For the aviation fans

[Bonus]

Then there is always this one ...

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mhWaKFQHLbs

 

Yep. Remember that one too. Awful. The jet cartwheeling into the crowd and showering people with burning fuel.

 

Truly horrible. 

[Bateleur1]

Yep. Remember that one too. Awful. The jet cartwheeling into the crowd and showering people with burning fuel.

 

Truly horrible. 

 

I remember watching the Red Arrows at the '95 Airshow at Waterkloof AFB.  As much as it was the most exciting performance I have ever witnessed and I am gratefull for seeing it, at the same time I had those Ramstein images stuck in my head the whole time of that display.

[Long Wheel Base]

So I am at work today and Monday. WOW so many of our planes have left already, so sad. There are a few spares engines and APUs that are going back now so I have come in to crate and sort all the paperwork and ship them back. Technical is getting empty. We still have little to no feedback from management. We get more info from articles in the news. LOL it is funny in a bad way but I was actually bummed to come in today, gotten so used to being at home with the family that this is a grind. But at least it is a couple extra days less leave they can take from me. 

[Bateleur1]

So I am at work today and Monday. WOW so many of our planes have left already, so sad. There are a few spares engines and APUs that are going back now so I have come in to crate and sort all the paperwork and ship them back. Technical is getting empty. We still have little to no feedback from management. We get more info from articles in the news. LOL it is funny in a bad way but I was actually bummed to come in today, gotten so used to being at home with the family that this is a grind. But at least it is a couple extra days less leave they can take from me. 

 

When you say planes have left already, does that mean going back to leasing companies?

[Long Wheel Base]

When you say planes have left already, does that mean going back to leasing companies?

Yeah.

[Bonus]

Yeah.

 

Including the new ones SAA just took delivery of?

[Robbie Stewart]

So I am at work today and Monday. WOW so many of our planes have left already, so sad. There are a few spares engines and APUs that are going back now so I have come in to crate and sort all the paperwork and ship them back. Technical is getting empty. We still have little to no feedback from management. We get more info from articles in the news. LOL it is funny in a bad way but I was actually bummed to come in today, gotten so used to being at home with the family that this is a grind. But at least it is a couple extra days less leave they can take from me. 

 

Aye man, good to hear from you again LWB. I pray your situation improves man.

 

Sounds to me like Mr. Gordhan is spinning a tune, seeing as your feedback does not seem to gel with what the news is spewing forth. I read this morning that SAA, Government and the BR team are working on a rescue plan. From what you are saying, I am wondering what they are rescuing, or will SAA really rise from the ashes with a fresh lick of paint and some re-leased machines?

[Robbie Stewart]

Including the new ones SAA just took delivery of?

 

Well since Cape Town is considered a no-go and according to Cape Talk it sounds like the WC borders are closed until Feb 2021... , the 10th busiest flight route is currently no more, and as for the rest, who is flying commercial? Seems like there is not much use for them at present.

[Long Wheel Base]

Including the new ones SAA just took delivery of?

The 2 "used" ones from China(ZS-SDD and ZS-SDC) are going back. The 2 new ones from Air Mauritius are staying. The latest feedback that we received today said we are going to be operating with 25 airbuses(prior to all this BR stuff we basically had 48 aircraft). Just counting what is left here it seems like we will have the A320s, A330-300s, the 2 A350s and possibly some A340s(unless they get rid of those and then lease in some more A330s or A350). This is just my assumption going by what I have been asked to supply ito exit paperwork and what aircraft are still parked here.

[Long Wheel Base]

Aye man, good to hear from you again LWB. I pray your situation improves man.

 

Sounds to me like Mr. Gordhan is spinning a tune, seeing as your feedback does not seem to gel with what the news is spewing forth. I read this morning that SAA, Government and the BR team are working on a rescue plan. From what you are saying, I am wondering what they are rescuing, or will SAA really rise from the ashes with a fresh lick of paint and some re-leased machines?

The stories seem to change every day. Look, SAA needs to close. It simply can not carry on like this. The corruption and dodgy deals has to stop. But simply opening up another government airline is no different. They not going to fool anyone by thinking a new clean slate will solve everything. 

Edited May 15, 2020 by Long Wheel Base

[Bateleur1]

The 2 "used" ones from China(ZS-SDD and ZS-SDC) are going back. The 2 new ones from Air Mauritius are staying. The latest feedback that we received today said we are going to be operating with 25 airbuses(prior to all this BR stuff we basically had 48 aircraft). Just counting what is left here it seems like we will have the A320s, A330-300s, the 2 A350s and possibly some A340s(unless they get rid of those and then lease in some more A330s or A350). This is just my assumption going by what I have been asked to supply ito exit paperwork and what aircraft are still parked here.

 

That would be the wise thing to do.  They will cost cheaper to run.

[Bateleur1]

The 2 "used" ones from China(ZS-SDD and ZS-SDC) are going back. The 2 new ones from Air Mauritius are staying. The latest feedback that we received today said we are going to be operating with 25 airbuses(prior to all this BR stuff we basically had 48 aircraft). Just counting what is left here it seems like we will have the A320s, A330-300s, the 2 A350s and possibly some A340s(unless they get rid of those and then lease in some more A330s or A350). This is just my assumption going by what I have been asked to supply ito exit paperwork and what aircraft are still parked here.

 

Another couple of milj thrown into the bin.  This is not like its costing two 50 litre tins Dulux weatherguard.

Edited May 15, 2020 by Bateleur1

[Long Wheel Base]

That would be the wise thing to do.  They will cost cheaper to run.

Yeah a lot cheaper but they actually own some of the A340s(think like 3 or 4), surprisingly. So I think they would come with the reasoning that there is no lease to be paid.

[Long Wheel Base]

Another couple of milj thrown into the bin.  This is not like its costing two 50 litre tins Dulux weatherguard.

Yip another wise choice........ But those 2 aircraft are VROT anyway and when I say VROT I mean SERIOUSLY VROT. Those Chinese flew the living daylights out of them for the 9 months they had them from new to us getting them. The cabins are stuffed, chairs are bent and broken, toilets look like the have seen a million people without getting serviced. The Nose Landing Gear on one of them is already using its spare seal. One of the engines has panels inside that are cracked.

Also those new engines on the A350 decide their own life limit. So after each flight it works out how hard it worked and then readjusts the life limit and the heat and altitude up here in JNB was taking months out of them with each test flight.

[Bonus]

The stories seem to change every day. Look, SAA needs to close. It simply can not carry on like this. The corruption and dodgy deals has to stop. But simply opening up another government airline is no different. They not going to fool anyone by thinking a new clean slate will solve everything. 

 

When this was first mentioned I did think to myself "there's an opportunity for the dodgiest of SAA deals/cons yet!". Shut the thing down, allow those who've stollen millions to walk away, then allow the same people to "buy the business back for a Rand" all at the expense of the tax payer . . . . .  

[Bonus]

Yeah a lot cheaper but they actually own some of the A340s(think like 3 or 4), surprisingly. So I think they would come with the reasoning that there is no lease to be paid.

 

This article discusses the A340's in detail.

 

https://simpleflying.com/saa-a340-sale/