Tradewinds 747 Program Done
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Miami, FL U.S.A.
Posts: 146
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tradewinds 747 Program Done
Just heard that Tradewinds has just terminated their 747 program, and all crews are furloughed immediately, can anyone confirm? How many 747s did they operate?
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Greensboro, NC USA
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No FAA problems with the B747 fleet - recent audit of AD records, etc came up clean. It is however, further proof that the day of the B747-200 as a viable freighter is over. Still a place for niche marketing of the A300 freighter, Tradewinds is over thirty five years old started with Connies, going to CL44, then L-1011 and on to A300 and B747. It has survived a lot and may well survive $150 oil. Don't count it out quite yet.
One of the furloughed QC folks
One of the furloughed QC folks
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: UTC +8
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Too low ACMI bid?
Tradewinds' website shows that: In addition to Yangtze River [Y8] PVG-ANC-JFK-BOS schedule, they were operating for China Southern [MU] SZX-LUX via ALA and DXB. 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Pattaya, Thailand
Age: 64
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There were far too many problems with the TDX B747 operation to list them all - but you could start with an inept management team and inadequate maintenance. (examples provided upon request).
MIA based captains would literally cross their fingers on each departure in hopes that nothing would happen [Some actual events: loss of all instruments and all INSs, engine failures and shutdowns, air turnbacks, rejected takeoffs, fire warnings without fire bottles available, rudder malfunctions that were deferred for months, planes and crews held/delayed on numerous occasions for lack of permits...shall i continue?]
The Medellin accident hung the crew out to dry...but the ENTIRE company from the top down contributed to that accident. Supposedly they are getting one classic in MIA again. Hope it works out better for them this time around.
MIA based captains would literally cross their fingers on each departure in hopes that nothing would happen [Some actual events: loss of all instruments and all INSs, engine failures and shutdowns, air turnbacks, rejected takeoffs, fire warnings without fire bottles available, rudder malfunctions that were deferred for months, planes and crews held/delayed on numerous occasions for lack of permits...shall i continue?]
The Medellin accident hung the crew out to dry...but the ENTIRE company from the top down contributed to that accident. Supposedly they are getting one classic in MIA again. Hope it works out better for them this time around.
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: A tent bt the seaside
Posts: 56
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Perhaps tonytech2 would like to comment on v1vRFLY's post?
Inept management is a problem in most airlines. It all seems to be run by beancounters these days.
But the other scenario's described
Inept management is a problem in most airlines. It all seems to be run by beancounters these days.
But the other scenario's described
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: UTC +8
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The Medellin accident hung the crew out to dry...but the ENTIRE company from the top down contributed to that accident.
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think someone is a big girly boy!! U talk of things that u could say no to! If things were that bad, I don't believe anyone was holding a gun to the crew head to make them take the aircraft if it was so unsafe! Bottom line on the med. accident, CREW ERROR! Should have continued on takeoff!
SkyGod
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Palm Coast, Florida, USA
Age: 67
Posts: 1,542
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes
on
1 Post
I don't believe anyone was holding a gun to the crew head to make them take the aircraft if it was so unsafe!
Also heard mx supers beg me not to write up compressor stalls..
Shoestring budget for sure.
As for Medein: Crew should have used reverse power on the abort as well as started the abort earlier.
(If they had contiuned the t/o they would be embedded in a nearby hill)
Rumor says engine exploded because of shaky overhaul by Connie's boys.
Did 3 years for Tradewinds, and sure as clockwork, they screwed me on the last check.
What a way to run a business.
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: KLAX
Posts: 287
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also heard mx supers beg me not to write up compressor stalls..
Per either Pratt or FAA supervised company mx policy, + three compressor stall write ups = mandatory engine change / overhaul.
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 5
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"Also heard mx supers beg me not to write up compressor stalls.."
U said u worked there, so y do u say u "heard Mx Supers". If they talked to u then I assume u didn't have to "hear"? Your statment makes no sense, true about the budget issue, won't argue about that. However, Mx does not send an A/C out in an unairworthy condition that it is aware of. Hey, all I know is crews have refused to take the aircraft because they didn't have any catering! If it ain't safe, then don't take it, don't get me started on the engine issues, monitoring the engine health was very hard to do when the FE can't fill in the blanks of the trim sheets, or can't write the correct nfo in the correct blanks.......................
U said u worked there, so y do u say u "heard Mx Supers". If they talked to u then I assume u didn't have to "hear"? Your statment makes no sense, true about the budget issue, won't argue about that. However, Mx does not send an A/C out in an unairworthy condition that it is aware of. Hey, all I know is crews have refused to take the aircraft because they didn't have any catering! If it ain't safe, then don't take it, don't get me started on the engine issues, monitoring the engine health was very hard to do when the FE can't fill in the blanks of the trim sheets, or can't write the correct nfo in the correct blanks.......................
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: Arizona USA
Posts: 8,571
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rumor says engine exploded because of shaky overhaul by Connie's boys.
I personally told Connie to his face (some years ago) that the days of maintaining engines the JT3D way were right and truly over.
Some folks never learn...no surprise there.
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: UTC +8
Posts: 2,626
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TowerDog ". . . If they had contiuned the t/o they would be embedded in a nearby hill"