Qantas 743 AKL-LAX

[Evan]

I will be doing that flight in a AONE5 soon but only to AKL (The only single non F flight the whole time) and if i get dreamtime and not skybed.... only kidding i will live with it. Better than whY
E

 

[v8Statesman]

I will be doing that flight in a AONE5 soon but only to AKL (The only single non F flight the whole time) and if i get dreamtime and not skybed.... only kidding i will live with it. Better than whY
E

Why not change xx_-MEL-AKL-xx_ to xx_-SYD-AKL-xx_ and have the SYD-AKL in LA F? Then nest a SYD-MEL-SYD in if you need to go to MEL? Then all sectors will be F

 

[Evan]

Why not change xx_-MEL-AKL-xx_ to xx_-SYD-AKL-xx_ and have the SYD-AKL in LA F? Then nest a SYD-MEL-SYD in if you need to go to MEL? Then all sectors will be F

I thought about that but i felt the best $$ value for me was to go to MEL, since i didn't need the extra flights for status and i did need to be in Melbourne. I have left now...
MEL-AKL-SYD-JFK-DFW-BOS-MIA-SFO-LHR-MCT-LHR-JNB

I am sure there was some other reason as well, i just cant remember what it was, I think on the dates i needed there was also no 'A' available on SIN-SYD

E

 

[Tenore]

An update on the equipment for QF25 - looks like Dec 17th is the last day the 743 will operate; the service doesn't operate again until Monday the 22nd, and from then a 744 is scheduled.

Agree that even a Dreamtime J will be better than Y!

 

[NM]

An update on the equipment for QF25 - looks like Dec 17th is the last day the 743 will operate; the service doesn't operate again until Monday the 22nd, and from then a 744 is scheduled.

QF25 on 19th December is planned for a 743 at this time. 20th and 21st are both slated for 332 ops for QF25 (usual for Saturday and Sunday ops). 22nd is 744, with 744 scheduled for Mon, Wed, Fri from that point.

I assume this is because QF will take deliver of their next A380 around that time, freeing a 744 aircraft to allow the 743 to be retired. VH-OJK is also planned to re-enter service around this time. There are several factors that have delayed the 743 retirements, but looks like they will go around the end of the year.

Agree that even a Dreamtime J will be better than Y!

For a 3-hour trans-Tasman flight, the 743 and Dreamtime seat is excellent

 

[Tenore]

QF25 on 19th December is planned for a 743 at this time. 20th and 21st are both slated for 332 ops for QF25 (usual for Saturday and Sunday ops). 22nd is 744, with 744 scheduled for Mon, Wed, Fri from that point.

I assume this is because QF will take deliver of their next A380 around that time, freeing a 744 aircraft to allow the 743 to be retired. VH-OJK is also planned to re-enter service around this time. There are several factors that have delayed the 743 retirements, but looks like they will go around the end of the year.

For a 3-hour trans-Tasman flight, the 743 and Dreamtime seat is excellent

Good to know - thanks NM. I'm going through to LAX, so here's hoping the 'Dreamtime' will provide some of the same on the longer leg! Its been many years since I had a long flight in one of those seats, so my memory of the experience is a little hazy.

 

[NM]

Good to know - thanks NM. I'm going through to LAX, so here's hoping the 'Dreamtime' will provide some of the same on the longer leg! Its been many years since I had a long flight in one of those seats, so my memory of the experience is a little hazy.

Dreamtime is great for daytime flights. Its very comfortable for sitting. But its not great for sleeping unless you can sleep on your back. Then again, many of us have endured dreamtimes trans-Pacific many, many times in the past. But they are no Skybed when it comes to sleeping.

 

[serfty]

... I assume this is because QF will take deliver of their next A380 around that time, freeing a 744 aircraft to allow the 743 to be retired. ...

IIRC The second A388 is scheduled to be delivered on Dec 12th, 3rd Dec 27th.

They are scheduled to join "Nancy Bird Walton" and commence operations on 4th and/or 7th January.

 

[NM]

IIRC The second A388 is scheduled to be delivered on Dec 12th, 3rd Dec 27th.

They are scheduled to join "Nancy Bird Walton" and commence operations on 4th and/or 7th January.

Yes, those are the current expected dates. But we all know how things can change, so I used the less specific "around" in my response!

 

[serfty]

Yes, those are the current expected dates. But we all know how things can change, so I used the less specific "around" in my response!

It's interesting that the next Qantas 388's are scheduled to be delivered in 30 and 45 days but are currently not slated for revenue operations for at least a further 23 days or so.

Perhaps Qantas are being careful ...

 

[NM]

It's interesting that the next Qantas 388's are scheduled to be delivered in 30 and 45 days but are currently not slated for revenue operations for at least a further 23 days or so.

Perhaps Qantas are being careful ...

Yes. Its easy to swap a 744 with an A388, but no so easy the other way if they have out-sold any of the 744 cabins.

 

[oz_mark]

It's interesting that the next Qantas 388's are scheduled to be delivered in 30 and 45 days but are currently not slated for revenue operations for at least a further 23 days or so.

Perhaps Qantas are being careful ...

I was under the impression that the first few aircraft of a new type had to be in the country for a certain time before they could go into passenger operation. A month for the first one, and reducing length of times for the next few.

(could be mistaken on this of course!)

 

[NM]

I was under the impression that the first few aircraft of a new type had to be in the country for a certain time before they could go into passenger operation. A month for the first one, and reducing length of times for the next few.

(could be mistaken on this of course!)

I am only aware of the requirement for the first of a new type, but very happy to learn about any such requirements that exist. The new type must be added to the airline's Air Operators Certificate (AOC) before it can commence RPT services with the new type. To have the new type added to the AOC requires proof that the operator has the procedures and experience in place to undertake the operations correctly/safely.

The crew experience requirements do have a staged increasing requirement for a new type. For example, initial crew requirements for QF's A380s included a minimum of 8 sectors and 10 flight hours on type, while subsequent crews will require a minimum of 8 sectors and 25 flight hours. The most experienced QF A380 pilot had in excess of 200 flying hours on the type (including 100 hours of instructing) when QF took delivery of their first A380.

 

[Evan]

And i assume they continue to train crew on the MEL-SYD repositioning flights. All expereince for pilots and crew at take-off, landing and general procedures.
E

 

[NM]

And i assume they continue to train crew on the MEL-SYD repositioning flights. All expereince for pilots and crew at take-off, landing and general procedures.
E

That is all part of gaining the required "sectors".

There is a good article about this in this month's Australian Aviation magazine.