HeavyLift (HC Airlines) Redundancies
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HeavyLift (HC Airlines) Redundancies
Powers that be have decided it necessary to implement redundancies effective 30 Sep, cutting 33% of crews. Crews will be reduced from current 15, to 10 crews. Also laying up one aircraft ufn.
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The Belfasts are not affected, the redundancies are only on the A300 fleet.The Prime A/C seems to be doing well with a reasonable amount of work. Lets hope things improve quickly so some jobs may be saved.Apparently the aircraft that was being laid up is now going to do some work but I wouldn't hold your breath. 
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Bear in mind that most European operators of A300Fs are now dumping them (eg Schreiner, Farner) due to DHL and other contractors using their own rather than contracted aircraft. The A300F has not been as good a freighter as the publicity documentation made things out to be - providing a payload only slightly more than that of a DC8 or B707 (although with greater volumetric capability) and at the end of the day I suspect that a lot of the owners - especially CS-Aviation will end up with aircraft they will be hard-pushed to dispose of except for very low prices.
Interestingly, there has been little interest in the A300F from the main operating area of DC8s and 707s - Africa.
Interestingly, there has been little interest in the A300F from the main operating area of DC8s and 707s - Africa.
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The Guv is right about the A300F, rather expensive and in addition, simply does not have the range necessary to replace 707/DC8 aircraft. We were looking at the A300F for some of our planned routes, but dry tanks at TOD does not sound too good.
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The ops guys at STN are also worried as to who is next for the chop with the joint venture between AF and HLA in the process of being finalised...and an uncertainty over levels..
Time will tell on this marriage
Time will tell on this marriage
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Guv,
what are you talking about? A300 and DC8 cannot be compared. A300 is ideal to operate short hops in Europe, providing the volume. Express operators were hunting for volume, not for payload. And even not express operators but forwarders. I think Cargo Lions guys remember the moment when their 8-62 was changed for A300 on one of the european routes, becuase due to volume restrictions diesel-8 was carrying around 25-27 tons only.
From the other side, A300 operators never tried to secure LHR-HKG contracts. It is absolutely different business.
what are you talking about? A300 and DC8 cannot be compared. A300 is ideal to operate short hops in Europe, providing the volume. Express operators were hunting for volume, not for payload. And even not express operators but forwarders. I think Cargo Lions guys remember the moment when their 8-62 was changed for A300 on one of the european routes, becuase due to volume restrictions diesel-8 was carrying around 25-27 tons only.
From the other side, A300 operators never tried to secure LHR-HKG contracts. It is absolutely different business.
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Horses for courses Guv. 6000 envelopes in one ULD @ £35 each has more profit than 20 pallets @ 15p a kilo!.We carried 3 of those yesterday so all the air cargo is just cream on the cake to express operators.
Heavylift should have stuck to what they knew best.The A300 on their AOC was just a smokescreen to stop objections to the IL76s
flying inta europe.
Oh and the ramp guys at EMA would like to thank PJ for the Prime A/C yesterday. It was being put to great use as a "smoking room" to put their feet up and have a snout when it was raining cats and dogs.
Heavylift should have stuck to what they knew best.The A300 on their AOC was just a smokescreen to stop objections to the IL76s
flying inta europe.
Oh and the ramp guys at EMA would like to thank PJ for the Prime A/C yesterday. It was being put to great use as a "smoking room" to put their feet up and have a snout when it was raining cats and dogs.
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The Prime Airbus might have had a lot of work done on it but it apparently needs a lot more. It was supposed to operate a trooping flight through us on Friday night, but it didn't arrive until Saturday lunchtime. It was tech in Milan after a load of oil spewed over the air-con system filling the cabin with rancid acrid smoke, and then the brakes locked on. The thing is a heap! HLA should stick with Belfasts and Antonovs if you ask me!
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The Prime A300 may have had some technical problems at the weekend, but it sounds like many other operators also had problems. Up to now the A300 has rescued passengers from most of the uk operators without any problems... next time you arrive at the airport with the family you may be pleased to see her waiting to take away when the newer equipment has again failed!
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Mr Angry from Purley obviously needs to get up to EMA a bit more often, as since going into service the Prime aircraft has only been spent a few days there, the rest of the time it's been jetting off around Europe helping out it's glad customers. 
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Rapid_Climber,
I find it somewhat amusing when you say Prime has been ' jetting off around europe helping it's glad customers'
From what I hear is it not true it nearly went off the end of the Runway in BCN the other week with a load of vip's from Fiat onboard?!!! (thats the rumour thats going round the big boys at the moment, when I say big boys, I mean proper airlines!). And did'nt they cancel the return sector because they were too anxious to go back on the dreaded Prime 'death' Bus.
Now I know you're probably thinking 'but we still get lots of business', believe me, your the last in a long list of sub service providers and your luck will run out.
I also heard the other week from some passengers of stale/mouldy rolls being handed out for catering ! Was that your premium service cabin? and how they would "never travel onboard that thing again".
Mind you I hear the freighter side ( HeavyLift) aint doing too good either - with these redundancies & all
Rumour also has it you dont even have a crewing department anymore!!!!!!!! How more embarrasing can it get for you guys!?
I'd edge my bets on you boys going into Liquidation before long ( a a a a Transaer! sorry I sneezed)
Sad really because HLA used to be a very respectable company and have a good name in the industry
[ 09 September 2001: Message edited by: PPRuNe Towers ]
I find it somewhat amusing when you say Prime has been ' jetting off around europe helping it's glad customers'
From what I hear is it not true it nearly went off the end of the Runway in BCN the other week with a load of vip's from Fiat onboard?!!! (thats the rumour thats going round the big boys at the moment, when I say big boys, I mean proper airlines!). And did'nt they cancel the return sector because they were too anxious to go back on the dreaded Prime 'death' Bus.
Now I know you're probably thinking 'but we still get lots of business', believe me, your the last in a long list of sub service providers and your luck will run out.
I also heard the other week from some passengers of stale/mouldy rolls being handed out for catering ! Was that your premium service cabin? and how they would "never travel onboard that thing again".
Mind you I hear the freighter side ( HeavyLift) aint doing too good either - with these redundancies & all
Rumour also has it you dont even have a crewing department anymore!!!!!!!! How more embarrasing can it get for you guys!?
I'd edge my bets on you boys going into Liquidation before long ( a a a a Transaer! sorry I sneezed)
Sad really because HLA used to be a very respectable company and have a good name in the industry
[ 09 September 2001: Message edited by: PPRuNe Towers ]
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Rapid Climber - you wanna put money on your
"few days" at EMA as i'm sure anyone working at EMA would take you up, clearly your misguided,blind or both.
I know enough about the ACMI business to know that machine won't make money by sitting around for 3/4 days a week, and even if it goes off for a quick rescue mission thats still not enough £ to pay the bills...
"few days" at EMA as i'm sure anyone working at EMA would take you up, clearly your misguided,blind or both.
I know enough about the ACMI business to know that machine won't make money by sitting around for 3/4 days a week, and even if it goes off for a quick rescue mission thats still not enough £ to pay the bills...