QLK Network Changes
 

With the QLK Dash 8 network currently undergoing a redesign, the feeling is that there will be some significant changes. Anyone got information or speculation?

BNE 300 base to close. Just operate them out of Sydney.

Isn’t the LHI contract up for renewal in 2021? Wouldn’t be surprised to see this one go

That could get interesting - Lots of junior 400 CPT's

From what I’ve heard from those that are on the 300 and have been stood down since early April, the company continues to share very little information about the future of the classic fleet. They continue to deny rumours about planned reductions in the fleet (and even have started asking for who are starting the rumours so they can “have a chat to them”)

The current stance is there is not enough to demand to warrant the Q3 to fly, which hardly makes any sense, how can there be useful work on a 74 seater but not on a 50 seater.

There isn’t enough “useful work” for all the 400 crew to start with, (hence rolling stand downs). How can a senior 300 crew member displace a junior crew member that doesn’t have useful work to do in the first place.
Trade stand down for stand down??

Would they swap them out for some SYD 400s or just add them to the SYD fleet? Either would present crewing challenges

You'd like to think they're designing the network for a post-covid environment where everyone has been stood up?

Well if the Q300 stops operating out of Brissy, there would have to be a reduction in establishment no doubt (keeping in mind pre COVID the classic club was averaging 10 stick hours a month)

The more senior guys will displace the 400 blokes, with those on the bottom of the seniority list most likely getting the wave goodbye

It’s been mentioned several times that there is no “plan” redundancies and that the classic will still have a place in QLink.

What is most likely that the very junior Captain’s on both fleets will head back to the RHS.

The unknown is how many senior F/O‘s will pick up a command at the expense of the Captain’s junior to them.

A lengthy and expensive training exercise for the company.

Pretty easily really. As soon as they announce the 300 is gone they will have to fine tune the establishment numbers on the 400. Should there be an excess once they include the senior 300 pilots then bye bye to the most junior 400 to make way.

technically yes it would be stand down for stand down - But id much rather be a stood down CPT than an FO

Anyone remember Cairns 2014....

Didn't they turn up to a CNS base meeting and try and convince all the 300 drivers, senior captains included that they were off to Bris, regardless of seniority? Either a very bold strategy or incredible naivety?

I remember one individual that would unfortunately become ill after arriving in Sydney for re training sims.
Delay the training=delay the check to line=delay the pay cut.

He is no longer with the company thankfully, if it's the same fella I'm thinking.

One of the two isn't.

I don't remember anyone being told that they were off to Bris. A few went to ADL to retain their command and many just stayed in CNS as F/O's.

A lot of Q400s sitting in Melbourne not doing much with COVID running crazy.

That would match up with what the CP said before about the sims going to either Melbourne or Brisbane (or both?)
Could send the -300 sim to Melb along with the Bris -300 fleet, and use the Melb -400 fleet and -400 sim in QLD!

The 300 is finished in Brisbane and if I was a betting man Adelaide too.
The issue they have, is when this is announced they will need to stand up 50 odd 300 drivers and train them onto a 400. With a fleet still not at 100% (and it won't for a while) its an extra expense that isn't needed.

Its in the companies best interest to keep the fairy tail alive..."The 300 will return" - Rubbish

Sounds like what you’re saying is that the company is using EAA as the dumping ground for the classic fleet.

Just curious as to why you think the 300 is finished in Adelaide?
From my observation it is a pretty good fit on the Port Lincoln, Whyalla and Kangaroo Island routes given the existing market size.

After REXs little dummy spit about Orange, I would expect a larger 300 base in ADL, to remove the monopoly on a lot of other REX routes. Want to fly 737s on the J curve? Expect to be screwed with on your own home turf.

Sorry to clarify, I believe the 300's days are numbered in Adelaide but the base will play a big part with the upcoming 2021 wars with our friends at Rex.

400's worked well years ago and with a better product overall than a SAAB - This is the market I see them exploring.

:uhoh: .

Classic club was all but dead in brissy pre COVID anyway

Which was why the trained around 5 additional Captain's in the months before?

Well actually the Q400 was overkill in SA when introduced previously. It would still be overkill on the Port Lincoln, Whyalla and Kingscote markets now. Far better to retain the 300, increase the frequency of flights if required to meet demand, seasonal or otherwise, and work the crews harder. The 300 would also be more aligned with demand if QF were to tackle Rex on other intrastate routes such as Mount Gambier.

yep, they definitely needed them, the others doing only 15 hours stick a month were struggling!

I feel for the sustaining fleet guys and girls that have been stood down up there in Brisbane... The company has pretty much left them in the dark and given them nothing but crumbs about there future.

