Dash 8 last minute swaps

[bosox76]

I have previously found the Dash 8's to be quite a reliable service, but twice in the last 2 weeks I've had a last minute plane swap leading to 3 hour delays. Now of course I would prefer to arrive safely than not but was just wondering if Qantas have shifted their maintenance of these aircraft overseas too or was I just unlucky. Has anyone else experienced problems recently?

 

[markis10]

Unlikely to be any overseas maintenance, the transit distance would suck up a lot of flyable hours. I would suspect the changes are more to do with staff loss and more pressure to add capacity to the network.

 

[Conrad_S]

Has been a couple on the SYD-PQQ run in the last month or so. I didn't think it was out of the ordinary though as every now and again there seems to be a few of them. They also seem to be parking these flights up between t2 & t3 more frequently now.

 

[bosox76]

Thanks for the replies. The route I usually fly is the MEL-MQL one. Twice they swapped in a plane from Hobart due to a mechanical/parts failure. Hopefully I just got unlucky, as these are work trips, the 3 hour delays cut into my work time considerably.

 

[markis10]

Has been a couple on the SYD-PQQ run in the last month or so. I didn't think it was out of the ordinary though as every now and again there seems to be a few of them. They also seem to be parking these flights up between t2 & t3 more frequently now.

Dont forget all QF operations will be out of their own terminal soon with Qantaslink taking over Gate 1.

 

[ajw373]

I have previously found the Dash 8's to be quite a reliable service, but twice in the last 2 weeks I've had a last minute plane swap leading to 3 hour delays. Now of course I would prefer to arrive safely than not but was just wondering if Qantas have shifted their maintenance of these aircraft overseas too or was I just unlucky. Has anyone else experienced problems recently?

When you say overseas maintenance do you mean like the rest of the fleet? If so I suggest you stop believing everything you read in the papers. For the most part the maintenance union uses the attention the media gives them to push their agenda rather than truth. The truth of course is most maintenance is done in Australia by Australians with heavy maintenance (read what they do every few years) onA380 and 747 being done o/s.

 

[markis10]

The truth of course is most maintenance is done in Australia by Australians with heavy maintenance (read what they do every few years) onA380 and 747 being done o/s.

Thats not the truth at all, 737 maintance is done at Seletar (heavy) and 767s at Singapore in addition to adhoc space available work at AVV and BNE, in addition to 744 and A380 overseas. Qantas's only do A330s locally now in Brisbane with all engine work also off-shored after the closure of SYD and its RB211 shop. With Brisbane soon to be the only base, a quick look at hanger size gives you an idea of how much will be done OS moving forward .

 

[Edge]

i few DEV-MEL a couple of weeks ago on QF, pretty sure it was a dash-8. my 5pm flight was fine but the 1pm was cancelled. the pax that were affected weren't thrilled about waiting around for 4 hrs.

 

[bosox76]

Yes that was my question. While I agree it makes little sense to have maintenance for the Dash 8's o/s, it was just a question. I found it strange that in the space of 2 weeks, on a route that I had previously found to be quite reliable, 2 aircraft needed last minute parts/repairs that couldn't be quickly done which then required an aircraft swap and significant delays. As I also said, I would much rather be safe and arrive late than not but it was just an observation.

 

[ajw373]

Thats not the truth at all, 737 maintance is done at Seletar (heavy) and 767s at Singapore in addition to adhoc space available work at AVV and BNE, in addition to 744 and A380 overseas. Qantas's only do A330s locally now in Brisbane with all engine work also off-shored after the closure of SYD and its RB211 shop. With Brisbane soon to be the only base, a quick look at hanger size gives you an idea of how much will be done OS moving forward .

Do note the key word HEAVY in both my post and your response too. Fact is the bulk of the maintenance is still very much in Australia and especially maintenance that would effect dispatch reliabllity.

 

[markis10]

Do note the key word HEAVY in both my post and your response too. Fact is the bulk of the maintenance is still very much in Australia and especially maintenance that would effect dispatch reliabllity.

