ATR expansion on hold

[markis10]

There are reports on a few boards that the expansion of routes covered by the ATRs is on hold as CASA have allegedly put a block on Skywest adding more aircraft to their AOC! FVX's ferry flight was terminated late last month.

Sydney Airport Message Board - View Single Post - New Deliveries / First Flights etc April 2012

 

[Justchecking]

No elaboration on why? IIF indeed any of this is actual fact. From what I understand a single anonymous post on the Net does not necessarily the truth make. Could be other reasons why the ferry flight was cnx.

 

[markis10]

No elaboration on why? IIF indeed any of this is actual fact. From what I understand a single anonymous post on the Net does not necessarily the truth make. Could be other reasons why the ferry flight was cnx.

The post was in response as to why FVU has not entered service, so both the 5th and 6th aircraft are yet to do a revenue flight. Perhaps the rapid expansion is being slowed by the paperwork speed?

 

[AaronBradford]

Very curious. As for the anonymous post, I think Rob R from the YSSY forums is a DJ pilot, so there may be some truth behind it.

 

[markis10]

Very curious. As for the anonymous post, I think Rob R from the YSSY forums is a DJ pilot, so there may be some truth behind it.

Yes, a E190 pilot.

 

[Justchecking]

Yes, a E190 pilot.

In which case I doubt JB will allow shiny new props to languish in hangars either here or in France. Must be a way around it. Figuring this stuff out is what he gets paid for. Worst comes to worst there will be an outclause for Virgin here (failure to render services contracted?) and they'll find a way to bring it in-house.

 

[markis10]

In which case I doubt JB will allow shiny new props to languish in hangars either here or in France. Must be a way around it. Figuring this stuff out is what he gets paid for. Worst comes to worst there will be an outclause for Virgin here (failure to render services contracted?) and they'll find a way to bring it in-house.

Perhaps, but adding a new type to your AOC is not an overnight thing.

 

[Justchecking]

Which is why such would be a last resort, or part of the grand plan. However it all depends on why CASA is supposedly holding back approval from SkyWest and how difficult it will be to get movement on that. I still am somewhat dubious about an EJet pilot at Virgin being privvy to the inner workings of SkyWest. Last time I looked they were separate companies. Sounds like much of the rumours spread around various places which end up being speculation or good guesses.

 

[Fruitcake]

There have been quite a references on pprune to CASA giving heavy scrutiny to the rapid expansion of the ATR fleet at Skywest, and wanting to be sure that safety and procedures were keeping up, and had threatened to suspend further expansion. But the number of axes to grind on those forums makes me wary of taking their word about what day of the week it is, let alone matters like this!

 

[Justchecking]

That forum is like the X files for aviation. Excellent fodder for novelists I'm sure.

 

[markis10]

Which is why such would be a last resort, or part of the grand plan. However it all depends on why CASA is supposedly holding back approval from SkyWest and how difficult it will be to get movement on that. I still am somewhat dubious about an EJet pilot at Virgin being privvy to the inner workings of SkyWest. Last time I looked they were separate companies. Sounds like much of the rumours spread around various places which end up being speculation or good guesses.

No doubt a Pilot probably does not have his ear to the ground like a refueller does when it comes to such matters, however the fact there are two aircraft not in revenue service after a significant period of time (FVU was delivered late Feb) leads credence to such posts.

 

[Justchecking]

Ok. Wake me up when it's something I should lose sleep over.

 

[samh004]

No doubt a Pilot probably does not have his ear to the ground like a refueller does when it comes to such matters, however the fact there are two aircraft not in revenue service after a significant period of time (FVU was delivered late Feb) leads credence to such posts.

I hear they're holding it back to launch the new IFE system that came pre-installed inside it. Can't have it flying without an official announcement or people will be confused!

 

[Justchecking]

I hear they're holding it back to launch the new IFE system that came pre-installed inside it. Can't have it flying without an official announcement or people will be confused!

I didn't know the inflight magazine was classed as 'IFE'....are you sure an announcement will be made? I thought most people were familiar with this IFE....

Now wouldn't that be a mix of product and ripe for some arguments on AFF.

737 - no IFE (future BYO Wifi)
A330 - Red and some loop system
ATR - new unveiled IFE
EJet - no IFE

 

[MarkD]

Maybe they are doing some mods - fitting some ventilation for when they are on the tarmac would be a good idea :mrgreen:

 

[markis10]

Maybe they are doing some mods - fitting some ventilation for when they are on the tarmac would be a good idea :mrgreen:

They already have that when it's connected, worked well on a hot day ex GLT a few weeks ago with a full cabin, not sure why it's not used more often.

 

[elbarto]

In which case I doubt JB will allow shiny new props to languish in hangars either here or in France. Must be a way around it. Figuring this stuff out is what he gets paid for. Worst comes to worst there will be an outclause for Virgin here (failure to render services contracted?) and they'll find a way to bring it in-house.

I guess the bureaucrats at CASA holding this up don't give a rats about what JB will and won't allow. If they don't allow it then it just doesn't fly (pun intended).

And Sam, I know you're joking about the IFE, but I can say that having walked though FVU at the CBR open day it certainly does not have any IFE!


Sent from an Apple iPad wireless device

 

[Justchecking]

Apparently Kingfisher had ATR 500s with IFE. Drop down screens with audio over a speaker...:shock:

Two questions....

1. What if I want to snooze instead of watching a Bollywood claasic?
2. How loud do those speakers have to be to be heard over the props?

Sounds like my idea of hell.