No reason for the smallest Qantas group airplane to be sitting on the tarmac while loads are these low.

Everyone can see that the sustaining fleet is not coming back - why string it along? I know they said it’s coming back - but they also said no redundancies in the group.

After it is moved out of Brisbane it’s going to be probably 2021 before they can justify converting those crew to the Q400. The sustaining fleet is the poor younger brother of the A380.

indeed. The lack of updates has been very poor form.

they have changed their tone now though. It’s no longer “we have no plans to remove the Classic”, but now the company line is “we obviously can’t comment on any of the rumours etc going around”

Useful work on a 74 seater, but not on a 50 seater.... hmmm makes a lot of sense...

The fact you're quoting that shows you are on the pilot conference call, which hasn't even finished yet. It sucks certain pilot groups are stood down, but your quote is out of context. No confirmation of plans yet because things are rapidly changing with borders and demand. There was nothing said to indicate the classic won't be back.

Edit - and reasons were later given why the 400 has been used over the classic. Not going to post any more specific details on a public forum.

you must be a 400 driver. Living life happily with a full roster, busy as ever, while everyone else gets dudded with no information on their future

Don’t tar 400s with that brush, more likely to be management...

With a number of network options having apparently been generated but no final decision yet made, it would be nice to at least know what's being considered.
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​Makes it tough to plan for the future when one may end up demoted or having to relocate with minimal notice. If they would just tell us what's being considered then we won't feel as blindsided when the decision is eventually revealed.

Can we assess management under the MAPP? ;)

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Words added to make word count.

Salty much? Yes 400 but had stress and stand downs too so not all rosie like you think (I feel lucky to get some flying back). Plenty of good mates on long term stand down too, so I can empathise. It's a bad situation and I genuinely feel for you. But speaking out against your own company on Pprune, particularly using out of context quotes and thoughts, isn't going to solve anything. You probably shouldn't come out swinging at work mates either, I'm on your side.

You can accuse me of drinking the kool aid or being a company man, but you can't take the situation personally. I'm confident they want to keep people in jobs and I'm sure they'll advise everyone when they have clarity. Sounds like the clarity isn't too far away. Hope you're flying again soon, this Covid stuff and all of the uncertainty has been hard on everyone.

Salty??!! The A380 crew have more certainty on their future than the classic club at the moment.

things tend to get old when you’ve been stood down for 4 months without any indication on timeframes for a return to flying. Being told you will get an update “in coming weeks” month after month, meeting after meeting, also gets old very quickly.

Where is AFAP in all of this?

The QLD borders are open! Having the 300’s stood down is now a commercial decision.

THERE IS USEFUL WORK - Absolutely ridiculous, make the call, either get rid of it and train the 300 crew onto the 400 or put it back online.

End of story

I can't pay my bills, but at least we're all in this together. I'll keep those reassuring words in mind when my kids have their worst Christmas ever.
It's just a line the haves use on the have-nots when they need to prevent a mutiny.

When are you guys going to realise pilots from other bases and fleets aren't the enemy? Management isn't the enemy in this. Covid and poor government decision are the enemy that are stopping you from coming back to work. The company aren't screwing you over to increase their bonus or share price - decisions are being made to keep Link and the whole airline alive. If they can do that, it stops or minimises job losses.

And if you want to keep playing the man, not the ball, I'll do the same. The majority of classic pilots have had the chance to bid to the 400. Judging by the location of some of the loudest on this thread, you're Brissy based. You've known for a long time that there wasn't much QLD work for the 300 pre COVID, yet you enjoyed "club classic" and the minimal stick flying that came with it. As far as I know, the FOs that had previously been awarded the 400 have started conversion training or are about to soon. For the others have have just been awarded 300 commands etc. the timing really sucks.

But you are not unique. Look at the crew in Victoria and NSW. How about the Link guys that just left to go to QF and are in no man's land? How about pilots at Virgin and Tiger who have been made redundant or are about to be. Link pilots being stood down is a bad situation, but at least you've got light at the end of the tunnel, eventually.

​​​​There's no 400 pilot who doesn't feel for the classic crew right now. But when you take the emotion out of it, you'll see there is no point having a dig at other fleets. And with respect to communication from management - would you rather they come out with a plan that is 70% certain, get everyone's hopes up and then have to advise everyone with a revised plan a week later because the situation is so fluid? Or do you want them to line up the ducks properly to either get the Classic back flying or work out a transition to the 400?

If you're still angry, chat to your AFAP reps about why the communication from them has been so poor and unprofessional over the last 4 months.

I can't wait for a time when all this bullish!t is over and we are all back flying .

Well said Aimpoint