EFA to get 744's??
 

I have heard theat the Chief Pilot of EFA is looking for 744 endorsed pilots...ties in very nicely with the early retirement of 4 QF 744's..no money in freight, at least no money for pilots...
And while I'm at it, is there any truth that a former Chief Pilot of Qf is looking for crew for 787 "contract" work?

Rumour has it he is asking his C+T 737 mates to fly the 744. Regular mainline pilots not wanted.

Never trust a man that doesn't blink

My guess is Express Freight Australia.

More like The Gerbil doesn't want mainline pilots to fly his 744 freighters. The CP just toeing the line.

Class E main deck fire suppression?:sad:

Extended upper deck = less freight carried compared to dedicated Freighters due to increased ZFW.

Don't you mean an increased BEW for a similar MZFW = a lower available payload?

I've heard EFA have been looking into the 748F. The Atlas contract is due to expire.

I just heard from a mate that the Atlas contract with Qantas is under review.
Does anybody have any thoughts on these guys operating widebodies in leue of Atlas? Or do you think Qantas will get the gig?

Giving the gig to QF goes against the flow of all Joyce has said & done in recent times, so I'd put my money on EFA. There's a few ex 74 drivers there.

By 2020 when all the qf 400's are coke cans (or freighter coverts) there will be a bucket load of 400 rated drivers sitting around playing bingo looking to join the run on team....problem solved.

Atlas 744's come off contract one at a time. not all at once.
James will not be a 767 pilot for long. Regardless of how flash
It is.

With EK adding a B777F DXB-SIN-SYD (EK9920/1) and return I guess QF are reviewing their overall freight options.

Wouldn't get too excited about the -400. I think the A332 freighter option will gain more traction particularly when the old girls that EFA operate are retired. Good package deal from Airbus in the offing, methinks.

Certainly wouldn't be a 777F - Old technology you see.....:rolleyes:

Cargloux rejects 748F
 

Boeing Reels from 747-8 Rejection (excerpt)


(Source: Gulf News; published Sept. 18, 2011)



SEATTLE --- Boeing Co. had to postpone this week's inaugural delivery of the 747-8 freighter, a jet already two years behind schedule, after its initial customer refused to accept the first two planes.

Boeing had to cancel three days' ceremonies on Saturday because of "unresolved issues" with Cargolux Airlines International, said spokesman Jim Proulx.

The carrier was scheduled to fly its first load of freight on the new plane out of Seattle on September 19 and take delivery of a second jet two days later.

Proulx declined to comment on the reason for the dispute, and Cargolux would only say that there had been "contractual issues" that compelled its board, which met on Saturday, to reject the planes.

The clash mars the arrival of the newest and biggest version of the jumbo jet that, with its iconic hump, has been Boeing's marquis model since its inception in the 1960s. It also comes after numerous struggles at the company, including a three-year setback to its 787 Dreamliner, inroads into its customer base by Airbus and a shift in its new-jet strategy.

"It's horrendous," Ken Herbert, an analyst with Wedbush Securities in San Francisco, said in an interview. "Just when you finally thought they were going to turn the corner, this happens."


* maybe EFA could pick up a couple of Cargolux's rejects...:}

Maybe they will?? I hear CargoLux might pull the pin re: advertised fuel burns....? Woops

Read on, turns out it might just be corporate hijinks...


Cathay: Boeing's Cargolux spat won't slow delivery

By Doug Cameron
Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd. (0293.HK, CPCAY) said Tuesday its plans to receive the new Boeing Co. (BA -0.92%) 747-8F cargo plane are unaffected by a contract dispute between Boeing and launch customer Cargolux Airlines International SA.

Cargolux on Friday rejected the first two planes due to be delivered this week after a two-year delay, forcing Boeing to cancel media and customer events and adding embarrassment to a program already beset by design issues and cost over-runs.

Cathay is one of two other carriers due to receive the revamped jumbo freighter this year, and said the dispute didn't have an impact on its own plans.

"We are satisfied that our commercial arrangements with Boeing take account of the known and disclosed specification and performance characteristics of the aircraft," the airline said in a statement.

Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings (AAWW), which is due to receive its first 747-7F next month, declined comment.

Cargolux said at the weekend that it may look for alternative aircraft if it can't resolve the problems with Boeing.

Qatar Airways acquired a 35% stake in Cargolux during the summer, and the Gulf-based carrier has developed a reputation as a tough negotiator with aircraft manufacturers. It has voiced concern about delays in delivery of the Boeing 787 Dreamliners it has on order. It declined comment on the issues affecting Cargolux.

Cargolux said in a statement Saturday that "unresolved contractual issues" prompted the airline to reject the first two of the 13 747-8Fs on order. New aircraft types often struggle to meet the performance criteria provided by manufacturers, with glitches and extra weight often removed from later planes.

Boeing said Friday that it continued talks with the airline and looked forward to delivering the two affected planes.

Cargolux said it might look to "source alternative capacity" if the dispute continued into the upcoming peak shipping season.

Clearance sale at Boeing coming up?

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For sale 5 x 747-8F, as new, first to see will buy, must go. :E :}