Aircraft Storage at the Alice? A long way to tip a rary.
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Aircraft Storage at the Alice? A long way to tip a rary.
This from ABC News Online: Seems like a long way to tip a rary.
Plane boneyard destined for Red Centre
By Gail Liston
Posted 35 minutes ago
The world's second aircraft storage facility will be set up on a site adjacent to the terminal at Alice Springs Airport.
The only other such site for ageing aircraft is a 1,000 hectare facility in Tucson, Arizona, known as The Boneyard.
Airport general manager Katie Cooper says a key for the selection of Alice Springs was the capacity to expand on the 110 hectare site set aside for the development.
Ms Cooper says Alice Springs not only has the perfect climate for the storage and preservation of aircraft but also a runway capable of catering for planes as big as an A-380.
"We have the ability to take that aircraft here," she said.
"We can have the ability to service all sorts of fleets, be it the smaller aircraft that the recreational or general aviation people use, right up to the very large commercial aircraft that are operated to do the long-haul sectors.
"There is a lot of scope for us to provide some great service."
By Gail Liston
Posted 35 minutes ago
The world's second aircraft storage facility will be set up on a site adjacent to the terminal at Alice Springs Airport.
The only other such site for ageing aircraft is a 1,000 hectare facility in Tucson, Arizona, known as The Boneyard.
Airport general manager Katie Cooper says a key for the selection of Alice Springs was the capacity to expand on the 110 hectare site set aside for the development.
Ms Cooper says Alice Springs not only has the perfect climate for the storage and preservation of aircraft but also a runway capable of catering for planes as big as an A-380.
"We have the ability to take that aircraft here," she said.
"We can have the ability to service all sorts of fleets, be it the smaller aircraft that the recreational or general aviation people use, right up to the very large commercial aircraft that are operated to do the long-haul sectors.
"There is a lot of scope for us to provide some great service."
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The only other such site for ageing aircraft is a 1,000 hectare facility in Tucson, Arizona
The world's second aircraft storage facility
What about all the derelict GA aircraft sitting at every airport in Australia? 
...
Not to mention Mojave in the California desert north of La La Land
These storage companies need quite a few qualified Engineers to run the joint, who's going to want to move to quite literally the middle of nowhere???
These storage companies need quite a few qualified Engineers to run the joint, who's going to want to move to quite literally the middle of nowhere???
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These storage companies need quite a few qualified Engineers to run the joint, who's going to want to move to quite literally the middle of nowhere???
Maybe they could transfer a DMM (or two
) from CNS to supervise them ?And it's a big country, any idea where they could possibly find a big manager to run the engineering side of the place.......Preferably someone who has been there before
!!ST
Ms Cooper says Alice Springs not only has the perfect climate for the storage and preservation of aircraft but also a runway capable of catering for planes as big as an A-380. "We have the ability to take that aircraft here," she said.
Does Ms Cooper know something we don't know, or is she just planning ahead?
Jack
Does Ms Cooper know something we don't know, or is she just planning ahead?
Jack
Is ASP really dry enough for this sort of thing? The boneyard in the US gets virtually zero rainfall whilst ASP can get periods of extended heavy rain if the monsoon trough moves far enough south.
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The logistics of storing aircraft in AS don't seem to stack up to me. Maybe it's the low storage cost that makes it attactive. It's a long way to anywhere when you want a replacement wing.
Even with Australia's cheap road transport (as compared to the U.S.), the cost of transporting a wing to a major maintenance facility would be sizeable.
Then there's the temperature extremes. AS has recorded -7.5°C and around 48°C maxima. Severe morning frosts are common most days between the middle of May and late August.
In 2001, the rainfall was 741mm for the year. The average is 286mm, but that average can vary amazingly from year to year.
That graveyard rent would have to be peppercorn rent, to make the deal attractive.
Even with Australia's cheap road transport (as compared to the U.S.), the cost of transporting a wing to a major maintenance facility would be sizeable.
Then there's the temperature extremes. AS has recorded -7.5°C and around 48°C maxima. Severe morning frosts are common most days between the middle of May and late August.
In 2001, the rainfall was 741mm for the year. The average is 286mm, but that average can vary amazingly from year to year.
That graveyard rent would have to be peppercorn rent, to make the deal attractive.
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Union Jack
Apparently she does, because YBAS is an approved 'Alternate' for QF A380's, albeit with a weight restriction.
Does Ms Cooper know something we don't know...
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Alice? 380??
Alice can get pretty tight for a 717 with flap/slat failure.
The length/width of the strip there would mean the 380 drivers would need to be BLOODY BRILLIANT to not run off the edge/end. I know they are good but they don't need to keep proving it surely.
And no, I'm NOT calling you shirley!
The length/width of the strip there would mean the 380 drivers would need to be BLOODY BRILLIANT to not run off the edge/end. I know they are good but they don't need to keep proving it surely.
And no, I'm NOT calling you shirley!
Is the A380 that much of a lemon they're talking of putting in the desert already?
Land around Alice Springs is scarce (due native title) so I can't see the airport being that cheap a place to park aeroplanes. I would have though they would be better off just flogging it off as light industrial.
Land around Alice Springs is scarce (due native title) so I can't see the airport being that cheap a place to park aeroplanes. I would have though they would be better off just flogging it off as light industrial.
The boneyard will become the new town camp.
Plenty of shady spots under all those wings!
Alice has more problems that are quite pressing and need immediate attention. The indigenous itinerants are out of control. Martial law needs to be declared in the place and it needs cleaning up now.
I was shocked, ashamed and dismayed at the way the place has gone. It's only going to get worse.
Plenty of shady spots under all those wings!
Alice has more problems that are quite pressing and need immediate attention. The indigenous itinerants are out of control. Martial law needs to be declared in the place and it needs cleaning up now.
I was shocked, ashamed and dismayed at the way the place has gone. It's only going to get worse.
Last edited by The Green Goblin; 27th May 2011 at 02:33.
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EW73 & Waghi
EBU is a 743 that used to be in the Nalanji colours, now it's an all over hideous baby sh1t blue sitting engineless and decrepid down at Avalon, has been for years. The 737 painted up in similar colours is still kicking about, I taxied past her yesterday in, of all places, Alice Springs. Great colours, though it's in dire need of a polish.
EBU is a 743 that used to be in the Nalanji colours, now it's an all over hideous baby sh1t blue sitting engineless and decrepid down at Avalon, has been for years. The 737 painted up in similar colours is still kicking about, I taxied past her yesterday in, of all places, Alice Springs. Great colours, though it's in dire need of a polish.
Do you mean "martial" law?
I'm a Pilot, not an English teacher. Although I'll try my hardest from now on, I promise
P.S Last time I checked, tank engine were two words
I can't see this happening myself, unless the Australian taxpayer is asked to contribute. There has to be some advantage other than climate, and geographically YBAS doesn't seem to fit the bill.
To me it sounds like the sort of deal Luke Butler (Flukey Lukey) might be involved in.
To me it sounds like the sort of deal Luke Butler (Flukey Lukey) might be involved in.