Qantas to recommence A380 services

[Danger]

The QF major disruptions page indicates QF31 SYD-SIN-LHR will be the first service this Saturday, 27 November.

 

[Slats7]

I do realise that.

Which is why I posed the question.

I guess my real question is what is the specific requirement for the 72k thrust vs 70k, and how often is it required? And what are the specifics of that requirement?

I think all A380's have the same certified takeoff weights so the only difference would be in the resulting takeoff performance. QF probably need the higher thrust engines to enhance takeoff performance out of MEL, SYD or LAX on a hot day for a maxed out transpacific flight without incurring weight penalties.

 

[maninblack]

There is a strange lack of information coming out of QF on all of this such as;

Which is the aircraft coming back into service.
Which aircraft have had their engines changed.
Why do some engines need to be replaced whilst others do not.
When do they expect other A380's to come back into service.
What are the new service directives that have to be followed.

And I really like this one from the QF website;
"Do you have confidence in the A380 and the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine?

Yes. We recognise the seriousness of the QF32 incident, but also have confidence in both the aircraft and the engine."


QF please actually explain to the public why it is that you have confidence in the Trent 900 after telling us that 40 of them on 21 aircraft are going to be replaced.

 

[Nigelinoz]

Which is the aircraft coming back into service.

I would think that eventually all the QF A380's would return to service apart from the badly damaged one involved in the incident which hasn't been repaired yet,it may be awhile before that aircraft is back in the air.

 

[mannej]

There is a strange lack of information coming out of QF on all of this such as;

Which is the aircraft coming back into service.
Which aircraft have had their engines changed.
Why do some engines need to be replaced whilst others do not.
When do they expect other A380's to come back into service.
What are the new service directives that have to be followed.

And I really like this one from the QF website;
"Do you have confidence in the A380 and the Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine?

Yes. We recognise the seriousness of the QF32 incident, but also have confidence in both the aircraft and the engine."


QF please actually explain to the public why it is that you have confidence in the Trent 900 after telling us that 40 of them on 21 aircraft are going to be replaced.

You are getting more info out of QF then what you did with SQ.

No company will ever tell you if you are flying on a plane that has had an incident before. I was on the QF A330 a few months after it had its incident, and FWIW I would not have known that it was the one involved with the QF72 dramas.

What is the point of answering the other questions you have asked. SQ never told any passengers on which engines they replaced. According to AJ, he stated that RR know what engines have the fix, and apparently have worked a fix for those ones that don't need replacing.

If you are commenting on a lack of information from QF, surely you would make comment about smaller amount of information coming from SQ

 

[Sprucegoose]

They are concerned about LAX, is that due to the higher rated takeoffs?

Underwriters restrictions?...

Insider?..

 

[JetLagged]

I have to wonder if RR has managed to provide any new/modified/upgraded engines yet for the QF fleet? Numbers mentioned are that 40 QF engines need to be replaced. So have the QF A380s in LAX already had engine changes which is why they are being brought back to Aus to commence the SIN/LHR services rather than using the ones in SYD and LHR.

NM, I think that was either a goof on Joyce's part, or else misinterpreted. Given that Qantas only has six (correct me if I am wrong) of the A380s operational at the time of the incident, then a worse case scenario would mean it was facing the issue of replacing 24 engines immediately.

This means that either the other 16 engines would relate to other four planes due in service: 2 due by the end of 2010, and another 2 in Frbruary 2011 - and would you have to replace those engines before they become operational? Given that R-R chaged the specs of the engines on new deliveries, I find that a difficult one to get to the bottom of.

 

[markis10]

NM, I think that was either a goof on Joyce's part, or else misinterpreted. Given that Qantas only has six (correct me if I am wrong) of the A380s operational at the time of the incident, then a worse case scenario would mean it was facing the issue of replacing 24 engines immediately.

This means that either the other 16 engines would relate to other four planes due in service: 2 due by the end of 2010, and another 2 in Frbruary 2011 - and would you have to replace those engines before they become operational? Given that R-R chaged the specs of the engines on new deliveries, I find that a difficult one to get to the bottom of.

On FT someone mentioned there were 5 A380s in LA, maybe three were ferried from France for their engines to be used???

 

[JohnK]

Good to hear the A380's are coming back into service this week.

Hopefully no further issues and it will be 1 less thing to worry about for end of year trip.

 

[Briz.QffBoi]

I would think that eventually all the QF A380's would return to service apart from the badly damaged one involved in the incident which hasn't been repaired yet,it may be awhile before that aircraft is back in the air.

My understanding is that Nancy-Bird is so badly damaged that she will need special attention - and even possibly a total wing replacement in order to return to flight status. Given the sheer size of an A380 wing it is possible that special facilities may need to be constructed just to undertake the repair work necessary - not to mention the logistics of getting a new wing to Singapore!!

I think it may be some time before the wonderful lady flies again!

 

[JohnPhelan]

They are concerned about LAX, is that due to the higher rated takeoffs?

Underwriters restrictions?...

Insider?..

I think you'll find it also has a bit to do with the fact that LAX-Australia flights are completely over water with few possible diversion airports if anything went wrong. Hence why they are flying the A380s back from LAX without pax. In contrast, the Kangaroo route flights are largely over land, with suitable and close diversion ports available pretty much the whole way.

