Changes in the West
 

Changes to Skipper's and Skywest's routes take place from next week, after August's decision to split the regional routes into two networks for tender.

Skywest end services to Leonora and Leinster tomorrow, and take up Kalbarri and Monkey Mia from next week, apparently to the delight of local businesses who will be bad to see the back of bad service and unreliable schedules, coupled with a lack of support for the region as demonstrated by Skippers.

Skywest have also recently been awarded a contract to service the Granites minesite ex PER with F50 from next Thursday, twice weekly. Was this an NJS contract previously???

Topend,

That it was.

I believe it was the longest sector distance regularly flown by a DH8 in the WWW (whole wide world). Somthing like 800 nm I think KG-TGT.

Jeez Clarrie...800nm!

And I thought YSSY-YLHI was longhaul:} :}

How did you stay awake?:p

Interestingly enough - and the regulator should be interested in this - it is an ETOPS route.

There are no adequates within 60 mins for a considerable period on this route.

This applied to NJS as well who just ignored that little fact....

Very interesting...so how would this affect XR? It will be approximately 4 hr sector in the Fokker PH-TGT, and 4hr30min on the return leg...

Guaranteed revenue on some sectors so they can compete on others. That's fair. :suspect:

NJS used Warburton as an enroute alternate and for extra fuel in the winter. However I think you will find that a F50 is too heavy for it so it will be interesting what XR used for an alternate. I imagine Ayers Rock would be about it.

Yikes!
 

My Champers Fright Planner friend says it be a 1031nm sector.
:sad:

For the more ETOPS-challenged amongst us, what would be the applicable figures for the 60min divert business?? ie. speeds etc.

And why the hell wouldn't the site be serviced from AD or closer still, DN??

Politics to be sure! :rolleyes:

Probably cheaper to fly them direct than to the rock on QF then on the Pearl metro. If they move say 40 guys each way a week that's 160 airfares. Charter starts looking the cheaper option.

correct...NJS used to go PH-KG, overnight, then up to TGT, so XR going diirect out of PH is heaps better for everyone...

Hi T3

Well the Granits, sounds like lots of fun, and lots of time sitting in the same place too. Hope the mine is still going strong.
Like the rest I am curious about the ETOPS thingie, well he would of have done his homework on this, so must not be a problem with Kiwirikara about the right distance. Funny enough, though Warburton seems unsitable (not quite sure about that nevile) due to weight, there are no problems with gravel strips ie CNF.

Lots of rumours on the field about the NJS D8's leaving town, hay who knows XR may get some more work out of it.

Still curious about the west RPT route structure. Will XR or Skippers play the old one flight a week card on some of the charter operators like Maromba ETC. Could be intersting times ahead for MOG, WLU, LST.

Trust the little FOKKERS and the Big FOKKERS are all well.


Richo

I wish!!! Try a 3am sign on, 4am departure to KG, refuel, then to TGT, return to KG, refuel again, then back to Perth.

No luxury of an overnight, cost too much! :suspect:

Ahh well, life goes on :D

Yes Jet Racer,
When Ay was a lud, Hugh used to make me get up in the morning, 10:30 at night, an hour before ay went t' bed, fly 26 hours a day, pay Daniella for the privilege, with no crew meals, and when I got back he'd beat me with the tow bar, til I was bleedin' - if I were lucky..........................

I reckon someone is pulling ya leg there topend. I live here and know 95% of the business owners in the area, and I can assure you that that statement is quite inaccurate.

Most of the people up here don't even know who skippers are, and if it wasn't for the crew change contracts, they would never be seen up here.
The people around these parts call a F50 a little plane and are quite uncomfortable about getting in one. They are just plain going to refuse to use the Metros.
I think the Skippers crews will attest to how **** scared the crews that get on and off anything smaller than a 747, are.
maybe the Dash 8 will find a place here, but nothing smaller is going to get much of a reception.

I’d be surprised if the F50 couldn’t use Warburton from a strength point of view. I haven’t got the figures to hand, but I thought its MTOW is similar to the Dash-8, and I think the F50 was rated for gravel operations (bit I’m open to correction on these in case my memory is too christmas befuddled).

I’ve flown into Warburton many years ago, and there are no swamps or marshes that would potentially disqualify it from having sufficient strength. It struck me as a typical bush gravel strip, with the surrounding ground being hard as a rock (whilst dry). That means that the runway is built on hard ground and should be up to the job. About the only concern could be in the wet if the whole area gets soaked – which leaves 9990 days out of 10000 available for use.

Warbo has been sealed for a few years now. It even has PAL and an auto weather station. The apron adjoining the refueling pad can get a tad sticky in the summer months.

The main concern lately has been the horses grazing along the edge of the strip.:uhoh:

Hey Wiz,

Long time no see. I think you mis-read my post, which may not have been that clear. What I meant to say was that the people of Kalbarri and Monkey Mia will be glad to see the back of Skippers.

I fully agree with you, that XR will be missed...

AH, your right, I did miss read it and stand corrected. sad day here due to sky west pulling out. not to many happy about it.

Maybe PH TGT but not KG TGT


240 nm, 250nm or 270 nm, depending on marque of Dash used.

They did service TGT from Darwin for many years.

Why service it from PER? Because of the He who pays the fiddler calls the tune principal. The customer wanted a service ex PER, so, like any sensible service provider, NJS gave them a service ex PER.

Seems simple really. And, despite the time taken in a DH8/F50, I'm sure it'd be better on one aircraft than mainline PER to ADL, ADL to ASP, charter ASP to TGT.

I think your distances are a bit "optimistic" Clarrie

These distances are derived using single engine speeds and as such wouldn't be anywhere near 240,250 or 270 nm.

Somewhere around the 180nm mark I would have thought, but has been a number of years since I flew a Dash.

The F50 is slower and therefore the 60 min rings would be smaller - which makes it worse.....