Fedex and the 757
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Germany
Fedex and the 757
Hello Guys,
as most propably everyone has recognized, FedEx decied for the 757 instead of more A300/310s or B737-400(F) as replacement for the good old 727s.
Can anybody tell me propable reasons for this decision?
I do not see any carrier phasing out 90 757s within the next 8-10 Years but several airlines phasing out their last A306/310's as well as many Carriers still have B737-300/400s that will be replaced by 737NG/A320s or their successors.
Has anybody an idea or explananation out of his/her daily practize why Fedex decided the way they did?
Thanx for any hint
@Moderator
Pls do ot move this thread to the technical corner.
This thread is intended for rumours about the the base of the decision, not a technical question! Thank you
as most propably everyone has recognized, FedEx decied for the 757 instead of more A300/310s or B737-400(F) as replacement for the good old 727s.
Can anybody tell me propable reasons for this decision?
I do not see any carrier phasing out 90 757s within the next 8-10 Years but several airlines phasing out their last A306/310's as well as many Carriers still have B737-300/400s that will be replaced by 737NG/A320s or their successors.
Has anybody an idea or explananation out of his/her daily practize why Fedex decided the way they did?
Thanx for any hint
@Moderator
Pls do ot move this thread to the technical corner.
This thread is intended for rumours about the the base of the decision, not a technical question! Thank you
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,425
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From: n/a
Can anybody tell me probable reasons for this decision
Its a great machine. replacing 727s with 757s follows the same reasons pax airlines did in the 1980s. It burns less fuel, needs less crew, is more reliable and carries 20%+ more volume.
As to why the 757 ISO other types
A300 : too big and too old.
A310 : too long range optimised
737-3/4 : too small
Where to buy them >The market for used 757s has been improbably tight recently and Fedexs announcement goes a long way to explaining why.
Fedex say they have half already under some sort of option and I would suggest looking at the purchasers of the 787 series and expect to see trade ins of their 75s for the rest.
I think this will be off to freight dogs shortly where you may get some more ideas.
Trash du Blanc
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 1,185
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From: KBHM
Cruise speed.
The hub sort in KMEM and KIND is based around the speed of the 727. If they were replaced with the 73 or Bus the outstation departures would have to be earlier. Therefore, the delivery trucks would have to finish their routes earlier - and that would cost money.
I used to do MEM - Boise, Idaho in the 727 at Mach .85, and when we'd land the outbound crew would be standing there waiting to take it back for the day sort. No time to waste.
As for the planes, I cannot believe they made this announcement without the aircraft already identified and on contract. Otherwise the price would go up. But I haven't heard where they are yet.
The hub sort in KMEM and KIND is based around the speed of the 727. If they were replaced with the 73 or Bus the outstation departures would have to be earlier. Therefore, the delivery trucks would have to finish their routes earlier - and that would cost money.
I used to do MEM - Boise, Idaho in the 727 at Mach .85, and when we'd land the outbound crew would be standing there waiting to take it back for the day sort. No time to waste.
As for the planes, I cannot believe they made this announcement without the aircraft already identified and on contract. Otherwise the price would go up. But I haven't heard where they are yet.
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 2,202
Likes: 4
From: Surrounding the localizer
Huck, you probably know that the 757 will only really do .80 in anything like an economical cruise (.84-.86VMO depending on the kit onboard). I guess fed-ex will have factored that in with their scheduling
Union Goon
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,097
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From: New Jersey, USA
Haughtny,
It defends on how you DEFINE economical cruise.
economical cruise on a 727 is around 78-80, if fuel is your consideration. FEDEX (and Ryan international when we flew the mail) fly the 727 considerably faster (.84 - .90 depending on how much time needed to be made up) than that and very close to the barberpoll when time is of the essance.
Its a whole different animal than pax flying. Speed is life. If a package isn't there on time its FREE. If a passenger is late, who cares, they already paid.
Cheers
WIno
It defends on how you DEFINE economical cruise.
economical cruise on a 727 is around 78-80, if fuel is your consideration. FEDEX (and Ryan international when we flew the mail) fly the 727 considerably faster (.84 - .90 depending on how much time needed to be made up) than that and very close to the barberpoll when time is of the essance.
Its a whole different animal than pax flying. Speed is life. If a package isn't there on time its FREE. If a passenger is late, who cares, they already paid.
Cheers
WIno
Just out of interest, does anyone know what UPS cruise at in their 757's?
Joined: Oct 2002
Aviation Qualifications: PPL
Posts: 8,208
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From: London UK
It's a good decision to have some tasty rumours about.
For a start what are the airlines hoped to be getting rid of the 757s going to replace them with ? I would guess most of the anticipated source will be the US trunk carriers. But the 787 is really too big a leap in size, while the 737 replacement is too far away in time. The A321 has been a favourite in Europe but not so much in North America. As there are many years left in the 757s currently around, and the bulk are not that old, I wouldn't expect too many of the larger US fleets would be sold off any time soon.
I believe many at BA regret selling off most of their 757s to DHL and wish they had kept more of them. Some some were old, but others not.
FedEx will presumably want to go for just one 757 engine type, wonder which one. The RR is the all-round favourite but that impacts on the secondhand price of them.
Why this rather than more A310s ? Well there aren't that many of them left, and they're scattered thinly across many fleets (and few on the US register) which will lead to all sorts of compatibility problems building up a large fleet. Plus it's a widebody which probably means FedEx would have to replace all their ground handling equipment whereas the 757 is the same as the 727 for fuselage cross-section etc.
For a start what are the airlines hoped to be getting rid of the 757s going to replace them with ? I would guess most of the anticipated source will be the US trunk carriers. But the 787 is really too big a leap in size, while the 737 replacement is too far away in time. The A321 has been a favourite in Europe but not so much in North America. As there are many years left in the 757s currently around, and the bulk are not that old, I wouldn't expect too many of the larger US fleets would be sold off any time soon.
I believe many at BA regret selling off most of their 757s to DHL and wish they had kept more of them. Some some were old, but others not.
FedEx will presumably want to go for just one 757 engine type, wonder which one. The RR is the all-round favourite but that impacts on the secondhand price of them.
Why this rather than more A310s ? Well there aren't that many of them left, and they're scattered thinly across many fleets (and few on the US register) which will lead to all sorts of compatibility problems building up a large fleet. Plus it's a widebody which probably means FedEx would have to replace all their ground handling equipment whereas the 757 is the same as the 727 for fuselage cross-section etc.
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 1,598
Likes: 11
From: Down south, USA.
The cost index, somewhere in the FMC screen menu on a 757 can be changed from 55, to whatever, but I don't remember what this does to the climb or cruise speeds etc and the top of descent point or circle on the HSI's pink (magenta for the linguistically correct) line .
Only one pilot changed the index then a short while later, changed it back to 55.
Only one pilot changed the index then a short while later, changed it back to 55.
Last edited by Ignition Override; 26th October 2006 at 17:53.