Certainly not a great vote of confidence in the RR engines, replaced or not!! :shock:

 

[straitman]

I think you'll find it also has a bit to do with the fact that LAX-Australia flights are completely over water with few possible diversion airports if anything went wrong. Hence why they are flying the A380s back from LAX without pax. In contrast, the Kangaroo route flights are largely over land, with suitable and close diversion ports available pretty much the whole way.

Certainly not a great vote of confidence in the RR engines, replaced or not!! :shock:

I would say it has very little to do with your over water scenario but I'm happy to be proven wrong.

 

[NM]

NM, I think that was either a goof on Joyce's part, or else misinterpreted. Given that Qantas only has six (correct me if I am wrong) of the A380s operational at the time of the incident, then a worse case scenario would mean it was facing the issue of replacing 24 engines immediately.

Correct. I believe the number 40 was relating to the three current operators and not just to Qantas.

Still begs the question as to how many RR has already replaced in order for QF to start ops again.

 

[Briz.QffBoi]

I would say it has very little to do with your over water scenario but I'm happy to be proven wrong.

According to Reuters:



" SYDNEY, Nov 23 (Reuters)

- Qantas will resume flying the Airbus A380 superjumbo this week on a limited basis, indicating it will take several more weeks to resolve engine problems that crippled a jet carrying 466 people this month.



Qantas will put two of its six A380s in the air from Saturday but the others will take "some time" to return, pending engine fixes, and the A380 will stay off routes to Los Angeles, among its most lucrative, the airline said on Tuesday.


The first A380 will be reassigned from the Los Angeles route and will enter service on the Sydney-London route on Saturday.




Qantas is also keeping the A380 off the high-margin Los Angeles routes -- which require use of maximum certified engine thrust -- as a precaution. These are the longest routes served by an A380 and require the plane to be fully laden with fuel, which in turn requires higher thrust for take off.


Joyce said Qantas was not yet discussing compensation issues with Rolls-Royce.

"Our priority is to get all of the aircraft back in the air... and when the time is appropriate, we will have the dialogue with Rolls-Royce."


On top of the two aircraft returning to service, Qantas will take delivery of two new Airbus A380s before year-end, giving it four superjumbos for the busy Christmas and southern hemisphere summer holiday season.

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

A380 to return on QF31 Saturday 27 December

Now it's all sorted, thankfully the superjumbo will return to our skies effective Saturday.

Looks like it may just be on SYD-SIN-LHR initially but the rest of the fleet will be back in the air soon.

I believe Qantas have handled this situation very well, all things considered, especially since the media (and the lefties) like to pull the union card without knowing any of the facts of the situation.

I shall look forward to flying on the A380 on the safest airline in the world anytime soon.

Refer: Qantas Major Disruptions - where we keep you informed of developments and the choices that are available to you

 

[MatF]

Excellent, hopefully in plenty of time for QF31, 7/12

I also think QF have handled this all very well.

 

[Flying Fox]

According to SBS news last night:

- AJ will be on QF31 operated by the first A380 to return to service

- 2 more new A380s coming from the factory in Dec will have the engine modifications and will enter service without delay

 

[maninblack]

You are getting more info out of QF then what you did with SQ.

No company will ever tell you if you are flying on a plane that has had an incident before. I was on the QF A330 a few months after it had its incident, and FWIW I would not have known that it was the one involved with the QF72 dramas.

What is the point of answering the other questions you have asked. SQ never told any passengers on which engines they replaced. According to AJ, he stated that RR know what engines have the fix, and apparently have worked a fix for those ones that don't need replacing.

If you are commenting on a lack of information from QF, surely you would make comment about smaller amount of information coming from SQ

My comments are about Qantas, a publicly listed Australian company and ultimately the main focus of this forum. I am not doubting that SQ have been less than forthcoming with information but that is not the subject of my post nor was I attempting to make a comparison. Simply asking some questions of QF all of which are fair and relevant to travelers and shareholders and the people who live under flightpaths

 

[Voyages]

In my mailbox just then...

[FONT=&quot]I am pleased to advise that Qantas will resume A380 services, commencing with an initial A380 service to London via Singapore on Saturday 27 November. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]We have undertaken a rigorous inspection program in conjunction with Rolls Royce and Airbus to ensure the fleet is ready to return to service. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]We always put safety first, and we continue to take a conservative approach to the reintroduction of the A380 fleet. So we will initially operate the A380 between Australia and the United Kingdom. As more A380s come into service, we will assess when and how best to deploy them.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I want to assure you that we have full confidence in our A380 aircraft fleet, and will not fly any individual aircraft unless we are completely sure that it is safe to do so. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Qantas has six A380s in its fleet, and is scheduled to take delivery of two new A380s before the end of this year, and a further two next year. With our fleet of more than 250 aircraft, we are able to maintain a full international and domestic network, so you can book and fly with us with confidence. [/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]I want to thank you for your loyalty and patience. On behalf of all of us at Qantas we deeply regret any inconvenience. We look forward to welcoming you warmly when next you fly. [/FONT]


[FONT=&quot]

[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]ALAN JOYCE[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Qantas Chief Executive Officer[/FONT]

​

 

[oz_mark]

There is a strange lack of information coming out of QF on all of this such as;

Lots of questions, but how much do airlines ever say about the maintenance history of aircraft etc.

Apparently it is OQF that is arriving back from LAX to operate the flight on Saturday.