There are 2 issues here.

Whether it would be cheaper/viable for Qantas to have NJS operate 717s for them.

And whether it would be viable for NJS to operate 717s for Qantas for a given price.

qanpulse, perhaps I have missed your point but if Qantas wanted a Dash8 operation why didn't they fold the lot into Eastern. I don't see how having Impulse and NJS operate 717's is any greater expense than having just Impulse operate the type. If QF is out there leasing 717's I would think they could put them with either carrier if they so chose. All the manuals and training material already exist, NJS would just have to adopt the existing Impulse system. Thats synergy among the operators and I've worked where that has been done in just the same manner. I recall getting a bollocking on this forum about two years ago when I suggested that in the long run all the QF regionals would end up under one banner. What you are seeing now is the beginning of that IMHO. In another 5-10 years there will likely be only one QF regional operation with one turbo prop type and one jet type in the fleet. Also one board of directors, one flight ops department, one cabin crew department, one pilot seniority list with grandfather clauses to protect the pilots already there from moving backwards, one AOC, one head office ect. And it will be far better for the pilots on the whole as there will be a labour group of sufficient size to have some bargaining punch in the labour relations arena. Also IMHO NJS Airlink will most likely be folded into the Impulse operation over time as this process see's itself to an inevitable conclusion. I really don't think the pilots and FA's have anything to worry about but the management positions at NJS that are supported by the Airlink contract will become redundant in time. IMHO of course.

We are all guessing!

Not even QF know what they are doing at the moment and I suggest that it will be a while before we see any serious changes within QL or NJ. Mind you, I think QF think they know what they want with the regionals but have no idea how to achieve it in a meaningful and cost effective way!

Sit back and enjoy the ride

Mppgf, remember my post about arrogance ?
Well, thanks to your mate, Nopulse........ the defence rests.:rolleyes:

Being a rumour network, I thought that I would add this one.

I recall that when NJS was bought by FR aviation of the UK, a number of posts on Pprune indicated that the new owner was really only interested in NJS's subsidiary company that had the lucrative Coastwatch contract. If there is any truth in that line of thought then the current topic of Airconnex flown B717's replacing the NJS 146 services might be the ideal way for FR's Australian subsidiary to withdraw from commercial RPT aviation and concentrate on its core military and para-military business.

The line about FRA only being interested in Coastwatch and other military contracts has been around for a long time. The Australian subsidiary that handles this business is National Air Support. Since its inception, NAS has not exactly set the world on fire with its track record to win new business. While they might have the Coastwatch contract (which expires in the next few years) they have failed to win any major business during FRA’s ownership. NAS relies on NJS for various support aspects such as aircraft maintenance so it would be much more expensive for NAS to go it alone. While tendering for new military contracts, I am sure NAS would advertise in some way that its sister company, which provides support, has a “significant contract with Qantas” quack quack quack. IMHO FRA may be forced to examine its NAS business if it fails to gain significant new business in the next few years (particularly if it fails to renew the Coastwatch contract). As for NJS, if they can reduce its reliance on Qantas for business to much less than existing levels (60-70%), and it continues to turn the required profit, I think FRA will hang onto NJS. Time will tell!

Here's one for you. I heard (from the top) a while back Impulse was offered to NJS ( to buy that is ) but they knocked it back! Why? No idea but it must tell you something about how QF want to do business. Or who they like doing business with.

NJS management are doing the rounds at the moment trying to convince the troops to be more productive. i.e. wage freeze or moving up the overtime cut in. This is apparently so that they can be more attractive to QF against there main competitor...Impulse.

Seems to me the NJS position with QF is pretty safe, so why should the pilot group prostitute themselves out of wages and conditions when they are already operating at cut price rates and providing a top rate service. Stand firm NJS pilots don't be intimidated, you are already the preferred option. Keep up the good service and hold onto what you have IMO your situation is as safe as ever.

Thats right boys keep it going and give yourselves a big big pat on the back.

:p

well it is a change. we normally see the what should have been defunct Nopulse, pilots doing exactly that.
Shouldn't you over doing your 76 endorsements to start up Australian Airlines by now??

There's one in every crowd!
 

CAPT146,

I'm very happy for you that you are able to feel so SAFE. But who are you kidding? I'm sure the Southern staff were feeling quite SAFE right up until the end!!

NJS runs on BS rumours like the one you have just posted. What matters is the reality. NJS has provided a good product to Qantas despite its outdated equipment. But history will mean nothing at the end of the day. Qantas’s options to replace the 146 fleet may or may not involve NJS. It will be price driven to a certain extent but I think the reality is that Impulse is set for expansion where possible.

I have reconsidered my own arguments against the 717 in WA and I can see that it would not be beyond the realms of possibility to see Impulse 717’s on WA’s existing 737 routes, while the 146 continues to the difficult (short runway) destinations. There is no reason the 717 could not handle the 146 routes out of Brisbane as well.

You are right when you say the NJS pilots are “as safe as ever”. They have NEVER been safe and they are will stay that way until further notice!

The NJS crews are a professional bunch. Please stop $hit stirring and posting stuff that may be regarded by outsiders as representing the majority.

AA

I don't post rumours, when the 'information' is first hand I feel the need to pass it on. As for safe as ever we shall see.

Going Boeing, of the tens of millions of dollars that FRA probably paid for NJS, much of that value would have been for the Airlink contract.

It wouldn't make sense for anyone to buy something just to shut it down, there's not much capital value there so it would just be a big waste of money. Additionally if FRA really don't want the Airlink contract, why not just stop the service?