The rumour i heard today from a reliable source. The 747-400ERF will be maintained by qantas lame's (which is great for us short term). But the pilots, by the looks of it, will most likely be crewed by EFA. However, they still are considering using qantas mainline pilots under the long haul eba because they will need a lot more pilots for this operation compared to the 767f operation because of the stop over in LA and the 4 man tech crew to fly it to LA. (not very cheap to give 20+ pilots 744 endorsements (and thats for only 1 plane). There will possibly be a 2nd 744ERF in the future too.

Direct to LAX? Surely they would fly via Asia and Anchorage. I'm sure I've heard the current QF (Atlas?) freighter call signs going via Asia.

The Pilots may come FROM the ranks of the Longhaul EBA but won't fly the freighter ON the Longhaul EBA.

If past form is anything to go by, the pilots MAY be selected from the Mainline ranks, however if D.R can't pick & choose who he wants to fly his freighter. He will walk away from using mainline guys. Just like last time with the 767 freighter.

Could someone please enlighten me as to how a single aircraft, LH operation would work in respect to
a timetable ? The crew will have to get off at various ports as defined by CAO48, if you only have one
hull does that mean that the next crew have been sitting in the slip port for days, or possibly a whole
week, or do you have crews continually positioning on commercial carriers ?

Sorry if I'm missing the obvious but I can't see how one aircraft could be viable

The difference this time is they need a lot more pilots for this operation compared to the 767f operation where it's a 2 man tech crew and no stopover. My source says it is very likely that it will be Efa pilots, but they still have using qf mainline pilots under the long haul eBa on the table still.

SMOC

It is correct that they do go via china to lax, but thats 5 days a week. From memory they do one Australia to Hong Kong flight per week, one Australia to shanghai flight per week. At this stage they intend on using the 744erf to do Sydney to lax 4 times a week.

Out of interest what sort of export would QF be hauling, I guess a direct flight to lax would need to bulk/volume out rather than approach MZFW.

What fuel load is a typical SYD-LAX in a 744?

Mainly air and empty pallets

Keep in mind atlas air currently operates lax to australia 4 times a week (qantas will take over this route according to the rumour i heard). I have no idea on the type of cargo on that route, but im assuming there is enough cargo on that route for a 744f. My son who works in the mines, says a lot of the mining stuff is manufactured in the US and gets flown into Australia because most of the time, going by ship takes too long.

Close to full when plane is full of pax and cargo, we try and have approximately 15 ton of fuel left over just incase they need to go to an alternate airport. Going LAX to SYD requires more fuel because of the head winds. (im a lame, im sure the pilots will give you a better answer).

Roughly 110T freight would give you 135T of fuel, don't think you could do LA-SYD on that. Max Fuel roughly 163T (no stab tank on freighters) would give you 82T of freight.

What would they be hauling?

All the freight and bags the A380 to LAX and the 744 to DFW can't. :D

I'd expect the route flown would continue to be SYD-HNL-LAX

I love a laff too but how often would the 180 leave bags behind? Never heard of it, unlike the dallas, but the 80 may get a shot at leaving bags behind on that one soon..... :E