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-   -   Qantas 400 freighters (https://www.pprune.org/australia-new-zealand-pacific/509524-qantas-400-freighters.html)

dragon man 5th Mar 2013 21:50

Qantas 400 freighters
 
Rumour has it that soon to be announced is the purchase of 4 747-400 freighters and the crew to be newly employed pilots in Australia while there own crew sit around doing nothjing on assigned leave.

Keg 5th Mar 2013 21:56

I'd be surprised if they bothered to buy them- unless they've discovered that Atlas is gouging them.

When QF bought the 767 freighters they were quite happy to have 767 crews on assigned leave and for others to be employed and trained to fly them on lesser conditions. Why would the 744 be any different.

The Bungeyed Bandit 5th Mar 2013 22:43

Apparently the Atlas contract finishes soon and the QF purchasing rep has been looking/negotiating the purchase of 3 744ER freighters that are sitting in the desert in the US, one very new and the other 2 about 5 to 6 years old.

As to who will crew or maintain them is another thing.

Don't forget, there's no money in freight.

Mstr Caution 6th Mar 2013 00:27

Goodbye Atlas.

Hello QF freight (with dedicated flight crews)

cxorcist 6th Mar 2013 01:25

We've been here before at CX. Don't let it happen. It has cost us dearly over the years and continues to adversely affect the pilots to this day.

Keg 6th Mar 2013 02:15


As to who will crew or maintain them is another thing.
I'd be stunned if mainline pilots were used. They've already demonstrated that they don't mind having pilots sitting on assigned leave whilst they employ others to crew aeroplanes of the same type- they are for a 'separate entity after all :rolleyes: :* - so I can't see them doing it now.

There is one caveat on that though. If someone crunches the numbers and works out that redundancy payouts is going to cost them more than the savings they make by crewing them with cheaper new hires (or promoting QF Freight pilots) then we may see some action. I'd still be stunned though. It would show the first lot of forward thinking from this mob for more than half a decade.

Capt Claret 6th Mar 2013 02:42

Don't think their own crew will be sitting around doing nothing for too long.

About Qantas - Media Room - Media Releases - Qantas Group fleet update

Is it possible that ex 400 drivers might be redeployed onto the 800? :cool:

Keg 6th Mar 2013 02:50

Hey Clarrie. What that doesn't show up very clearly though is that whilst we may be getting another 11 A330s and 5 737s, we're also getting rid of 20ish 767s (admittedly only doing the flying of about 15 at the moment) and a bunch of 737-400s. We're also decreasing the 744 fleet over the next few years as well.

We've got 200+ on LWOP and are still overstocked by the tune of 50-80 according to the rumours and the full ramifications of the FWA ruling haven't yet been put through the system to determine whether we can crew the current flying with less crew.

So a few freighters would be brilliant to help absorb some of those excess crew but I just can't see it happening based on past behaviour.

neville_nobody 6th Mar 2013 03:39

If they are a 'separate entity' CASA would have to ensure they get enough people with high time on type as that is what they have forced, Skywest, Tiger and Virgin all to do. At Skywest this resulted in a high number of foreigners moving here and get sponsored as result.

They won't be able to just start a new AOC and hire guys off the street with just a bit of heavy jet time.

The 'logical' step would be to round up a bunch of their own drivers who are rated and proficient and drop them in.

What will probably happen is fire a bunch of guys then advertise for 744 positions and realise they most of the rated drivers are in QF. They will then go to the government and apply for 457 visa because they can't find anyone to work for them

avconnection 6th Mar 2013 05:27

QF or AAE?

Shark Patrol 6th Mar 2013 07:30

Phhhhtt!!

I'll believe it when I see it!

Normasars 6th Mar 2013 09:13

Neville,

CASA won't give a fat rats one mate; IT'S FREIGHT. There are no pax, nobody cares!!!


Anyway, QANTASFREIGHT employs NO mainline crews now, so why change?

empire4 6th Mar 2013 11:32

a freighter pilot getting $300K + hahaha, that'll be the day....... Under the EBA they need a flight attendant too. hahaha

Tankengine 6th Mar 2013 15:34

Empire, you re full of it.
I have done numerous ferries with no F/As, the freighter flying would be the same.:)

If you aim for mediocrity You will achieve it for sure!:E

DeltaT 6th Mar 2013 19:28


If they are a 'separate entity' CASA would have to ensure they get enough people with high time on type as that is what they have forced, Skywest, Tiger and Virgin all to do.
CASA has not forced Tiger to get guys with more time on type or laid down any such requirement. If you do not believe me make a phone call to the CASA inspector in Melbourne.

Bankstown 6th Mar 2013 20:40

Possibly EFA according to this:
Qantas mulls buying 747 freighters

carbonneutral 6th Mar 2013 20:59

Pretty standard Qantas ploy. Contract up for renewal, theaten to outsource (or insource in this case), squeeze a better price out of the contract then pretend it never happened. The chances this is planted leak are a lot higher than an in house, mainline jumbo freight operation...

Mstr Caution 6th Mar 2013 21:18

Carbon neutral.

There were rumours going around mid to late last year DR & The boys at EFA were putting together a business case for in house 744 freighters. The rumour at the time was an increased focus on Asia & ditching Atlas.

maggot 6th Mar 2013 21:53

with the CP of EFA, I'd believe it! :suspect:

freightdawg747 6th Mar 2013 22:51

Does Qantas currently fly any cargo with their own planes?


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