China Award Thread-Merged Topics--

[EyeInTheSky]

I guess you guys and gals don't or won't listen.

Back to the China award or we close this one.

Richard,

I love Chinese food, is that on topic?

Seriously, does anyone think Doogie is looking at a Tokyo route in addition to Beijing?


Later,
Eye

 

[Art at ISP]

I believe he is looking for any Asian routes he can get.

He may get them too...but maybe not with this airline.

I am happy for the employees that you got this tentative award for China, but to see Tempe pick up some ratty A340-300's rather than newer -500's better suited to the mission is just consistent with the "price of everything value of nothing" mentality they follow religiously.

If only Wal Mart sold airplanes, US would be first on line.
Something to make their new breed of frequent flier feel right at home.

 

[TechBoy]

but to see Tempe pick up some ratty A340-300's rather than newer -500's better suited to the mission is just consistent with the "price of everything value of nothing" mentality they follow religiously.

Now you're just being contrary, Art. Whatever aircraft US obtains for these routes will have US interiors put into them. So the -300 interior will be the same as the -500 would be. Now US may put in a crappy interior, but that has nothing to do with the choice of plane.

As for the -500 being "better suited to the mission," the -300 has more than sufficient range to fly the route and also has the range to fly any other conceivable new routes such as PHL-NRT or PHX-Europe.

 

[Art at ISP]

Actually, Tech Boy,

The -300 is considered to be considerably underpowered, and is not as well suited as the -500. Sort of like the 321.

US will probably get a deal because the -300's are somewhat undesirable for most carriers.

 

[TechBoy]

The -300 is considered to be considerably underpowered, and is not as well suited as the -500. Sort of like the 321.

US will probably get a deal because the -300's are somewhat undesirable for most carriers.

PHL-PEK is 5977nm. The range of the 340-300 is 7200nm. Not a problem.

Now if you wanted to go PHL-SIN, you would need the -500. But US is a long, long, long way from serving a route like that.

 

[FrugalFlyerv2.0]

Actually, Tech Boy,

The -300 is considered to be considerably underpowered, and is not as well suited as the -500. Sort of like the 321.

US will probably get a deal because the -300's are somewhat undesirable for most carriers.

If the -500 is such a good aircraft, why is AC dumping them? AC's A340's are (were) relatively new. And I believe they were used for YYZ-Asia flights. I guess some airlines junk is anothers treasure.

 

[USA320Pilot]

A collegue told me today that FAA Inspector Bill Banks (who is out of the FAA's PIT ACDO) said that both the FAA and US Airways management are currently in Dakarta, Indonesia looking at four A340's that US Airways may acquire to fly transpacific service.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

 

[JAMAKE1]

Down here in Daytona Beach there's an entire fleet of ex-Trans Florida Convair 340's in storage that Tempe could surely scoop up for a good price. And then furthermore, expand the heritage fleet to include the colors of Mohawk and Lake Central...

 

[SegmentKing]

As for the -500 being "better suited to the mission," the -300 has more than sufficient range to fly the route and also has the range to fly any other conceivable new routes such as PHL-NRT or PHX-Europe.

When we start flying A340-300s from PHX to Europe, it will take them to get near Chicago before they're at cruise altitude. they'll have to reroute general aviation traffic around ABQ - the plane will be lucky to be at 10,000 feet by that time 😛 😛

anyone wanna go out to 44th street and watch them take off -- popcorn anyone?

 

[WCT]

Oh you mean like the Branif A320's with the freaking ashtrays still in the seats? Is that the new US Airways interior?

Those of you from out west don't seem to grasp that most of the East FF'ers have actual brains and can think independently. I've had smoke blown up my arse by professionals and Tempe doesn't qualify! :angry:

let me tell you if push comes to shove US will buy cheap instead of right.

Some people only look at the near term up-front price not the overall cost. I call that the high cost of cheap.

Piney, all of our Airbus a/c on the West still have ashtrays in them, even the new ones. A french signature. The Braniff planes are ships 620-630's, and they are major crappers! We still have some of them flying around with the old Navy seats with screens sticking out of them. Talk about a dusty old cockroach fabric!? Total embarrasement! We have so many mechanicals on those outdated beasts, it is a wonder they can still fly. Take them to the desert already.
I hope to god, we do not get the A340's from Air Jamaica. I have a friend who use to work wet lease charters on those beasts, and said they are major crap cannons!! I wish this airline would wake up and get a real airliner, like say the BOEING 777. It is only a matter of time this company will realize cheap only goes so far. Big mistake. 🙄 🙄

 

[N903AW]

Down here in Daytona Beach there's an entire fleet of ex-Trans Florida Convair 340's in storage that Tempe could surely scoop up for a good price. And then furthermore, expand the heritage fleet to include the colors of Mohawk and Lake Central...

Ooooh! I loved working on the Convair many years ago (the 580, a 340 with better engines, though). Maybe we can get the engines converted to Alison 501s!!

Hey JAMAKE1, your avatar is cool, takes me back to the days of the flying Sundancers. Flying RW was always an enjoyable experience. Maybe we could bring back the F-27s, too? Those huge oval windows and screaming Rolls Royce Dart engines bring back fun memories!

 

[N903AW]

When we start flying A340-300s from PHX to Europe, it will take them to get near Chicago before they're at cruise altitude. they'll have to reroute general aviation traffic around ABQ - the plane will be lucky to be at 10,000 feet by that time 😛 😛

anyone wanna go out to 44th street and watch them take off -- popcorn anyone?

In 1996 British Airways could fly full Gatwick-bound DC-10-30s from Phoenix on a hot Arizona summer night. The A340-300s would have no problem.

I was contracted to BA back then and it was fun watching that plane eat up almost every inch of Runway 26 before rotating and barely clearing the 24th Street perimeter fence!

 

[FWAAA]

If the -500 is such a good aircraft, why is AC dumping them? AC's A340's are (were) relatively new. And I believe they were used for YYZ-Asia flights. I guess some airlines junk is anothers treasure.

It is sorta pathetic (and very telling) that this second-rate airline doesn't currently fly any plane capable of PHL-China and when the US-China bilateral is amended so that a single route authority and seven weekly frequencies fall in its lap it sets out to acquire used A340s. Aircraft other airlines are dumping in favor of more capable, more efficient airplanes.

 

[oldcrow]

The AB340 will be a temporary "bridge aircraft" until the AB350's arrive sometime in 2013(LOL) more like 2015, if then. I'm sure the boys in Tempe will buy the underpowered, cheap POS AB340-300.

 

[LGA777]

A collegue told me today that FAA Inspector Bill Banks (who is out of the FAA's PIT ACDO) said that both the FAA and US Airways management are currently in Dakarta, Indonesia looking at four A340's that US Airways may acquire to fly transpacific service.

Regards,

USA320Pilot

USA320Pilot,

it is actually Jakarta, and though I never been it has a big reputation is an airliner junkyard, a place where old airliners go to die, and there are probably dozens their. Since Garuda (the Indonesian Intl Carrier) does not fly the A-340 I wonder whose 340's these where and what sort of condition they are in?

Cheers

LGA777