BA 747's in the desert
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BA 747's in the desert
Just curious, How did BA decide which 747's to send to the desert recently and which ones to leave there and which ones to reintroduce into service? How many 747's left in the BA fleet and hich ones have left for good ? If anyone can point me in the right direction of the info I would be grateful!
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There are not only some in the dessert but there are two or three at Cardiff. I thought i read somwehere that they were going to be brought back into service howere there is one with no engines at CWL
I thought i read somwehere that they were going to be brought back into service howere there is one with no engines at CWL
However you are correct in what you were saying as 2 months ago busniess news were carrying the story regarding a firming up of demand resulting in decisions to bring back some aircraft
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G-BNLG was ferried back from Victorville and will be returning to service soon. G-BNLB and G-BNLC remain at Cardiff and I suspect will be parted out as they're high on hours and have been in the South Wales climate for a couple of years of inactivity.
Hence G-BNLA / D / H remain at Victorville giving an active fleet of 52 when G-BNLG returns to active duty.
Hence G-BNLA / D / H remain at Victorville giving an active fleet of 52 when G-BNLG returns to active duty.
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I'm 99% sure G-BNLH was always regarded as 'troublesome'. This was one reason why it was selected to be leased to Qantas for a while and is partly why it's one of them parked up.
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I'm pretty sure BA will get more back into the fleet next year. I had heard the CWL aircraft won't fly again though as they've been robbed of so many parts. BA do still have more 773's for delivery and on option.
I hestitate to disagree with Skipness One Echo as he is invariably right and a font of all knowledge 
However it is G-BNLV which is due back in service first having been returned to Cardiff on 14th July for overhaul and refitting. EIS is during December to cover for other machines having the new First etc cabins fitted. G-BNLG only came to Cardiff on the 23rd Sept so will not be back in service until spring 2011. If another aircraft is needed it will most likely be 'NLU......
However it is G-BNLV which is due back in service first having been returned to Cardiff on 14th July for overhaul and refitting. EIS is during December to cover for other machines having the new First etc cabins fitted. G-BNLG only came to Cardiff on the 23rd Sept so will not be back in service until spring 2011. If another aircraft is needed it will most likely be 'NLU......
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G-BNLV is at Cardiff now and should enter service in December.
I think BNLU is also due to be returned to service in the not too distant future but it may be a few months before this happens.
I thought BNLG and BNLH were still at Victorville?
BNLB and BNLC are at Cardiff and are the spares source and will probably never fly again. I don't know about BNLH being a problem aircraft but BNLB was certainly known as a hangar queen especially when first delivered to BA. It was colloquially known as Brand New Load of Bollocks.
All the aircraft sent to Victorville were due major D checks. In some cases, the aircraft were run right to the last cycle before the check was due. They obviously need a full check before returning to service as well as other work done due to being in the desert for a few months. They are also getting the new First cabin. If BA decide to withdraw some 747's from the fleet in the next few years, these ones undergoing checks at Cardiff probably won't be taken back to the desert first due to their 'freshness'.
Champ
I think BNLU is also due to be returned to service in the not too distant future but it may be a few months before this happens.
I thought BNLG and BNLH were still at Victorville?
BNLB and BNLC are at Cardiff and are the spares source and will probably never fly again. I don't know about BNLH being a problem aircraft but BNLB was certainly known as a hangar queen especially when first delivered to BA. It was colloquially known as Brand New Load of Bollocks.
All the aircraft sent to Victorville were due major D checks. In some cases, the aircraft were run right to the last cycle before the check was due. They obviously need a full check before returning to service as well as other work done due to being in the desert for a few months. They are also getting the new First cabin. If BA decide to withdraw some 747's from the fleet in the next few years, these ones undergoing checks at Cardiff probably won't be taken back to the desert first due to their 'freshness'.
Champ
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I hestitate to disagree with Skipness One Echo as he is invariably right and a font of all knowledge
Nope I am being a complete numpty on this one alas..... I was sure from memory that the situation was as I stated but I didn't check to be sure. This is why I'd never make a professional pilot (!)
So :
G-BNLB / C wfu Cardiff
G-BNLV / G currently at Cardiff for eventual return to service
G-BNLA / D / H / U at Victorville
I think that's right?
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 1st Dec 2010 at 10:11.
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I don't know about BNLH being a problem aircraft
I further understand that it was manufactured at a time when Boeing had taken on a lot of new contract workers due to expansion, and there were quite a lot of wiring issues etc around that time, possibly due to the above.
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Out of interest what would the costs be, to put a 747 through a "D Check"
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G-BNLG only came to Cardiff on the 23rd Sept so will not be back in service until spring 2011. If another aircraft is needed it will most likely be 'NLU......
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Is NLG actually at CWL? BAs systems (at least the ones I can see!) still show it in VCV. Flight ops were also under the impression last month that NLU was the next one back for entry into service early next summer and hadnt yet flown from VCV.
