressive product line up.

Indeed!
SaulGoodman
29th Jun 2020, 06:55
Could it be they stopped enroute for fuel? Some cargo flights (eg HKG to JFK) stop in ANC but that is not always visible on FR24. There the route just shows HKG-JFK
goeasy
29th Jun 2020, 08:50
Favourable winds with designated enroute alternate would allow planning of such a flight. Then lady-luck to complete it legally....