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- - Turn back? (https://www.pprune.org/australia-new-zealand-pacific/617306-turn-back.html)

A cut n paste from news.com.au

Half an hour after a flight from Auckland to Samoa took off, a boy screamed out that he felt like he was going to die.

just over three hours later and about 20 minutes before the aircraft landed, the nine-year-old would be dead.

Now his family is calling on the airline, Samoa Airways, to reveal what its protocols are when it comes to mid-air emergencies and exactly what warrants an aircraft making an emergency landing or turning back.

A woman speaking on behalf of the family told the Herald the youngster suffered a severe asthma attack not long into the OL732 Boxing Day journey.

“We have nothing but praise for the flight attendants, but question whether the pilot followed best practice operational procedures,’’ she said.

“Many are saying that the plane should have turned back for Auckland.

Thaought?

I’m fairly sure these are Euro crews operating these flights on a temp basis after the falling out with Virgin? Who would be very unfamiliar with the region and this carrier has absolutely zero infrastructure outside of home base. Recent commentary from the carrier around its financials indicate they can’t afford to be grounded with only one aircraft and minimal funds in the bank. Schedule before Safety I assume...

They can’t even run their own country let alone trying to run a airline. I watch with interest.

Early report in the NZ Herald

""The passenger - who, according to family, had a medical history which had not been disclosed to the airline prior to the flight"

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/a...ectid=12184297

A later report
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/a...ectid=12188728

I can't find it now but the family apparently reported that the child had a severe asthma attack on Boxing Day

With only one plane this airline cant last

From the above article:

Quote:

This aircraft in an all economy configuration can accommodate 220 passengers which includes and it is equipped with 16 luxurious business class seats; and 173 economies and 189 passenger capacities.

Or 120 Samoans.

Quote:

In the meantime, Tuilaepa said the airline’s second aircraft — which the Government announced recently — will arrive in June this year in time for the 2019 Pacific Games.

At least it will give them a source of spares!

It never ceases to amaze me why some small Pacific nations without decent and strong economies are prepared to spend mega-bucks on their airlines.

Samoa is one example where owning a somewhat lesser but more than capable aeroplane rather than leasing an expensive aeroplane would make better business sense. Decent 737-800's, for example,can be bought second-hand for far less capital outlay than this new beast and, even with borrowed money to pay for it, would most likely be a more affordable option.

Air Kiribati is another example where a nation is splashing out a quarter of a billion dollars on two new aircraft - their efforts with the ATR were a disaster and why they seem to think this will have a better outcome is intriguing.

The Solomon's leased aircraft cost them a monty when the aeroplane was recently grounded extensively on maintenance. Those lease payments continued in addition to paying others for replacement capacity.

Air Niugini has a long history of dabbling with leasing and often with less than favourable outcomes for the bottom line.

Air Nauru, on the other hand, has owned aircraft (or was paying them off towards ownership) for a long time and managed to grow from several to 4 or 5 as a result of the monthly loan payments gaining them assets rather than lining the pockets of leasing companies. At least, with aircraft owned outright, when they are sitting on the ground the leasing costs that are not supported by income don't have to be met - and that's not even mentioning being saddled with any "return from lease" costs which are generally significant. Having said that, the word is that it's likely to change in that regard and they are looking at leasing.

.

Samoa has been down this road before.

The growth of the fleet from various aeroplanes such as the 727 to leased 737-300’s to the wet lease from air canada of initially a 767-200 which was replaced by a 767-300 which when that got taken home was eventually replaced wet leases of Dc10’s and L1011’s from various wet lease airlines then replaced by an orphan 767-200 from a middle eastern airline that had been invaded by iraqi’s and their aeroplane was the only one in captivity that had that engine/airframe combination (JT9D-7Q if I recall - but whatever the 747 version of the JT9D was) - so a winner from a ETOPS perspective.

eventually it pretty much sent the country broke.

patagonianworela You raise some valid points, but the lease could be all inclusive with maintenance etc. So whilst expensive at first glance, could actually work out cheaper from an overall perspective. Accountant dribble I know......