LIfe in SQ A345
Thread Starter
LIfe in SQ A345
Could anyone enlightern me with some info of the life of a SQ A345 crew?
1) How many crew do you operate on? How is the shift divided?
2) How many hours or days you spend in LAX or JFK before you head back to Singapore?
3) How many days off do you have between tour of duties?
4) How many such long trips do you do in a month?
5) Do you fly to elsewhere from LAX or JFK?
And lastly, how likely is SQ exercise it option for additional 5 A345?
Thanks and Merry Chrismas to ALL.
1) How many crew do you operate on? How is the shift divided?
2) How many hours or days you spend in LAX or JFK before you head back to Singapore?
3) How many days off do you have between tour of duties?
4) How many such long trips do you do in a month?
5) Do you fly to elsewhere from LAX or JFK?
And lastly, how likely is SQ exercise it option for additional 5 A345?
Thanks and Merry Chrismas to ALL.
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Europe
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
flightleader,
I am neither SIA staff nor flight crew, but I have a fairly good contact into SQ...:
1) ?
2) ?
3) ?
4) I guess they just do two trips to LAX/EWR, plus maybe a CGK flight, see 5).
5) Do you fly to elsewhere from LAX or JFK?
They hop over to Jakarta every once in a while with the "hot spare" a/c. And btw: I think they go to EWR instead of JFK...
> And lastly, how likely is SQ exercise it option for additional 5 A345.
I assume "not at all". SIA apparently is very disappointed with the a/c, and donīt forget: There is no communality with any other SIA plane (crew, maintenance, spares, docks, procedures etc.) - I am afraid, as soon as the B777LR comes along theyīll dump the A345s.
Cheers,
J.V.
I am neither SIA staff nor flight crew, but I have a fairly good contact into SQ...:
1) ?
2) ?
3) ?
4) I guess they just do two trips to LAX/EWR, plus maybe a CGK flight, see 5).
5) Do you fly to elsewhere from LAX or JFK?
They hop over to Jakarta every once in a while with the "hot spare" a/c. And btw: I think they go to EWR instead of JFK...
> And lastly, how likely is SQ exercise it option for additional 5 A345.
I assume "not at all". SIA apparently is very disappointed with the a/c, and donīt forget: There is no communality with any other SIA plane (crew, maintenance, spares, docks, procedures etc.) - I am afraid, as soon as the B777LR comes along theyīll dump the A345s.
Cheers,
J.V.
jettison valve,
Hear the company is happy with the aircraft, crews are not happy with the regimental sleep schedule.
Crews would prefer to rest when they require rest, not when some clock says it is rest time, within reason.
Hmmmm, A319 current , A320 current , A310 previous , A340 previous, and A380 soon. Heaps of other operators (Air Canada, Air France, Lufthansa, Malaysian, Philippine Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic) use terminal 2 at SIN for A330/A340s apart from SIA, docking is not an issue.
SIA has ground maintenance (including heavy) contracts for other A330/A340 operators into SIN, spares are available for those contracts, and I suggest SIA would not by paying for A345 spares whilst the aircraft are under warranty.
Whilst the B777LR will have the similar range as the 345, SIN to JFK is over 8000 nm, the return trip can place you into significant winds, and even if the B777LR has 138 min ETOPS approval from CAAS on delivery it will need to fly even more indirect (further south) than the A345, placing it into even more headwind, extra time airborne, and greater fuel burns. Even with the range of the B777LR I doubt they can do the return trip with 138 min ETOPS approval when the jetstream winds exceed 150 kt (the route passes through the strongest jetstream up to 300 kt).
Hear the company is happy with the aircraft, crews are not happy with the regimental sleep schedule.
Crews would prefer to rest when they require rest, not when some clock says it is rest time, within reason.
There is no communality with any other SIA plane (crew, maintenance, spares, docks, procedures etc.)
SIA has ground maintenance (including heavy) contracts for other A330/A340 operators into SIN, spares are available for those contracts, and I suggest SIA would not by paying for A345 spares whilst the aircraft are under warranty.
