Atlantic Airlines Tupolev 204Cs - Who will fly them?

[Lavdumperer]

Read in the latest Flight International that Atlantic Airlines has taken over the wet-lease of two former Air Cairo TU-204s (Russia's version of the 757 with winglets) and will order more in the near future. A few questions:

1. Any idea if non-Russian pilots currently fly them on the TNT routes out of Leige?

2. Any idea if current Atlantic Airlines pilots would fly them when more join the line in the next year or so?

3. Any more information related to this story?

Looks like a nice aircraft with a glass cockpit. It certainly would be interesting to fly one...


Cheers

[Anti Skid On]

I've always thought they looked the business - are they leasing the ones with the RB211's?

[cargosales]

Yep, they've got RB-211s and Honeywell avionics fit.

JAA Type Certification is underway, scheduled for first quarter of 2004, and Atlantic are looking at adding additional EU registered aircraft next year.

CS

[Torquelink]

But does anyone know why Atlantic would take TU204s instead of converted used B757s - lots of type-rated pilots, spares, engineering facilities etc etc? I know that the 204 will be cheap but so will converted early year 757s.

[BAe 146-100]

Hi,

It has a modern flight deck.

Tu-204C Flight Deck (http://www.airliners.net/open.file/264970/M/)

BAe 146-100

[BRISTOLRE]

Lack of available "old" B752s and time span/leadtime for conversion is too long for some operators to take up new contracts. DHL is/has been the biggest customer in the B757-200 conversion markets worldwide by most suppliers of cargo conversions.

Tu204 still miles and block hours cheaper, even with the RB211s.

[Anti Skid On]

Cheers for that link 146!

Yokes are a bit like Concorde meets Video arcade, very trendy - where can I have a go!!!

[FougaMagister]

Maybe, just maybe the Tu-204 rated flyers will be less prone to jump ship to charter airlines when they have had enough of flying at night... since the Tu-204 rating won't be nearly as attractive to the IT brigade if they do. In other words, maybe another clever move on the part of Atlantic to make sure they keep hold of their guys - or am I being too cynical?

Flight deck looks neat - apart from the motorcycle-cum Concorde-cum Embraer-type control columns...

Good looking aircraft, too. Looks to me like a crossbreed between a B757-200 and an A321.

Cheers

[BAe 146-100]

Hi,

Does anyone know what airlines use the Tu-204 for passenger use?

Thanks
BAe 146-100

[FougaMagister]

Air Cairo in Egypt use about 6 of 'em with RB211 engines, some of them are actually cargo, the others used for IT operations, mainly to Europe. Rossiya State transport company in Russia have a few, including Tu-214 (IGW version of the -204), and a few fly for other Russian operators like KMV. Transeuropean used to fly a couple of -204s before they went bust (yes, it also happens in Russia) - I remember seeing them on IT flights in Tenerife 4 years ago.

More info, try www.airliners.net

Cheers

[BAe 146-100]

Hi,

Thanks FougaMagister :ok:.

BAe 146-100

[Sooty]

With such a hight tech flight deck, anyone know why they carry 4 or 5 crew members. Even if one is a load master?