Qantas A380 Update
 

Hi all,

5 of the current 7 A380s are in service, with VH-OQA awaiting repairs in SIN, and VH-OQC still awaiting new engines in SYD.

Does anyone have any updates on when VH-OQC will be back in the air?

And does anyone know when the next 2 new A380s (OQH/OQI) will be delivered?

And finally any news on a LAX service return date?

Cheers

REGO Available Entered into Service

OQB 20 Dec 22 Dec
OQC 10 Jan 11 Jan
OQD 10 Dec 13 Dec
OQE 23 Nov 27 Nov
OQF 22 Nov 27 Nov
OQG 16 Dec 20 Dec
OQH TBA TBA (end of Jan or Early Feb but still to be confirmed)
OQI 12 Jan TBA

OQC 11 Jan at this stage I'm told

OQC is waiting for engines 2 and 3 at the moment, they are due any day. But I heard it might get pushed outside so it can get a breathe of fresh air and also to allow other aircraft hangar time for boro's etc.

I think OQC might be afraid of the sun it has been so long.

QF93 YMML - LAX on Sunday 16th January is showing as an A380, with Tuesday 18th January showing QF11 out of YSSY as an A380 as well.

Looks like OQA will be out of service for up to a year.:eek:

Rolls Royce clears Qantas A380 to LA

Thursday, 6 January 2011

Qantas has received permission from engine maker Rolls Royce to operate its A380s on the Los Angeles route at full load.

Thrust limitations put in place by the Rolls Royce last year prevented the Australian flag carrier from resuming flights to the US because it would mean flying fewer passengers and lighter cargo, The Australian reported.

The engine maker has since removed the thrust limitations and is confident it has resolved the manufacturing error which caused an A380 engine to disintegrate over Singapore last year.

“We have got advice from Rolls-Royce that they are comfortable to have the A380 operating to Los Angeles given the checks and technical analysis they’ve done on the engine,” Qantas spokesperson Olivia Wirth said.

Qantas said it expects to resume its A380 services to LA on 17 January but despite obtaining the go-ahead, the Australian flag carrier will need to receive permission to fly from the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA).

According to the source the airline has organised a meeting with CASA for later this week.

Source = e-Travel Blackboard

Heard OQA wont even be touched until at least may.

Until then it's "wrapped in plastic"...

I believe they are trying to avoid the problems they had after the OJK repair in MNL. Aircraft don't like sitting around for months in hot, humid conditions.

My spelling and grammar is not perfect.........but sheeeez this girl needs a few years back in school :rolleyes:

We have received advice......;)

It's not much damage.....
 

Can someone explain to me how the ATSB consider the damage to the aircraft SERIOUS
(Source: Investigation: AO-2010-089 - Inflight engine failure - Qantas, Airbus A380, VH-OQA, overhead Batam Island, Indonesia, 4 November 2010)
but CASA, our illustrious safety regulator, has decided that in their latest magazine that the damage is only MINOR
(Source: Flight Safety Australia Jan/Feb 2011 Issue 78, p18)? :confused:

I don’t know of any publication or manual that is used within the operational or safety environments that would attempt to define the damage to QF32 as Minor. With openly reported damage to aircraft performance, replacement of components required, damage to more than one engine, and obviously an uncontrollable fuel leak, you would need to think that the either CASA does not have the expertise to be responsible for aviation safety in Australia, or Qantas PR are doing their best to play down this incident further and keep the problems associated with the A380 at a minimum.:ugh::ugh::ugh:

Jaba,

Sorry, as much as I hate to say it but I think she may be correct if QF asked RR for advice in which case 'got' and its meaning of 'obtained' is appropriate. That said, it may have been the only correct thing this lady has uttered. :mad::mad::ugh::ugh::eek::eek:

Ken

"received advice" surely, but never "got advice". "Rolls Royce advised" is cleaner. She is meant to be a professional wordsmith.

Told by an engineering mate that the early build a380 of which OQA is one, have a heavier spar construction than later built SJP's (Sarah Jessica Parkers ,fashionable, high maintainence, butt ugly, and inclined to go to pieces when pushed too hard).

Does this mean waiting on a complete new wing.?

Another question arises, if the early build spars are heavier and more robust, what would the outcome have been if an engine had let go on a later model ,lighter sparred SJP?

Mach 2.7

Totally agreed. And the operative word is "meant"! :ok:

How many A 380''s are now in operational servivce? Oh how we told them not to shut the engine shop , but they know best , or so they thought . QF had the best ( still do for a short time ) engine guys in the world . RR and GE poached them , I ccould name them but would not , please save our industry befor its too late.

another chapter redefining the modern concept of aviation Quality Assurance........"trust us we're Rolls Royce and we should know what the real problems are because we wanted these issues to be kept low key in the first place......"

The AD and compliance regimes have changed to be more "commercially aligned", but the fundamental issue still remains and the failures on the 'non stub oil pipe' donks still remain unresolved. Reassuring to see consistency on the part of the Regulator.......it's still asleep on the verandah like an overweight old labrador that has forgotten how to chase a frisbee.

As for more of the QF Olivia factor....the holes in her and QF's integrity and cred are significantly larger than those on OQA.

:ugh:
AT

Ken Borough
 

Don't think so.
Possibly...
We have gotten advice......
or
We have got (relevant/some/good etc) advice....

SJP.......
 

Blow.n.gasket,

SJP - Love it!!! One of the funnier ways to describe things. Very good stuff!!!!

And happy birthday too!

Apologies for the diversion off topic.