Whilst the B777LR will have the similar range as the 345, SIN to JFK is over 8000 nm, the return trip can place you into significant winds, and even if the B777LR has 138 min ETOPS approval from CAAS on delivery it will need to fly even more indirect (further south) than the A345, placing it into even more headwind, extra time airborne, and greater fuel burns. Even with the range of the B777LR I doubt they can do the return trip with 138 min ETOPS approval when the jetstream winds exceed 150 kt (the route passes through the strongest jetstream up to 300 kt).
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Europe
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, some of what you say may have a ring of thruth to it, swh let us not forget that SIA and Boeing have a very long standing love affair and SIA will use AirBus as a negotiating tool. Not to enhance the Airbus product perhaps, more to reduce the price of the product they always intended to buy anyway!
Apart from the A310 the Airbus was never the aircraft of first choice for SIA, was it?
Apart from the A310 the Airbus was never the aircraft of first choice for SIA, was it?
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Europe
Posts: 182
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
swh,
quote
---------
Hmmmm, A319 current , A320 current , A310 previous , A340 previous, and A380 soon. Heaps of other operators (Air Canada, Air France, Lufthansa, Malaysian, Philippine Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic) use terminal 2 at SIN for A330/A340s apart from SIA, docking is not an issue.
-------
docking was meant to refer to what you do inside a hangar... ;-)
I somehow doubt that you can fit an A345 into a B777 or B747 dock, and neither AC, AF, LH, MH, PR, nor VS have hangar space in SIN. BTW: Does VS fly into SIN at all...?!
quote
-------
... I suggest SIA would not by paying for A345 spares whilst the aircraft are under warranty.
-------
Warranty issues is a can of worms. Even if the a/c and its spares are new, it can be hell to get warranty for failed parts!!!!
Concerning the B777LR: Iīve never run into details of the Boeing before, itīs just that my contact told me thatīs what SQ probably will go for.
Believe me: I like the A340-500/-600 - itīs got so many surprises for the operators, it never gets boring!!! ;-)
Cheers,
J.V.
quote
---------
Hmmmm, A319 current , A320 current , A310 previous , A340 previous, and A380 soon. Heaps of other operators (Air Canada, Air France, Lufthansa, Malaysian, Philippine Airlines, and Virgin Atlantic) use terminal 2 at SIN for A330/A340s apart from SIA, docking is not an issue.
-------
docking was meant to refer to what you do inside a hangar... ;-)
I somehow doubt that you can fit an A345 into a B777 or B747 dock, and neither AC, AF, LH, MH, PR, nor VS have hangar space in SIN. BTW: Does VS fly into SIN at all...?!
quote
-------
... I suggest SIA would not by paying for A345 spares whilst the aircraft are under warranty.
-------
Warranty issues is a can of worms. Even if the a/c and its spares are new, it can be hell to get warranty for failed parts!!!!
Concerning the B777LR: Iīve never run into details of the Boeing before, itīs just that my contact told me thatīs what SQ probably will go for.
Believe me: I like the A340-500/-600 - itīs got so many surprises for the operators, it never gets boring!!! ;-)
Cheers,
J.V.
Apart from the A310 the Airbus was never the aircraft of first choice for SIA, was it?
jettison valve
My understanding is that Virgin operate to SIN from London and Manchester. Has this changed, are they code sharing with someone now ?
Whilst I agree that AC, AF, LH, MH, PR dont have hangar space at SIN, SIA does maintenance for just about anyone, and often you see non SIA wide body airbus equipment undergoing heavy maintenance there, as well as boeings. They also do the line maintenance for visiting aircraft.
Warranty issues is a can of worms. Even if the a/c and its spares are new, it can be hell to get warranty for failed parts!!!!
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Far East
Posts: 79
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
To answer the original questions posted by Flight Leader and others
2 Capts and 2 Copilots operate the long haul flights with rest taken according to a shedule provided by 'experts' (Drs who have studied jet lag). Still experimental.
2 nights in LA and 2 in NY. Odd occasion there are 3 nights.
2 long haul and a Jakarta rostered per month normally with tons of time off which is only spoiled by the required stbys.
