Spare A380 from MEL-LHR retiming

[markis10]

The answer might be to use the soon to be spare MEL-LHR A380 on the DFW run on Monday/Wednesday/Friday departures, and redeploy the SYD - HKG A380 onto SYD - DFW for the Thursday and Saturday departures, leaving it available on Mon/Tues/Wed to cover for heavy maintenance.

LOL, how would that work when heavy maintenance takes weeks? There maybe the odd day where there is a spare from just like now but reality says line maintenance and ad hoc swap outs mean no effective flights can be scheduled.

 

[Mr_Orange]

LOL, how would that work when heavy maintenance takes weeks? There maybe the odd day where there is a spare from just like now but reality says line maintenance and ad hoc swap outs mean no effective flights can be scheduled.

If the plane is in operation now as QF9/10, how can it suddenly be not used for a scheduled flight after the retimings take place? QF are managing to carry out maintenance with the current usage of A380s so if the usage doesn't change, nor should the ability to carry out maintenance!

 

[straitman]

If the plane is in operation now as QF9/10, how can it suddenly be not used for a scheduled flight after the retimings take place? QF are managing to carry out maintenance with the current usage of A380s so if the usage doesn't change, nor should the ability to carry out maintenance!

I think you need to reread post #9.

Qantas will be doing well to have a service recovery body like they do now for unexpected maintenance, the ageing fleet means less time in the air regardless.

The aircraft gradually need more maintenance as they age which changes the maintenance needs quite considerably.

 

[markis10]

If the plane is in operation now as QF9/10, how can it suddenly be not used for a scheduled flight after the retimings take place? QF are managing to carry out maintenance with the current usage of A380s so if the usage doesn't change, nor should the ability to carry out maintenance!

Straitman has already referenced my post explaining why maintenance is indeed changing. Basically every second year they will be a plane down starting from late this year with the first "d" checks, coinciding nicely with the re-timing

 

[Flyerqf]

Straitman has already referenced my post explaining why maintenance is indeed changing. Basically every second year they will be a plane down starting from late this year with the first "d" checks, coinciding nicely with the re-timing

They operated the current timetable with 11 A380 while OQA was being repaired in Singapore for over a year.

As it currently stands they have 6 on MEL/SYD-LHR, 4 on MEL/SYD-LAX and 1 on HKG. 1 is a spare when not under maintenance.

if they remove HKG and free up one from LHR, there is enough to do DFW. You'd have 5 on LHR, 4 on LAX and 2 on DFW. there is still one spare or one under maintenance.

it is possible but it would be tight.

 

[markis10]

They operated the current timetable with 11 A380 while OQA was being repaired in Singapore for over a year. .

The current timetable was not in place while OQA was in SIN, namely DXB and HKG (which commenced A380 services on a part time basis three months before she returned).
During this time they did not operate all the A380 services as A380s, there were significant 744 subs, especially on QF11 and QF94 after the A380s returned to the air.

 

[anna2103]

They operated the current timetable with 11 A380 while OQA was being repaired in Singapore for over a year.

As it currently stands they have 6 on MEL/SYD-LHR, 4 on MEL/SYD-LAX and 1 on HKG. 1 is a spare when not under maintenance.

if they remove HKG and free up one from LHR, there is enough to do DFW. You'd have 5 on LHR, 4 on LAX and 2 on DFW. there is still one spare or one under maintenance.

it is possible but it would be tight.

So, if you are correct, how would this affect F class on the SYD to HGK route?

 

[Flyerqf]

The current timetable was not in place while OQA was in SIN, namely DXB and HKG (which commenced A380 services on a part time basis three months before she returned).
During this time they did not operate all the A380 services as A380s, there were significant 744 subs, especially on QF11 and QF94 after the A380s returned to the air.

The subs occurred due to heavy maintenance because OQA was out and they were reconfiguring every A380 to the higher density config. At some points they had 2 out of service for extended periods. HKG started 2 weeks after OQL was delivered.

Are you saying that they can't operate 11 A380 and 1 spare?

 

[Flyerqf]

So, if you are correct, how would this affect F class on the SYD to HGK route?

Either use a 744 with F, as they do currently on the days A380 doesn't operate, or it could be removed from this route, like Singapore.

 

[markis10]

The subs occurred due to heavy maintenance

Ta da - my initial point, while there was cabin reconfigs they were paired with C checks in most cases, the next round will see similar time frames for maintenance only.

Are you saying that they can't operate 11 A380 and 1 spare?

