QF A380 out of action for 6 weeks

[Himeno]

If QF's A388 'C checks' are similar in duration to Emirates' '3C checks', QF may be looking at the A388 aircraft being in MNL for almost two months for planned maintenance

That check was done on A6-EDA, EK's first A380 which is a year older then VH-OQA.
I'm thinking what EK calls a "3C check" is the 3rd C check on the aircraft, ie, it's 1st D check.
C checks are done every 2 years or so, D checks every 5-6.

 

[Melburnian1]

Himeno, how long then is an initial 'C' check? 15 or 20 days, as I'm assuming it is significantly shorter than what you say is a 'D' check?

 

[Himeno]

I'm going off what wiki says about it and how long other visits to the shop have taken...
C checks take up to 3 weeks depending on the manpower used and size of the aircraft, D checks take up to 2 months.

 

[moa999]

In any event these visits are pre-planned and scheduled so QF is only one aircraft down versus plan.

I also don't see them doing much more than the repair whilst its grounded - suspect 1. Not enough manpower, and 2. Not trained on c-check procedure for A380

 

[Melburnian1]

moa999, QF may be 'only one aircraft down on plan' as you say, but the difficulty is that the normal A388 rotations require 10 of the 12 nominally available aircraft of that class, so if two are inoperable as is currently the case, there are no spares.

From memory the previous B744 rosters also required 10 of the 12 of that model, but QF then added extra MEL - LAX or SYD - LAX journeys on some days of the week hence passengers are now experiencing aircraft substitutions (typically A388 downgraded to a B744), late running (due to tight turnarounds) and some flights suddenly being cancelled (such as some SYD - JNB - SYD flights.)

Travellers are entitled to ask why when QF is now again profitable (unlike not so long ago when it was bleeding masses of red ink) can it not have sufficient aircraft to operate flights for which it has accepted many bookings. Many passengers will care little than QF 'lost' one of its A388s due to a maintenance accident, an event that no one could foresee.

 

[Flyerqf]

Looks like this aircraft will be back in the skies this week.

From Wed (10/6), all QF11/12/93/94 will be operated by 388, rather than a mixture of 388/744.

 

[Flyerqf]

Looks like this aircraft will be back in the skies this week.

From Wed (10/6), all QF11/12/93/94 will be operated by 388, rather than a mixture of 388/744.

OQF is in the air right now, undertaking a test flight as QF6001.

 

[madrooster]

VH-OQF is now operating today's QF17.

 

[PaulST]

Is QF18 (JFK-SYD) ever an A380?

 

[amaroo]

Is QF18 (JFK-SYD) ever an A380?

Don't think so. We're booked QF17/18 next year - both 747. However, 17 is showing old 4 class

 

[madrooster]

Is QF18 (JFK-SYD) ever an A380?

No - but QF18 LAX-SYD can be. QF108 LAX-SYD in the past has been an A380 when QF11/12 was cancelled due to low loads / 747 being retired etc.

 

[PaulST]

Don't think so. We're booked QF17/18 next year - both 747. However, 17 is showing old 4 class 

I'm one QF18 in Sept and was hoping for a change to an A388. Currently it's a refurbished 747 although I fear (with my luck) it might be changed to an older aircraft with a Mk1 skybed. My last successful points upgrade to J changed to an old model the day before hand...

 

[amaroo]

I'm one QF18 in Sept and was hoping for a change to an A388. Currently it's a refurbished 747 although I fear (with my luck) it might be changed to an older aircraft with a Mk1 skybed. My last successful points upgrade to J changed to an old model the day before hand...

I'm the other way. Award J seats, already pre-allocated 1A/K ... I hope it doesn't change.

 

[PaulST]

I'm the other way. Award J seats, already pre-allocated 1A/K ... I hope it doesn't change.

I'm only silver (was bronze when upgraded on QF128) so wouldn't get access to the old F seats I'd assume.