No other destinations as the 4 aircraft are fully utilised on the long haul and the spare fifth is then used for the Jakartas and stdby.
SQ has a history of exercising all its options in the past and no decision has been made to buy the 777LR yet. That is not to say a decision wont be made and it wont be made on anything but the merits. IE costs. Much talk about the cost of fuel right now and that the 777LR is more fuel efficient per pax seat mile than the 340.
There is no favourite A/C manufacturer in SQ. The A/C are bought according to the senior manager/accountants and their perception of price of basic equip, cost of operations up to about 10 years, cost of spares etc etc.
Virgin dont and havent ever operated to SIN. Some flights operated by SQ are code shared with Virgin Atlantic, a sister company 50% owned by SQ.
Part of the SQ 345 contract is to have Airbus engineers carry out maintenance for a limited period of time.
Flights to NY tend to continue East bound round the world there and back. IE they follow the wind and there are no ETOPS problems for 777s over 'the pond' SQ presently operates 777s from LA, SFO and Van couver with no serious ETOPS probs.
2 Capts and 2 Copilots operate the long haul flights with rest taken according to a shedule provided by 'experts' (Drs who have studied jet lag). Still experimental.
2 nights in LA and 2 in NY. Odd occasion there are 3 nights.
2 long haul and a Jakarta rostered per month normally with tons of time off which is only spoiled by the required stbys.
No other destinations as the 4 aircraft are fully utilised on the long haul and the spare fifth is then used for the Jakartas and stdby.
SQ has a history of exercising all its options in the past and no decision has been made to buy the 777LR yet. That is not to say a decision wont be made and it wont be made on anything but the merits. IE costs. Much talk about the cost of fuel right now and that the 777LR is more fuel efficient per pax seat mile than the 340.
There is no favourite A/C manufacturer in SQ. The A/C are bought according to the senior manager/accountants and their perception of price of basic equip, cost of operations up to about 10 years, cost of spares etc etc.
Virgin dont and havent ever operated to SIN. Some flights operated by SQ are code shared with Virgin Atlantic, a sister company 50% owned by SQ.
Part of the SQ 345 contract is to have Airbus engineers carry out maintenance for a limited period of time.
Flights to NY tend to continue East bound round the world there and back. IE they follow the wind and there are no ETOPS problems for 777s over 'the pond' SQ presently operates 777s from LA, SFO and Van couver with no serious ETOPS probs.
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hamilton
Age: 50
Posts: 117
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dump
IMHO,
SQ will dump the A345 at the first convenient time.
That means when the contractual term on the A345
purchase runs out.
Looking at BOEINGS direct phone line to STC/ALH can only
mean more 777s.
No matter how one argues, 777 still the chapest plane to
operate. ( as far as the 'bean-boys' are concerned)
Bean-boys just hate to calculate in EUROS, they love
'Green-backs'.
Sorry AIRBUS.. no ECAM actions here.
SQ will dump the A345 at the first convenient time.
That means when the contractual term on the A345
purchase runs out.
Looking at BOEINGS direct phone line to STC/ALH can only
mean more 777s.
No matter how one argues, 777 still the chapest plane to
operate. ( as far as the 'bean-boys' are concerned)
Bean-boys just hate to calculate in EUROS, they love
'Green-backs'.
Sorry AIRBUS.. no ECAM actions here.
Chambudzi,
SIN to YVR, LAX, SFO dont take you to high latitudes, they are north easterly routes from SIN, basically takes you over Japan, you dont really need to go north of Alaska.
However the the SIN-JFK route is almost directly north of SIN over Russia, the polar route will place you outside ETOPS coverage between Russia and Greenland. You would need something like 207 minute ETOPS approval to do this in a 777, dont know if SQ has that.
SIN to YVR, LAX, SFO dont take you to high latitudes, they are north easterly routes from SIN, basically takes you over Japan, you dont really need to go north of Alaska.
However the the SIN-JFK route is almost directly north of SIN over Russia, the polar route will place you outside ETOPS coverage between Russia and Greenland. You would need something like 207 minute ETOPS approval to do this in a 777, dont know if SQ has that.