Indeed, but the fact remains that heavy maintenance is done overseas on the entire fleet not just 747 and A380 as you alluded to (A330s are now back in house but were in MNL previously), and it has a significant bearing on day to day reliability and dispatch as its intertwined with line maintenance done by QF and JH.

 

[Mattg]

Yes that was my question. While I agree it makes little sense to have maintenance for the Dash 8's o/s, it was just a question. I found it strange that in the space of 2 weeks, on a route that I had previously found to be quite reliable, 2 aircraft needed last minute parts/repairs that couldn't be quickly done which then required an aircraft swap and significant delays. As I also said, I would much rather be safe and arrive late than not but it was just an observation.

The dash 8 maintenance is definitely conducted in Australia. I think your problem has something to do with the fact the QF Link are expanding their routes/adding services while not getting too many new planes. This, combined with such a vast network means that if an aircraft does go out of service, there may not be a spare plane nearby. In saying that though, the airline has a reputation for being reliable and I'd say you got unlikely with those couple of flights.

 

[markis10]

In saying that though, the airline has a reputation for being reliable and I'd say you got unlikely with those couple of flights.

Their cancellation figures are high though, albeit due mostly to the destinations they serve not having good navaids.

 

[Conrad_S]

Maybe that affects particular destinations? I can really only speak for my local run (PQQ-SYD rtn) that I've flown fairly regularly for about 15 years and while I see the occasional daytime flight cancelled or the effect of extreme weather like last week I find the morning and evening flights pretty reliable. About 10 years ago we went to Coffs as couldn't land at Port. A couple of weeks ago we had a bout a 45 minute delay and they sent us back to PQQ on what must have been the oldest Dash 8 I've been on. A 200 kept as a spare maybe?

 

[RB]

Maybe that affects particular destinations? I can really only speak for my local run (PQQ-SYD rtn) that I've flown fairly regularly for about 15 years and while I see the occasional daytime flight cancelled or the effect of extreme weather like last week I find the morning and evening flights pretty reliable. About 10 years ago we went to Coffs as couldn't land at Port. A couple of weeks ago we had a bout a 45 minute delay and they sent us back to PQQ on what must have been the oldest Dash 8 I've been on. A 200 kept as a spare maybe?

The PQQ flights are certainly reliable as far as operating goes but the early morning & evening flights are certainly prone to delays & sometimes getting sent out to sea towards Wollongong to kill some time

 

[Mattg]

The PQQ flights are certainly reliable as far as operating goes but the early morning & evening flights are certainly prone to delays & sometimes getting sent out to sea towards Wollongong to kill some time

This can certainly happen but is a SYD problem and happens to all airlines.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

forgive my comment that may be a bit OT:

. Now of course I would prefer to arrive safely than not but was just wondering if Qantas have shifted their maintenance of these aircraft overseas too or was I just unlucky.

There's an implicit assumption that "overseas maintenance is of lower quality than Australian maintenance and leads to more operational defects".

Is there any objective, verifiable evidence to say that the overseas maintained metal for QF is more prone to mechanical issues?

 

[RB]

This can certainly happen but is a SYD problem and happens to all airlines.

My comment was in regard to Dash8's & QantasLink-I think QantasLink stats often fare poorly compared to others. As an example for 2012 PQQ had only 70.2% on-time arrivals
Airline On Time Performance, 2012 Calendar Year Report. I know those flights have to get out of SYD but you kind of know you are likely to arrive home late

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

My comment was in regard to Dash8's & QantasLink-I think QantasLink stats often fare poorly compared to others. As an example for 2012 PQQ had only 70.2% on-time arrivals
Airline On Time Performance, 2012 Calendar Year Report. I know those flights have to get out of SYD but you kind of know you are likely to arrive home late

Could it have anything to do with the fact bigger birds generally get higher airport takeoff/landing clearance priority? Just a thought.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

forgive my comment that may be a bit OT:



There's an implicit assumption that "overseas maintenance is of lower quality than Australian maintenance and leads to more operational defects".

Is there any objective, verifiable evidence to say that the overseas maintained metal for QF is more prone to mechanical issues?

Depends if you believe Steve Purvinas or statistics