Qantas 737 Refurbishment tracker

[moa999]

Obviously the hump (and contained satellite receiver)... But would in my view be weird two have two distinct wifi networks on the plane.

 

[TheInsider]

Obviously the hump (and contained satellite receiver)... But would in my view be weird two have two distinct wifi networks on the plane.

I don't know about that part, but I would assume that both networks would run separate from each other since the streaming content is based on a different server. But I don't know much about tech...

 

[moa999]

I wonder when the trial might commence given this previous quote from AJ:

“We believe our customers want reliable, fast wi-fi and as I said one of our trials will involve us streaming cricket on the aircraft so we will be testing that to the full extent,” Joyce told reporters at the company’s 2015/16 results presentation on Wednesday, where he handed down a record full year profit.
Source: Qantas on track for onboard wi-fi trial, flags live streaming of cricket matches | Australian Aviation

Obviously 2nd Test starts today (12-Nov)... however VH-XZB currently flying back to PER so unlikely to be in position for any media.

Interesting also that VH-XZB has just operated PER-SIN-PER as I thought previous articles suggested that the 737s would only have a Ka band antenna to connect to the NBN Satellite. Having access all the way to SIN would require a Ku/Ka antenna to also access some of ViaSats other satellites. But maybe it wasn't being tested on this service.

 

[moa999]

Well QF answered my questions... A few months before the customer trial on VH-XZB. Full rollout not until latter part of 2017.

http://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/inflight-wifi-a-step-closer-for-qantas-customers/

 

[maninblack]

I cannot see how aircraft carrying the same old interior other than the seats, no in seat power or IFE and the same old bathrooms can be considered to be refurbished?

 

[mviy]

Well Q-Streaming is a good alternative to IFE. All you have to do is download the app and BYOD. I would be bringing my own device anyway.

 

[jimmylikesitwet]

I cannot see how aircraft carrying the same old interior other than the seats, no in seat power or IFE and the same old bathrooms can be considered to be refurbished?

There are new seats (in economy), new bathrooms (in economy) and IFE (BYOD). Sounds refurbished to me.

 

[moa999]

Correction: New seat covers

Maninblack - You can't do much in 7 days of maintenance. Many of these aircraft are almost 15yo, so not worth spending big $$s on more substantive changes

 

[Katy]

Well Q-Streaming is a good alternative to IFE. All you have to do is download the app and BYOD. I would be bringing my own device anyway.

It's great - until you're travelling with the family and either need to have devices for everyone (not happening!) or hand over the iPad and find something else to do. Still, it's a vastly better option that the old drop-down screens at least.

 

[maninblack]

Correction: New seat covers

Maninblack - You can't do much in 7 days of maintenance. Many of these aircraft are almost 15yo, so not worth spending big $$s on more substantive changes

Agree, but I'd hardly call these aircraft "refurbished", that's really just hyperbole. I assume next big capex off in the future somewhere will be a move to Airbus product.

 

[mannej]

Correction: New seat covers

Maninblack - You can't do much in 7 days of maintenance. Many of these aircraft are almost 15yo, so not worth spending big $$s on more substantive changes

Sounds like the same complaints when the 767 fleet got the same treatment.

 

[moa999]

ZK-ZQA back in service late Sun night making 6 of 8 for the NZ fleet. Both ZQH and ZQH remain flying (the only two flying 737s with 29 rows)

 

[moa999]

And VH-VXM out of SYD this morning as a 30row config, making #66 and meaning all 737s have Seatback IFE or QStreaming.
The final VH aircraft to be refurbed VH-XZC is estimated to be complete in early December.

As above, still two ZK aircraft to go.

With the completion of this aircraft I suspect we might see some of the remaining aircraft in the 1994 livery rotated through the paint shop to get updated.

 

[mannej]

And VH-VXM out of SYD this morning as a 30row config, making #66 and meaning all 737s have Seatback IFE or QStreaming.
The final VH aircraft to be refurbed VH-XZC is estimated to be complete in early December.

As above, still two ZK aircraft to go.

With the completion of this aircraft I suspect we might see some of the remaining aircraft in the 1994 livery rotated through the paint shop to get updated.

QF have some footage as a Snapchat story regarding VXM

 

[moa999]

And VH-XZC breaks cover this morning making #67 and the completion of the original 67 aircraft. As mentioned above still two NZ registered aircraft to go.

For completeness, my full log of the refurbs. All completed in under 16 months.

