Jetstar deferring 787 deliveries?
 

This is still very much speculation, but is it possible the Jetstar 787 deliveries are being deferred?
The next aircraft due for delivery from Everett in Line Number 175, VH-VKF. It was rolled out of final assembly in late March and is yet to take its first flight, which usually happens about a month after rollout.
The one after that is LN 189 VH-VKG which was rolled out on May 1. Instead of being parked in the pre-flight stalls for all the necessary stages of preparation for flight testing, it has been parked at the tower apron, which is where 787's have been placed in the past for storage. The regular stages of preparation were not performed on this airframe.
This may be part of some effort to manipulate the financial performance of the company, avoiding the large capital expenditure, probably on the short term.
(Long term storage for 787's is also on the disused RWY 11-29).:hmm:

Operational spares? You can't have too many!

Jetstar deferring 787 deliveries?
 

Something weird happened with the paint job on VKF. It's been back in the Paint Hangar in May, but had to wait a while. There's this Matt Cawby photo from the end of April.
VH-VKF at Paine Field

Very well picked up.... I n t e r e s t i n g.

Although, given the extraordinary 'leadership' we exist under, it could just as easily be yet another total cluster disaster...

That photo clearly shows two different tones of silver on the fuselage. No wonder it went for a re-spray.

As far as our leadership's ability to create chaos where only order existed before...I expect that we haven't yet seen the full breathtaking scope of their ineptitude. We have thus far witnessed 5 1/2 years of palpably stupid strategy; now we shall witness the messy unravelling of it all.

I heard that they upgraded management's omni-directional blame pointer in order to finger all of the external factors preventing Joyce's grand vision being realised. All of which are unique to Qantas, of course.

The thing is, the 787-8 can't operate on all the long routes the A330 operates because some genius ordered the 787-8 with the wrong engine pylons. Im not sure how many 787's Jetstar has currently, but just on the top of my head, the 787 wont be able to fly to Honolulu, or Melbourne to Narita, Melbourne to Singapore. So thats 4 less 787's jetstar needs.

Pylons and ETOPS
 

What differences do Engine Pylons have that effect ETOPS criteria?
Housing for STBY ELEC / RAM air turbine?

Uhh, I was under the impression that there is only one engine pylon for the 787, hence why the engines can be swapped between RR and GE without too much hassle.

Both are on the CASA register as of 16 May. Both owned by the mothership and leased to the parasite.

Where is all of QFs cash going again?

Rumor has it that Qantas have engaged a Melbourne law firm to find a way to back out of a recent aircraft acquisition program.
B787 - unlikely, A380 - probably not, unless its the remaining 8 deferred aircraft, A320 - maybe. They could drop half of the order and still have too many.

Ebt...we were all under the impression that there was a single pylon, but apparently there was some savings to opt for a lightweight pylon matched to the low thrust engine option.

As you know, engine thrust is changed by a setting, but pylon choices are forever. The story goes that the first eight 787s have the low thrust pylon and will forever be cripples. The specification was changed from the ninth aeroplane. In the meantime the low thrust option plus very high seat density means the aeroplane cannot fly the routes for which it was purchased.

Smartest guys in the room. Very small room though.

C441.

If true, the smartest of a bad bunch must have been Boston Bruce.

In my opinion he saw the writing on the wall and made a dash for the Emergency Exit.

All 787-8's have the same engine Pylon, all that is required is a relatively minor mod on the fuel control unit and some minor software upgrades but that will cost $$$$. Current mod status allows any current JQ 330 sector to be covered by the 787 but there will be payload restrictions on the longer sectors i.e. HNL.

STRONG rumor has it as the A380. A particular chair thrower from the past has been "contracted" to share the lawyers bed sheets until finalization.

What I have heard is that there is one pylon design NOW, but originally there was a lighter one offered. The only company to order it was (guess who!) even though Boeing advised against it. 3 or 4 aircraft have these pylons before Boeing stopped offering them. So later aircraft will have the capability for more thrust.:ugh:

Rumour sounds very dodgy in my view.

I suspect any aircraft purchase contract would be governed by US/ European law rather than Australian law, so a Melbourne law firm wouldn't help much.

As for the A320s - if there are too many for JQ, then I suspect we may see them with a red tail. The last big 737 replacement commencing 2001 with the planes taken from AA after Ansett fell over.

On 787-8s order was trimmed from 15 to 14 in Jan-13, then 3 deferred in Feb-14 (wasn't announced for how long). So JQ is only expecting 11.

The A380s wouldn't surprise me - although at some point QF does need to replace the continuing (and refurbed) 9 747s (inc 6 ERs) and then ultimately the A380s themselves.

Cancel that last few A380 orders and get the 777X for the 744ER replacements ...ha I had to mention the 777 but it's too old gen now

I would go for it been the 380. Rumour has it that the deferment is $20 million per airframe per year. Don't shoot the messenger please it's only a rumour.

They are probably deferring to save on parking costs throughout SE Asia.

Best way out of it is to go bankrupt !