I was countering your assertion that they had no issues running a timetable with Nancy down, this was clearly not the case, in future there will not be the pool of 744s on offer to provide a suitable service.

The only way I see a movement on A380 routes is if QF9 terminates or is scrapped, I feel HKG is very safe. With all the F class about to be retired as far s 744s go, QF127 will probably go 100% A380, thats the only other change I see happening and thats 2016 when the current heavy maint schedule is done.

 

[NoName]

So will there or won’t there be a spare A380? If not are there likely to be any other changes to the A380 schedule/routes flown in people’s opinion?

 

[Himeno]

With all the F class about to be retired as far s 744s go, QF127 will probably go 100% A380, thats the only other change I see happening and thats 2016 when the current heavy maint schedule is done.

QF127/128 can already go A380 daily. The rotation takes 21 hours. The route requires 1 aircraft. The only reason it is not A380 daily now is because QF chooses not to.

 

[markis10]

QF127/128 can already go A380 daily. The rotation takes 21 hours. The route requires 1 aircraft. The only reason it is not A380 daily now is because QF chooses not to.

Qantas chose not to because the aircraft is used elsewhere to cover line maintenance (B check), which is scheduled to be done during the non HKG days. Its not sitting idle, just look at Hanger 86 on those days. If you check the ask the pilot thread, we have an A380 pilot confirming there are no spare frames.

 

[Himeno]

QF A380s at this moment (~1630 AEST 23/4/14)
VH-OQA SYD
VH-OQB QF2
VH-OQC LHR
VH-OQD QF1
VH-OQE SYD
VH-OQF QF9
VH-OQG QF93
VH-OQH QF10
VH-OQI QF12
VH-OQJ QF11
VH-OQK QF94
VH-OQL LHR

 

[Himeno]

Qantas chose not to because the aircraft is used elsewhere to cover line maintenance (B check), which is scheduled to be done during the non HKG days. Its not sitting idle, just look at Hanger 86 on those days.

SYD-LHR 3
MEL-LHR 3
SYD-LAX 2
MEL-LAX 2
SYD-HKG 0.7
total: 10.7
QF frames: 12 - 10.7 = 1.3 "spare".

 

[markis10]

SYD-LHR 3
MEL-LHR 3
SYD-LAX 2
MEL-LAX 2
SYD-HKG 0.7
total: 10.7
QF frames: 12 - 10.7 = 1.3 "spare".

What are the maintenance schedules , as per my earlier post, C and D checks take out a frame for pretty much a year in a 12 body fleet, how have you factored in A and B checks, not to mention the separate Engine overhauls/swapouts. Without factoring in that, you have no idea whats spare IMHO.

If an A380 pilots tells me they have no spare, a maintenance boss tells me they have no spare as they did this last last year, I believe them, especially in the context where we are talking about adding a new service more than one or two days a week.

 

[Himeno]

If an A380 pilots tells me they have no spare, a maintenance boss tells me they have no spare as they did this last last year, I believe them, especially in the context where we are talking about adding a new service more than one or two days a week.

Simon Hickey says otherwise.

"It could be on a new route, it could be on an existing one" Qantas International CEO Simon Hickey told The Financial Review. "We are evaluating our options at the moment."

 

[straitman]

Simon Hickey says otherwise.

I don't think he does actually.

He is simply saying they are looking at all the possibilities.

As you disagree I have to ask where your 'magic' a/c will come from when you look at including the maintenance requirements? The servicing periods are not optional and must be done at the designated times. Sometimes they are date requirements and sometimes they are flying hours requirements and there is very little room for extensions.

 

[Fruitcake]

The servicing periods are not optional and must be done at the designated times. Sometimes they are date requirements and sometimes they are flying hours requirements and there is very little room for extensions.

For an example of this, look at VA long haul, who run a much leaner operation with respect to spare airframe capacity. They scale back SYD-AUH significantly when one of their 777s is in major maintenance (and seem more prone to major delays even when five frames are online). Maybe QF could do the same and, for example, halve the frequencies of QF1/2 and 9/10 for extended periods, using EK capacity to cover the shortfall, but I think the PR cost of that to QF would be much greater than VA faces when they make similar decisions.

 

[Flyerqf]

Ta da - my initial point, while there was cabin reconfigs they were paired with C checks in most cases, the next round will see similar time frames for maintenance only.

They had Nancy out + heavy maintenance at the same time.

I was countering your assertion that they had no issues running a timetable with Nancy down, this was clearly not the case.

It is the case because they had Nancy + another A380 out for maintenance. If Nancy hadn't have been out, they wouldn't have needed 744 subs.