Qantas A330s
 

Anybody know what the latest is with the A330s? Delivery schedule, EBA negotiations for crewing etc. Is this type still going to be operated shorthaul, or a mixture a la 767? How could this a/c ever be operated as a mix if the pilots flying it are shorthaul? Wouldn't it be better to introduce it as a longhaul type and also fly it domestic?

Anyway it will be nice to see the bus flying again in Australia. :(

I am a Boeing man all the way so is that why I can't understand why QF would want to buy the A330 scarebus? :confused:

And those "winglets"...... please :rolleyes:

hmm I am flying the 737 (classic) at the moment. It's a peice of crap. Give me back my A320! Any QF 737 driver would be mad not to bid for the sexy airbus. (And you will pull chicks like never before:eek: )

mmmmm....737 a piece of crap!:confused:

I would be grateful to be flying a 737 at the moment, but I guess it's all relative.

Bronte,

I'm years off being able to fly the thing, so I have only taken a passing interest in the crewing arrangements, but I understand it is something like this . . .

All the initial C&T gurus have finished their training in Toulouse and are getting initial operating experience with Malaysian Airlines (and maybe Dragonair as well - not quite sure on that though)..

Line pilot slots were advertised and awarded a few months ago. As per the integration agreement (marriage of TN and QF), most (if not all) of the slots have gone to ex - TN 737 drivers.

The aircraft will be operated under a hybrid shorthaul/longhaul arrangement with an hourly rate of pay equal to 747 classic + 3 percent but with calender month rosters and min. guarantee of around 59 hrs.

Apparently there is a "trigger" to moving to a full longhaul pay and rostering arrangement - probably when x percent of sectors are international.

The crew will initially be based in MEL. The first few A/C will be doing MEL/SYD - PER, then MEL - SYD - BNE - CNS etc.

After that it will most likely be doing the regional stuff currently done by the 767s :eek: :eek: like Singapore, HK, Narita etc etc.

WG.

why would you want to fly an aircraft glued together like an airbus? they're to cheap to use rivets.

speaking of which does anyone know if they fixed the mositure accumulation problem which occurs between laminated skin layers on the airbus

I'm confused, which one is the classic. The 737-200 or 300 or 700. How come one of them is next generation but it looks the same as the one before? How come Boeing say winglets are unnecessary gimmicks and then sticks huge ones on the BBJ? Somebody, anybody.

The first 4 aircraft to be delivered will be A330-200 series. The delivery of the first aircraft is late November, and entry into service will be about 2 weeks latter due to engineering, flight ops, and other operational area training and familiarisation.

VH-EBA entry into service December 2002
VH-EBB entry into service approx January 2003
VH-EBC entry into service approx March 2003
VH-EBD entry into service approx April 2003

These are all configured for domestic service- initially SYD-MEL, then PER and BNE.

The next aircraft to be delivered are all A330-300 series. Delivery starts late 2003. There has not yet been any decision as to where they will be operated- domestic or international, but one suspects international.

All aircraft are CF6-80E1 powered.

Airbus are a great aircraft to be associated with. Don't knock em till you try em!!

With regard to 737 terminology,

The 100/200 are referred to as initial models

The 3/4/500 are classics

And the 6/7/8/900 are Next Gen.

The rumour of Boeing designing two baseline Next Gen 737s and selling the unwanted design to Airbus is untrue. The A320 series couldn't possibly be that good!!!!:p

My sources tell me that QF won't be naming them after cities, they'll be named after suburbs! ie; Kings cross, St Kilda, Bethel, Redfern etc etc:p ;) :D

animals
 

what qantas have run out of cities to name the airbus fleet, how about aussie animals instead, now that would work wonders. the flying fox rules the southern skies...

I am surprised they arent named after hyundais's; Lantra, Accent, Excel, Craporama, BucketO****, CheapNnasty.

I can never understand, why so many third world airlines are flying round in nice shiny modern B777's, yet QF goes the cheap and nasty option.

And, if they cancel the order, they can then name them after Great Kiwi's of the 20th Century!!!;) :D :D :D

A330 is flown under long haul award using short haul pay and rostering if that makes sense. It means that things like home transport and other things in the long haul award apply but the actual flying is done under the short haul agreement.

I can't remember the triggers for the long haul pay and conditions but it is dependant on the amount of international flying that it does. Other things come into it like minimum daily credit etc, etc.

Commands may be from the 'A' list but the F/Os are almost exclusivey from the 'Q' list or the bottom of the 'y'.

Ram, if Ethiopian Airlines is anything to go by it's because the yanks give the ethiopian govt a big wad of money to help out with the starving etc. And then say "but you can only spend it on new Boeings" Which end up funded by the US taxpayer. :p

RAM is obviously a Cessna 150 Captain.

Airbus fly-by-wire (and many other aspects) make it light years ahead of competitors.

The 777 is a fine aircraft also however, the QF boys will not just like the 330s, they will love them!

Yes E.P. I keep having to U/S my Cessna 150 due to problems with its FlyByWire systems. Its a real pain for the commercial pax.
:D :D :D


Buster, I am with you on that! - Wait a min, I thought QF had named its most recent 767's after great Kiwis of the 20 Century.

Why not just name them after post codes. Much less chance of running out of names..or numbers.

I'm with you RamAirTurbine!

I would take a a brand new B777-300 before any scarebus! ;)

Now, now girls.
They don't call the old Boeing thing the Trouble 7 for nothing....
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?i...tic=yes&size=L

Remember this in Perth............
http://www.airliners.net/open.file?i...tic=yes&size=L

http://www.airliners.net/open.file?i...tic=yes&size=L