QantasLink to replace Q200/Q300s with mid-life Q400s

[servicerequired]

Wonder if Rex will pick up these aircraft, particularly the younger (20yo) Q300s.

These small short hop flights are probably going to be the first to fall to electric/ hydrogen electric aircraft, though getting power or hydrogen to some of the regional airports might be expensive.

Eg. ZeroAvia flies Hydrogen-electric Dornier - Australian Flying

I doubt we will see any of the QF fleet with REX - and we are at least a decade away minimum re anything hydrogen ... I don't believe electric will cut it ... not on a 50 seat + aircraft anyway ... not for quite some time yet.

 

[SYD]

Is LDH a blanket “no can do” for a Q400 or something that can be handled with restricted loads?

 

[iluvoz]

The landing distance required is less than actual. YLHI 850m. LDR 850m unfactored at MLW 28t. Now multiple 1.43 to the unfactored distance to get required length for preflight planning purposes. DHC8 400 empty cannot land on an 850m strip.

 

[kpc]

And before anyone asks, to extend the runway length at Ldh means extending into the lagoon (left below) and a likely huge environmental impact to the lagoon so a major impact study will be needed first. To extend the other way (right below) means extending into the open ocean!

 

[iluvoz]

And before anyone asks, to extend the runway length at Ldh means extending into the lagoon (left below) and a likely huge enironmental impact to the lagoon so a major impact study will be needed first. To extend the other way (right below) means extending into the open ocean!

View attachment 393560

FYI The 50th anniversary of the opening of the airfield at Lord Howe is 11 September this year. An airfield on a World Heritage site!

 

[OZDUCK]

Bring back the Flying Boats!

Perhaps a civilian version of the proposed Hercules Amphibian?

USSOCOM’s Amphibious MC-130J Seaplane Concept Alive or Dead? DARPA’s WIG is Alive! - Naval News

The latest developments in the MC-130J seaplane concept and its status and DARPA's WIG concept with an official Program of Record.

www.navalnews.com

 

[henrus]

so a major impact study will be needed first

This has already been done. I’ll see if I can find and share the link.

 

[p--and--t]

 

[kpc]

This has already been done. I’ll see if I can find and share the link.

You are right...released in 2018.
A rather lengthy report...not sure what the final conclusion and recommendation was.

Hard to read the report on my phone but the proposal was to extend the runway westwards ie by reclaiming land in the lagoon...one of the challenges mentioned was the environment impact...haven't seen that report

https://www.lhib.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-09/ED21%20156%20-%20Runway%20Extension%20Feasibility%20Study%20-Geotechnical%20Report%20-%20Part%203.pdf

 

[RSVKanga]

means extending into the open ocean

Which seems to be the best option. Certainly can't see how the other option of building over a lagoon and beach will get through any environmental approvals.

 

[iluvoz]

Bring back the Flying Boats!

Perhaps a civilian version of the proposed Hercules Amphibian?

USSOCOM’s Amphibious MC-130J Seaplane Concept Alive or Dead? DARPA’s WIG is Alive! - Naval News

The latest developments in the MC-130J seaplane concept and its status and DARPA's WIG concept with an official Program of Record.

www.navalnews.com

The runway was built at Lord Howe to allow for better, more regular, connectivity to the mainland. The flying boats were dependant on weather, winds and tides to land in the lagoon. That would be the case again today. Hence the arrival of the DeHavilland DHC4 Caribou. And today's DHC8.

 

[henrus]

A rather lengthy report...not sure what the final conclusion and recommendation was.

There were three other reports:

Environmental: Wayback Machine

Assessment of requirements and aircraft types:

Wayback Machine

Concept design report:

Wayback Machine

More details and Q&A listed here:

Runway Extension Feasibility Study | Lord Howe Island Board

The Lord Howe Island (LHI) Airport Runway Extension Feasibility Study aims to analyse and evaluate the ‘feasibility’ of extending the runway. Lord Howe Island Airport Runway Extension – Project update Background

web.archive.org

The reports in 2018 were based around a solution being NSW gov funding from 2018 to 2022 (annoyingly half the document redacted_:

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2019/GIPA-Funding-Agreement-TfNSW-and-QantasLink-040518-redacted.pdf

This was then again extended in 2022 through to 2025.

Interestingly an ATR42-600S could do 36 people with reduced baggage limits matching todays services but with not a single one still in operation and not due until the middle of next year it's possible there could be another extension. There was a lot of chat about this during the last extension:

QantasLink retains Lord Howe Island licence until 2025

Good news for those who redeem QFF points for this very popular destination! ——— QantasLink To Continue Serving Lord Howe Island QantasLink, the regional airline of Australian flag carrier Qantas Airways, has received approval to continue air services to Lord Howe Island for the next three...

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[yachty]

There was some info from NSW's regional aviation inquiry in 2014 too:

The runway at Lord Howe Island cannot accomodate larger aircraft and is unable to be extended because of environmental constraints.

Link

And Qantas made this submission:

In regards to Lord Howe Island, Q400 aircraft require a runway length of around 1600 metres and the current Lord Howe Island runway length is around 900 metres. Any runway extension would require environmentally sensitive works impacting the sand dune at one end of the runway or the lagoon at the other end, or both.

Link

The route just went out for tender again anyway with the new operator (presumably Qantas won't bid) to be announced by the end of September, taking over in April 2025.

https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/media-releases/expressions-of-interest-open-for-moree-and-lord-howe-island-air

 

[kpc]

It will be sad if Qf don't bid because they no longer have suitable aircraft to fly the Syd-Ldh route as the difficult but prized classic return award for 16K pts will be no more...personally I will not pay $800 to $1000 per pax in summer for a 2 hour Y rtn flight ...rather go to Asia and beyond for that...and the accommodation, restaurants etc will be much cheaper...of course having previously been to LDH 3x means we have explored nearly every corner of the island...but I would go back in a heart beat if I could score a 16K Qf return award flight.

 

[Catweazle]

Currently, you can also fly there with Eastern Air Services but last I checked, a return flight with them was $1400+

I suppose they'll continue to operate their Piper Chieftain or BE58 Baron flights?

A niche market I know, but we'd do better to hire a AFF yacht for that price!

 

[RSVKanga]

Apart from LDH, are there any other QF regional destinations which can’t handle anything larger than a Q300?