A350. Seperate Fleet ?
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Wow, that is a big blow! I suppose the good news is that the airplane is so far off that no one will be flying it anytime soon. My guess is 2016 at the earliest. A lot can change between now and then. Certainly some from the bus will be converted as the A340 goes away.
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A350. Separate Fleet ?
Last edited by White None; 4th Dec 2012 at 02:04.
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A350 won't be a different fleet, it will "likely" be mixed fleet flying, as it's intended to be CCQ approved via Airbus - big picture.
Why would CX not utilize Airbus crews, but go through the effort of a 777 vs 747-800 CCQ? Two completely different aircraft?
I heard from a top source that the A350 may have it's own fleet office, but the pilots will be CCQ'd. As said, a lot can change, but the bulk of the cockpit and operation of the 350 is a 330 with advanced avionics, EFB's built into the flightdeck as part of the Nav displays, still has Trent engines, and will have no stab tank and only 2 hydraulic systems. Sitting in a 350 vs a 330 won't feel like a completely different aircraft, hence the reason Airbus have included it in their CCQ program.
Taking an experienced Airbus pilot and putting them in the A350 is a logical and ideal approach from a line ops point of view. Airbus is a handful (from a technical standpoint) as it is, never-mind the leap the A350 will be. If it comes down to money, as all in CX, and the CCQ is approved by Airbus, I can't find a reason why the company would separate the pilot group on the Airbus type. The A330E has more in common with the A350 than the A340!
Why would CX not utilize Airbus crews, but go through the effort of a 777 vs 747-800 CCQ? Two completely different aircraft?
I heard from a top source that the A350 may have it's own fleet office, but the pilots will be CCQ'd. As said, a lot can change, but the bulk of the cockpit and operation of the 350 is a 330 with advanced avionics, EFB's built into the flightdeck as part of the Nav displays, still has Trent engines, and will have no stab tank and only 2 hydraulic systems. Sitting in a 350 vs a 330 won't feel like a completely different aircraft, hence the reason Airbus have included it in their CCQ program.
Taking an experienced Airbus pilot and putting them in the A350 is a logical and ideal approach from a line ops point of view. Airbus is a handful (from a technical standpoint) as it is, never-mind the leap the A350 will be. If it comes down to money, as all in CX, and the CCQ is approved by Airbus, I can't find a reason why the company would separate the pilot group on the Airbus type. The A330E has more in common with the A350 than the A340!
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but go through the effort of a 777 vs 747-800 CCQ?
I have heard that the 350 will be a standalone fleet initially but that once more 350s come online and once it is more likely that the regular line pilot will fly both types enough to maintain recency on them both, they will be CCQed, but thats towards the end of the decade.
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Well said fatbus. There's a huge amount of confusion here about what CCQ means. Simply put, it means a quick conversion from one type to another. MFF means flying different types from day to day. This is entirely different and not something Airbus is proposing for the 330/340/350. The A350 will be a separate (think of it as senior!) fleet.
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It makes sense for CX to have the A350 CCQ and MFF.
I am fairly certain that they will be approaching the HKCAD for approvals. The final approval will lie with the CAD.
If the answer is yes, then everyone on the Airbus will be happy for obvious reasons!
If the answer is no, the conversion course will be a quick CCQ, but there will be no MFF. In this case, the A350 will become an Airbus "Senior Fleet".
I am fairly certain that they will be approaching the HKCAD for approvals. The final approval will lie with the CAD.
If the answer is yes, then everyone on the Airbus will be happy for obvious reasons!
If the answer is no, the conversion course will be a quick CCQ, but there will be no MFF. In this case, the A350 will become an Airbus "Senior Fleet".
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330 v 350 MFF
Very unlikely.
As the old guard retires from the CAD, they are being replaced with a more local mindset. The new generation have very little real flying experience and lack the background of a varied and successful flying career. Basically they are primarily career Civil servants rather than former Airline Pilots.
I think we can expect an even more bureaucratic mindset in the CAD. No one will be willing to make any decisions, for fear of making an error and damaging their own career. Consequently, they are likely to just sit on the fence when it comes to issues such as MFF.
As the old guard retires from the CAD, they are being replaced with a more local mindset. The new generation have very little real flying experience and lack the background of a varied and successful flying career. Basically they are primarily career Civil servants rather than former Airline Pilots.
I think we can expect an even more bureaucratic mindset in the CAD. No one will be willing to make any decisions, for fear of making an error and damaging their own career. Consequently, they are likely to just sit on the fence when it comes to issues such as MFF.
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Fleet Manager
Firstly, I agree Jonathon68
I heard the same rumour Captain Dart. Suffice to say I was sickened when I heard it. What a disgusting weasel he is. We want leadership, not another yes-man.
However, if the rumour is true, I wonder, will the manuals have their names changed from FCOM to "GeoffCOM"?
I heard the same rumour Captain Dart. Suffice to say I was sickened when I heard it. What a disgusting weasel he is. We want leadership, not another yes-man.
However, if the rumour is true, I wonder, will the manuals have their names changed from FCOM to "GeoffCOM"?
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