Toll freighters
 

Heard a rumour last night that the Toll freighters had been grounded.
I couldn't see any airborne during a quick check of FR24 around 2300 (EST).
Grounding - fact or fiction?

Fact.

Any one know the reason why?

This must be having a huge effect on the Toll Priority operation…….

737's or 146 ????

All Airwork 737s, including the NZ fleet.

Hmm!!! Something like a paperwork issue that grounded the Ansett 767's a long time ago?

Cracks. 73s, Both sides of the ditch grounded.

Some of their 737-300/400Fs are 31-32 years old.

Anyone started planning fleet replacements yet? It’s a 3-5 year wait for 320/1F as well as 737-800F.

Or do they think these pieces of junk will go another 5 plus years?

Younger then most 210s and 402s in Aus… Similar age to most F100s in Aus and they’re slated for passenger operation until 2030

yep, Australia really is 3rd world aviation

same age as all the saabs in Aus

Comparing a high cycle jet to a light unpressurised aircraft isn’t valid. As far as the F100 goes…I imagine that the 737s have twice the cycles. When they were young they flew 10+ hours every day for 20 years. Also the Fokker seems to be a more robust airframe.

And has obvious and available replacements, which is what is happening. Airwork has realised it needs to replace the classics. Problem is, they need to replace them now, but as Papajoe said, there is a years long wait for freighter conversations.

Airwork have pilots who have flown the NG and even one who has flown the MAX, they all say the 400 is the nicest one to fly.

Yes, I get that. I was commenting on the implied idea that you could somehow continue to operate geriatric jets well past their scrap-by date.

Anyway, I hope its something that can be repaired to keep them going until replacements arrive.

The 400 is by far the nicest to fly. Actually, the 200 was pretty nice too.

Is Holgate ( ex Aust post ceo ) now running Toll Global . There is a dispute between Aust post and Toll Global . Is it Toll global the operator of these 737? What a small place Australia is. .

No. Airwork NZ operate the aircraft on an ACMI contract to Toll.

No cabin crew and no self loading freight.

Perfect.

It's obviously only impacting a few aircraft. -TLK and -JTQ haven't gone anywhere for a few days now.

Also no daylight!

It effected the entire fleet, they are returning to service as parts are sourced and fitted.

Okey doke. I notice that -TLL looks like it is undergoing heavy maintenance. Do you know if that is where the problem showed up?

Do you know if it was Boeing structure or the AEI structure (Cargo Mod). Not like the time three aircraft with skin cracks "appeared" one day after the other.

Still no indication of the actual problem.

Who knows and will tell the rest of us?

Considering the size of the company and AFWs Social Media and Communication policy, I doubt anyone will divulge on a public forum what the problem was.

But I heard from someone who works there that the automatic grease dispensers were cracked at the nipple. Sounds painful.

Some 30 weight ball bearings and antifreeze generally fix that, but on a 737-330/400F - heck, who knows.

My industry spy tells me they’ve got cracking and are on track to get to the seat of the problem.

Yep, it's all ball bearings these days.

The owner has Russia exposure with a couple of B757 leased in there.I believe

The track has some substance. 2 in Godzone :) are up and running so I am told.

Have been told yesterday it has something to do with the pilot seats railing !!! But this is a rumours network !!

Is somebody's spy on the money??????

Appears Nauru and other operators of the classic in Australia and around the world have been flying this week. Checking the CASA website they haven’t issued any ADs this week regarding the suggested issue, so was this an overreaction by the operator?

Or from the NZ CAA where the aircraft are registered?

I can't see an operator doing a significant grounding unless directed to by an authority.

If it was done by NZ CAA or Boeing CASA would have been advised and issued an emergency AD. CASA are usually the ones to overreact.

Simple fix. Just Ocky strap a milk crate in it's place. Job done! :ok:

Rumours floating around that they are going to 757s, can anyone add to that?

Did we work for the same skydive operator? Ken is that you??