TAA/Australian Airlines Jetstream 31

[Stationair8]

What year did TAA/Australian Airlines replace the F27 on the western QLD routes with the mighty Wetdream?

Must have beeen a cushy job for the TAA pilots flying the J31 while still on F27 wages?

Must be a story or two in pprune land about the TAA/AA J31 operations?

[Grivation]

.....1987?

[boocs]

Didn't they send one aircraft with the pax and then one a/c with the bags behind it??

b.

[zlin77]

Baggage aircraft..

Normally a Baron was used to carry the extra baggage, maybe Union Air?

[mainwheel]

Faith, Hope and Charity...

[Aye Ess]

Sometimes the 'caboose' Baron would take the bags for the last port directly from Brisbane,deposit the bags and depart back to Brisbane before the Jetstream had done all it's stops westbound. Imagine the pax arriving and finding their bags sitting waiting for them.

[megle2]

And an extra surprise when the Baron got in with the bags and the J31 missed out and went home

[Stationair8]

Why did TAA/Australian go with the Jetstream and not say the Beech 1900, Beech B200 or Metro?

How many crews were employed on the J31?

[hiwaytohell]

Why did TAA/Australian go with the Jetstream and not say the Beech 1900, Beech B200 or Metro?

Stand up cabin with lavatory!

The Metro's and the 1900s did not have a stand-up cabin (the 1900D did not come out until a few years later).

[zanzibar]

Why did TAA/Australian go with the Jetstream and not say the Beech 1900, Beech B200 or Metro?

Someone did a deal with BAE - remember the rights to fly around within QLD were covered by an intrastate licence.

[Givelda]

How many crews were employed on the J31?

From a copy of the Australian Airlines 1987 Equipment Assignments I have, it lists a fleet strength of 19 Captains and 20 F/O's.

The flat salaries for Captains, ranged from $38,089 for a pilot with one year service to $50,980 for a pilot with 12 years service with the company.

First Officers ranged from $24,940 to $33,319.

I am not certain, but at the time, Australian Airlines had an "Eligibility" or By-pass pay system and maybe if these Brisbane based crews had an eligibility number based on seniority for higher equipment, than that may have meant they received higher pay if a lower seniority pilot was on that type in Melbourne. As the J31 had a flat salary compared to the "component" structure of the other fleet units, it is likely that was not applicable for these guys.

Trainee salaries were $18,455 on commencement and then $23,519 for the first six months.