EAAC 747Freighter

[SevenO]

Any truth in the hot rumour that EAAC are about to obtain two or possibly three 747freighters?

[stormin norman]

Possible 2 freighters to be subleased to Dragonair.

[Max Burner]

Would this interesting hot rumour cover the crewing of these aircraft. An aircaft lease or an all inclusive package?

[CR2]

Q from me.
I've been in 74F operations since 1989.
... someone tell me where the heck ANYONE proposes to source a freighter? Check the market, try to lease one, hire one for charter...Any luck let me know!
Are we talking ex pax -100/200 for conversion? $1M/each before conversion...add $4-5M for the freight job (Israeali - no guarantees, lower weights ) & a D-check for $6-7M minimum.... Not a very interesting proposal,.
Sorry guys, that market came and went years ago. If you are prepared to talk about rock bottmom salaries, may just work. Doubt it.

[Fly747]

Depends what deal you get from KA dunnit!

[Redstripe]

CR2,

What you mention is exactly what Dragonair are proposing to do at the moment, but with -300s. The sums involved are several times the figures you mention, however.

Whether EAAC decide to try the cargo market is another matter. There are still plenty of -200s in storage, and the aquisition of some of these would seem to be a distinct possibility.

There is undoubtably money to be made out of freight from/to the UK. If AFX can do it, then an outfit with a little organisation (which EAAC now has) might even make a good job of it!

[Max Burner]

KA have already converted 3 Combi -300's for what I am told was a very reasonable price. Rumour has it is that they are looking to buy a couple more to convert. Conversions done at XMN, China. I think labour is cheaper there than in Isreal!

[raitfaiter]

Hmmmm CR2, your -400 bias is showing.... Remember that the -400 still has to stop in the gulf at least one way to the far east. Even for a high hours a/c, the conversion and flight deck upgrade (RNP ONE by the way as opposed to RNP 5 on some lesser types), plus a D check stillcomes to much less than the yearly interest payments on a new -400. Ask Martinair where they sourced theirs, and who was bidding against them. Theres life in the Queen of the Skies yet!!!!!:D :p :D

[CR2]

Hi raitf, no not really.
Nothin' to do with payload really (but since you mention it, ok we do tech stop at max extended zfw - that translates to 129T payload. Manage central europe-HKG 100T direct too.
Yup, still life in the old girl yet - I started on them, and they're close to my heart - 6 hour sectors at high weight, but guess MK have that cornered. Silly rates that I doubt a European carrier could match.
I am prejudiced in one way tho': No nose door = no freighter. Package carrier. CR2 told Airbus that about the Megablunderbus; Airbus not pleased with CR2.
10 year old -400 pax a/c going for around $50-55m; first Boeing conversions planned for 2005; Do the chinese plan their own STC?
Bye the way, spill the beans on MP will ya?

[FaPoGai]

Cher raitfaier
All good interesting stuff. However at the risk of being labeled pedantic The Queen of the Skies has always been a Burbank Babe
and not a Seattle Scrubber!
Rgds

[raitfaiter]

Sounds like a load of gao pei to me.......;)