QF non-stop MEL & SYD to LHR and SYD to JFK to begin before the end of the year...

[flyer89]

Even flight time limits are going to be fun. CASA hasn't approved that sort of operation yet. Crews will be knackered at the end of what will be tours well over 20 hours. And toss in the fact that just getting from the gate to the runway at JFK can take hours...and many flights will be 'out of hours' before they even start.

The idea of these flights seem to open up many cans of worms. If we assume the flight and duty limitations remains the same then you can really only do 2 of these flights in a month correct? As well as feeling like a zombie doesn’t the lack of flying throw up proficiency issues also?

 

[jb747]

Recency is a problem with all long haul flying. There are very few sectors to go around... You could do 2.5 of these trips per month...so 5 take offs and landings. If the crew structure remains at 1 Captain, 1 FO and 2 SO, then you get 2.5 take offs and landings for the Captain and FO. Assuming the Captains actually share it evenly.

Running out of recency happens now. You get very little practice. So the passengers will be flown by zombies, who aren't very proficient. It is a problem, and one which is not easily solved. If the crew structure were to be modified to include 2 Captains, 1 FO, and 1 SO, it would be even worse...as the FOs would rarely get a go at all.

 

[I love to travel]

If Qantas really were flying regularly by end of the year we would know about it by now. Like the poster above I see a one off publicity flight with no cargo and media types ie not full capacity to announce new route.

 

[dxwell]

I was at that conference on Tuesday (Amazon Innovation Conference) and THAT IS ABSOLUTELY NOT WHAT HE SAID!
He said "I wrote a memo to both Airbus and Boeing challenging them to design a plane that can fly from Sydney/Melbourne to London and Sydney/Melbourne to New York". Nothing about it being ready by the end of the year.

 

[jb747]

Actually most of us see it as an AJ excuse for not buying any aircraft for international. He throws out a challenge...nothing is up to it...bugger, no aeroplanes for you.

 

[dajop]

Recency is a problem with all long haul flying. There are very few sectors to go around... You could do 2.5 of these trips per month...so 5 take offs and landings. If the crew structure remains at 1 Captain, 1 FO and 2 SO, then you get 2.5 take offs and landings for the Captain and FO. Assuming the Captains actually share it evenly.

Again, pardon my ignorance, could you maintain recency flying the same aircraft (albeit non ULR version) on shorter flights? Thinking, SQ who have both the A350-900 and A350-900ULR, would a Captain, FO or SO doing regular EWR returns on the ULR be able to maintain recency (and perhaps sanity) by being rostered onto the non-ULR 350 between SIN & CGK, for example? Or ULR variant considered different for these purposes?

 

[jb747]

Again, pardon my ignorance, could you maintain recency flying the same aircraft (albeit non ULR version) on shorter flights? Thinking, SQ who have both the A350-900 and A350-900ULR, would a Captain, FO or SO doing regular EWR returns on the ULR be able to maintain recency (and perhaps sanity) by being rostered onto the non-ULR 350 between SIN & CGK, for example? Or ULR variant considered different for these purposes?

Any sector is good. And as you say...sanity will be a problem. One reason that I retired when I did was that the Melbourne base had lost its London flying, and all we were left with was Singapore and LA. It was mind numbing.

 

[flyer89]

Any sector is good. And as you say...sanity will be a problem. One reason that I retired when I did was that the Melbourne base had lost its London flying, and all we were left with was Singapore and LA. It was mind numbing.

Spare a thought for your brothers and sisters on the 777 at VA....

 

[Franky]

From the opening line a quote

Qantas says it will be ready to fly passengers directly from Sydney and Melbourne to London, as well as Sydney to New York non-stop, by the end of the year.

The second part of the headline says: 'Qantas says it is almost ready to "select the new aircraft" that will fly the previously unheard of route by the end of the year, claiming it will “revolutionise” flying'. Further into the article it is said they are planning to fly passengers in 2022. I haven't read the article in full, but doubt that they actually mentioned passengers will be flying by the end of the year for obvious reasons.

 

[Quickstatus]

From the opening line a quote

Qantas says it will be ready to fly passengers directly from Sydney and Melbourne to London, as well as Sydney to New York non-stop, by the end of the year.

yes AJ might be ready, but is anyone else ready?. And then which year?
I reckon this is just another story fed by the airline to journalists who then uncritically parrot it, or journalists click baiting as they go along.

 

[jase05]

The only thing certain is that you won’t catch me on it. I actually enjoy stop overs and breaking the journey up so there is no chance I’m sitting on an aircraft for that length of time regardless of the class I’m in.