Any second now he's going to figure it out. Aaaaaaaany second now.

[QUOTE=Climb150;10968087]What are you talking about? I didn't say I did. You realise I don't live in Australia anymore. Thank God I got away from this backwater mentality.[/QUOTE

Say hi to your ops manager for me

Wrap it up kids.

good life advice in general

I'm glad Dad Uber and KZ Kiwi can take a post made by someone and turn it into an attack. Well done guys, I'm sure you are a pleasure to fly with.

Sorry mate, god knows you should be free to lecture us all about how important of all things spelling is, on an anonymous internet forum, and how critical it is to our careers. I've always felt that people who don't know the difference between 'bite' and 'bight' are in a particularly strong position to criticize others on matters of spelling and grammar.

I personally feel it was an insightful and significant addition to this thread, about QF Group careers, and in no way worthy of being criticized as a pointless triviality that didn't affect a solitary soul.

Let these heartfelt words of sorrow dry your salty tears, and forever know how worthy you are to us all, here, in inferior aviation land.

Can we get back on topic now, or did I use a split infinitive somewhere?

As the new year is here and all managers should be back at work any indications of how things will pan out this year with return to work? It looks like those on long term stand downs will be undertaking sim training to ensure not too many critical skills are lost.

20 repatriation flights just announced.


https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-01-...nment/13064006

As only one member of these forums can spell, it looks like das will be changing his username to Dad. Your Op’s manager weeps.

Any info on which airline/s will be contracted?

Enjoy your echo chamber.

I recently heard a rumour that QF have put together a business case to bring ALL of the A380’s back into service. The rumour is they will use them on short haul routes (might even be flying each one once a week) as it’s close to cost neutral compared to the maintenance costs of having them stored. Has anyone heard similar?

Not a chance.

Only if the overall costs vs. benefit outcome is a dollar or more better than any other aircraft in the fleet…..

Another BNEA320 handle?

Which one?

Which gates/aprons can handle an a380?

That rumour has as much chance of happening as them bringing the Super Constellation back onto scheduled flights. I hear it has a super low
fuel burn.....

Nice one, Half the A330's are parked locally, with similar expenses. 8/10 for humour. 2/10 for originality.

Far fetched but the was some ops talk for them due to maint procedure costs. Doubt it will happen

All A380’s - no

All A380 crew - yes

Even if that was to occur there's still quite a few CPTs and FOs left, far more than what would be needed to throw them on a a handful of domestic sectors every week for currency. In addition to the many SOs who would not be needed until substantial international flying occurs.

However there is a thought that the 350 could be a factor sometime after this year, so maybe getting a core of the 380 pilots back and operational to be able to allow easier transition to the 350 could be a possibility?

I strongly doubt the majority of 380 crew will be stood up and operational until the international network is fully re-established. But a few trainers could be stood up later in the year to allow the fleet to maintain a level of currency. The 787 and 330 have been flying intermittently all this time and still most on those fleets will need proficiency training. None of the 747 or 380 pilots have been included in that program as of yet.

The only 380 rumour I’ve heard that has any merit is that apparently engineering have been asked to cost a return to service for 6 of them in a year or so from now. Don’t have a figure, but word is the sum is eye watering. Apparently if you don’t swing the gear up and down for a few years airbus insist on some fairly heavy maintenance. The only thing that remotely balances it is that they own them outright so no capex on brand new planes and they’ll have 6 spare parts bins to plunder which should lower the maintenance costs for the remainder of the aircraft life. Who knows which way they’ll go with it.

330/350...

How many 380s in LAX? Will they use these or 789s to fly Aussie team to Tokyo for Olympics. 450 odd team of athletes. Coaches and support staff on top.

Is this a serious question? You really think carrying the Olympic party in one aeroplane will be part of their decision making to bring the Dugong back?

Not in the long term. But they maybe holding one or two aircraft for this purpose. Some flying that will come for the 380.

Eventually they will need the heavy metal. In those peak periods (Xmas) QF have up to seven services out of LAX.

Management would not be doing their job if they did not consider all options however looney at first sight - lateral thinking can produce solutions.
Interesting rumours originating from the emptiers of waste paper bins have been around always.

Knowing AJ, he's probably trying to do a number on Airbus. Buy back some of our 380's & we'll place the Sunrise 350 orders.

Two. I can't remember if they're among the half dozen refurb'ed or not.
That's probably closer to the mark.

A380 crew told me who listened on the webinar that only 3 hulls need to go to LAX or Abu Dhabi soon to get checks and a gear service otherwise they turn into coke cans.
They then go back to the desert to be stored.Some management pilots will prob do the three flights.
3-6 380s to return is what I heard .And 2023 is the return date Qantas claimed on webinar. 2 years away at least. But who says they even return? Red Q was going to happen and did not.Jetstar Hong Kong was going to happen and didn't.The company minion was claimed to have said the 787 will take all the 380 flying for a number of years due to aircraft being more fuel efficient and the load being more commercially suited to the 787.
All bull**** unless it actually happens.

The only thing going for the 380 is it has First class.(At least some of them).
When QF see a demand for it then back they come.
Having said that if they don’t come back by next year then forget it.
That being the case Busters idea would seem to be logical.
If I remember correctly I think AJ said they’ll revisit Sunrise at the end of this year.
Additional 350’s with First class......
interesting?

All 12 have 1st class,the reconfigured ones had a refresh of 1st class(nothing major).
The 6 reconfigured hulls did not all have heavy maint checks so no guarantee that the 6 that return to flying(if indeed 6 ever return) will be pre or post reconfig or just the best combination for the lowest cost.

They’re fully written down. The only ‘cost’ of them now is how much it takes to get them back flying again.

If there is demand in a couple of years, they’ll return in line with demand. If demand is still subdued then they won’t. Pretty simple really.

The only real crystal ball gazing in this equation is will demand return on SYD-LAX, MEL-LAX, SIN-LHR to justify an A380. I reckon in 2-3 years time the demand will be there. That’s six jets right there.

Of course, where does the A350 fit into this? Who freaking knows. May end up running a 787 between SIN and LHR whilst an A350 goes direct from the east coast. The Kangaroo route is the only one that I can see is complicated by the A350. LAX certainly isn’t given the proposed config of the ULH A350s QF is considering.

Though even something like ADL-LAX could become a thing for a 787 or A350 given the config- probably the 787 given the A350 is supposed to have P/C and I can’t see there being demand for that out of ADL. Perhaps SYD-LAS an option for a 240ish seater as well. The only thing that would see the A380 not return is if QF decide to increase hull numbers and go point to point into some of these secondary routes.

That was Boeing's prediction for the fate of 4 engine designs when the A380 was first announced by Airbus.

Welcome to PPrune, Sir Richard, lovely of you to grace us with your presence.

https://simpleflying.com/hibernating-an-airbus-a380/

This article gives an indication of some of the maintenance that A380’s required while stored. It obviously adds up to many man hours and it would be good to know if Qantas is paying for this maintenance on all 12 of their A380’s or just the 6 refurbished ones or none of them - that would give a strong indication of what their long term plans are.

It would make sense to preserve the newest, refurbished aircraft as even the best case probably won’t see all of the A380s returning. Keep 6-8 of the best ones in flying condition and use the rest for spares. Even if you err on the low side it wouldn’t matter as if the A380 could be used profitably on a route it wouldn’t be essential to have one, and a different aircraft would probably make more money.

The A380's need 3 things to bring them up to date.

1. Landing gear change
2. 12 year heavy maintenance check
3. Interior refurbishment

Want to guess how many of them have all 3?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....9f1d2eb2cc.gif