Lord Howe Island Freight Run
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Lord Howe Island Freight Run
Does anyone know who is doing the Lord Howe Island freight run these days?
The aircraft they are using?
How often they do the runs in peak/off season? Is it still 3 times a week?
The aircraft they are using?
How often they do the runs in peak/off season? Is it still 3 times a week?
Sprucegoose
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A single (even a turbine) across water? I might have to re-think my application, Wally might be interested though...
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YLHI at night...
Didnt know you could land there at night ("night freight") except with emergency lighting - only portable lights avail??? Dont tell me they put out emerg lights three times a week for the Pac!?!?!
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lhi air freight
Macquarie Air does the run between Port Mac and Lord Howe 2-5 times weekly depending on the time of year, using Pac 750XL, Chieftains and C310 often two planes on same day. 0265827771
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Was wondering if an "old " Dash 7 would be profitable for a freight run from WLM to Lord Howe Island. I can get a refurbished one but I need someone to do a study if viable. Any suggestion who might be able to do it ?
Been thought of before 8Ball,
Granted it was meant to be a combi and ex SYD, the problem was that it was a straight 100, ie no long range tanks.
The problem being that at max payload departure, you could not make a mainland alternate with appropriate reserves. It came down to worst case scenario where LDH was not available due wx or say blocked runway and there was inter/tempo at alternates, Coffs, Port, Willy or back to Sydney.
In those cases it was only a combo of no landing at LDH and bad wx along the coastal alternates with a Max Payload departure.
If however you planned to operate to a 34 seat/ 1 Pallet combi config (103 model) you could do it year round and have to off load the extra cargo as required.
Although technically possible, it came down to prying the protected RPT route from the red rat and that was the sticking point.
If Eastern were to seriously plan to get out of Dash8-200 ops (which they know they need the 200 for LDH) then it would be feasible in a payload restricted or combi mode.
The 7 would be cheap to obtain however labour intensive, need 1 additional cabin crew and very few 150 models with the cargo door available.
Given the price of used 8-200's has come down substantially it would no longer really be economical unless the airframe was dirt cheap..... and very reliable.
We looked at it very very closely and came close to doing the above but the numbers did not stack up.
Try running 4 PT6A-50s and a economical payload....... vs 1 PT6 in the 750, no competition really. The best option would be a GrandVan freighter as it would get in no worries and payload out is not the issue.
Came close if you could run the pax as well and had the route locked down for a while...... otherwise it was not financially viable.
Granted it was meant to be a combi and ex SYD, the problem was that it was a straight 100, ie no long range tanks.
The problem being that at max payload departure, you could not make a mainland alternate with appropriate reserves. It came down to worst case scenario where LDH was not available due wx or say blocked runway and there was inter/tempo at alternates, Coffs, Port, Willy or back to Sydney.
In those cases it was only a combo of no landing at LDH and bad wx along the coastal alternates with a Max Payload departure.
If however you planned to operate to a 34 seat/ 1 Pallet combi config (103 model) you could do it year round and have to off load the extra cargo as required.
Although technically possible, it came down to prying the protected RPT route from the red rat and that was the sticking point.
If Eastern were to seriously plan to get out of Dash8-200 ops (which they know they need the 200 for LDH) then it would be feasible in a payload restricted or combi mode.
The 7 would be cheap to obtain however labour intensive, need 1 additional cabin crew and very few 150 models with the cargo door available.
Given the price of used 8-200's has come down substantially it would no longer really be economical unless the airframe was dirt cheap..... and very reliable.
We looked at it very very closely and came close to doing the above but the numbers did not stack up.
Try running 4 PT6A-50s and a economical payload....... vs 1 PT6 in the 750, no competition really. The best option would be a GrandVan freighter as it would get in no worries and payload out is not the issue.
Came close if you could run the pax as well and had the route locked down for a while...... otherwise it was not financially viable.
Last edited by TWOTBAGS; 22nd Jan 2009 at 13:21.
Sprucegoose
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But I'd have to take a significant pay cut to go to Eastern, even if they made me a Captain!
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TWOTBAGS - understood. Then again, would a DHC4A Caribou do the trick ?
with 2 radial engines and has a lot of baggage space at the back. with 8hrs of endurance ( total fuel - 800 USG @ 100 gph) plus STOL capability, got one here in Asia ready to go. Would just have to ferry it.
with 2 radial engines and has a lot of baggage space at the back. with 8hrs of endurance ( total fuel - 800 USG @ 100 gph) plus STOL capability, got one here in Asia ready to go. Would just have to ferry it.
Sprucegoose
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If you wanted to get the pax from QF it would have to be a turbine! I'm fairly sure QF would welcome you with open arms if you put your hand up for the route, as another poster has said it's the only reason they have for hanging on to 200's...
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These are the only available types I might be able to get easily:
Twin Otter, Dornier 228-202, Dash 7, Let410, Ys11, King Air, Queen Air and the Caribou.
I would need to get someone to do the study of the run if QF is really willing to give it up.
Twin Otter, Dornier 228-202, Dash 7, Let410, Ys11, King Air, Queen Air and the Caribou.
I would need to get someone to do the study of the run if QF is really willing to give it up.
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I'm no expert but I wouldn't have thought a YS11 would get in and out of a 886m strip 'safely'. I've had exposure to similar turboprops (CV580 and HS748) that you'd have to barge back to the mainland in pieces if you ever landed out there.