Log of Refurbs
1 VH-VXR BNE - 28 days - In 7/8/15 Out 3/9/15
2 VH-VXQ BNE - 17 days - In 7/9/15 Out 23/9/15
3 VH-VZB SYD - 16 days - In 5/10/15 Out 20/10/15
4 VH-VZE BNE - 1 mth 8 days - In 23/9/15 Out 30/10/15
5 VH-VYG SYD - 14 days - In 19/10/15 Out 1/11/15
6 VH-VYH SYD - 13 days - In 1/11/15 Out 13/11/15
7 VH-VYJ SYD - 11 days - In 14/11/15 Out 24/11/15
8 VH-VXC BNE - 1 mth 4 days - In 30/10/15 Out 4/12/15
9 VH-VYB BNE - 16 days - In 20/11/15 Out 5/12/15
10 VH-VZD SYD - 11 days - In 25/11/15 Out 6/12/15
11 VH-VXT SYD - 11 days - In 5/12/15 Out 16/12
12 VH-VXD BNE - 1 mth 4 days- In 20/11/15 Out 23/12/15
13 VH-VYD BNE - 17 days - In 3/1/16 Out 19/1/16
14 VH-VZA SYD - 12 days - In 18/1/16 Out 29/1/16
15 VH-VXE BNE - 1 mth 2 days - In 3/1/16 Out 4/2/16
16 VH-VYE SYD - 12 days - In 28/1/16 Out 8/2/16
17 VH-VXP BNE - 13 days - In 1/2/16 Out 13/2/16
18 VH-VYK SYD - 11 days - In 8/2/16 Out 18/2/16
19 VH-VYF SYD - 11 days - In 18/2/16 Out 28/2/16
20 VH-VZX BNE - 25 days - In 8/2/16 Out 3/3/16
21 VH-VYL BNE - 21 days - In 12/2/16 Out 3/3/16
22 VH-VXU SYD - 12 days - In 28/2/16 Out 10/3/16
23 VH-VYI SYD - 10 days - In 10/3/16 Out 19/3/16
24 VH-VYA BNE - 1 mth 20 days - In 3/2/16 Out 22/3/16
25 VH-VZY BNE - 24 days - In 1/3/16 Out 24/3/16
26 VH-VXB SYD - 16 days - In 18/3/16 Out 2/4/16
27 VH-VXI SYD - 12 days - In 1/4/16 Our 12/4/16
28 VH-VXH BNE - 22 days - In 23/3/16 Out 13/4/16
29 VH-VXK BNE - 17 days - In 5/4/16 Out 22/4/16
30 VH-VXJ SYD - 11 days - In 12/4/16 Out 22/4/16
31 VH-VXS SYD - 12 days - In 21/4/16 Out 2/5/16
32 VH-VZC BNE - 24 days - In 13/4/16 Out 5/5/16
33 VH-VXL SYD - 12 days - In 1/5/16 Out 12/5/16
34 VH-VXG BNE - 18 days - In 25/4/16 Out 12/5/16
35 VH-VXO SYD - 13 days - In 11/5/16 Out 23/5/16
36 VH-VZZ BNE - 23 days - In 4/5/16 Out 26/5/16
37 VH-XZE BNE - 19 days - In 9/5/16 Out 27/6/16
38 VH-VXA SYD - 12 days - In 22/5/16 Out 2/6/16
39 VH-XZL BNE - 16 days - In 25/5/16 Out 9/6/16
40 VH-VZW SYD - 10 days - In 1/6/16 Out 10/6/16
41 VH-VZT SYD - 8 days - In 10/6/16 Out 18/6/16
42 VH-VXF BNE - 1mth 5 days - In 19/5/16 Out 25/6/16
43 VH-XZN SYD - 8 days - In 17/6/16 Out 25/6/16
44 VH-VZV SYD - 8 days - In 24/6/16 Out 2/7/16
45 VH-XZM BNE - 15 days - In 19/6/16 Out 4/7/16
46 VH-XZO SYD - 7 days - In 1/7/16 Out 8/7/16
47 VH-VXN BNE - 17 days - In 26/6/16 Out 13/7/16
48 VH-XZF SYD - 8 days - In 22/7/16 Out 30/7/16
49 VH-XZA BNE - 20 days - In 12/7/16 Out 1/8/16
50 VH-XZH SYD - 8 days - In 29/7/16 Out 6/8/16
51 VH-XZI SYD - 8 days - In 5/8/16 Out 13/8/16
52 VH-XZP SYD - 8 days -In 12/8/16 Out 20/8/16
53 VH-XZJ SYD - 8 days - In 19/8/16 Out 27/8/16
54 VH-XZK SYD - 8 days - In 26/8/16 Out 3/9/16
55 VH-XZD SYD - 9 days - In 1/9/16 Out 10/9/16
56 VH-VYC BNE - 1mth 8 days - In 10/8/16 Out 18/9/16
57 VH-XZG SYD - 8 days - In 14/9/16 Out 22/9/16
58 VH-VZU SYD - 8 days - In 21/9/16 Out 29/9/16
59 VH-VZL SYD - 8 days - In 28/9/16 Out 6/10/16
60 VH-VZP SYD - 8 days - In 5/10/16 Out 13/10/16
61 VH-VZR SYD - 8 days - In 12/10/16 Out 20/10/16
62 VH-VZO SYD - 8 days - In 19/10/16 Out 27/10/16
63 VH-VZM SYD - 8 days - In 26/10/16 Out 3/11/16
64 VH-XZB BNE - 25 days - In 15/10/16 Out 9/11/16
65 VH-VZS SYD - 8 days - In 2/11/16 Out 10/11/16
66 VH-VXM SYD - 13 days - In 9/11/16 Out 22/11/16
67 VH-XZC BNE - 17 days In 9/11/16 Out 26/11/16

 

[moa999]

Also came across this article on the installation of the WiFi equipment on VH-XZB
Qantas finishes wifi installation on trial Boeing 737 | Australian Aviation

 

[JessicaTam]

An impressive resource moa999. Thanks for taking the time to keep it up to date.

 

[MickC32]

An impressive resource moa999. Thanks for taking the time to keep it up to date.

x2. Thanks moa999!

 

[baggyred]

Flying one of these birds next week - best J seat to aim for?

 

[kermatu]

Flying one of these birds next week - best J seat to aim for?

Row 1 best (1C the pick as you only have 3/4 of a bulkhead in front of you so can stretch your right leg a bit). Get served first is the key benefit. If not worried about food row 2 is a good pick given legroom is great. Row 3 too close to Y and frankly I prefer Row 4!