For the aviation fans

[Spokey]

And I just want to get back to work in Mid East.......ayeeee!

[Cois]

Funny that all the people returning to SA, and my brother will be leaving SA on Saturday to return to work

[Karooryder]

Accra is just a stop for fuel. 1 way flights those..................... Tomorrow you will see at least 1 more(possibly 3 if they ready to leave) A340-300 going to France somewhere.

LWB any idea how many A319's remain in the fleet or are these the last ones to go?

[Long Wheel Base]

LWB any idea how many A319's remain in the fleet or are these the last ones to go?

None. Well technically. I think SFK is still parked here waiting to go but they all going back. I would have to go down to the hanger and check but it was still here last week Friday and not on the return list yet. Otherwise they rest have all left already.

Apparently all the aircraft are being returned to get out of expensive contracts and SAA will be leasing "new" aircraft. SAAT unions are requesting the "new" aircraft be 6 to 10 years old so that there is still out of warranty maintenance to be done.

[Bateleur1]

None. Well technically. I think SFK is still parked here waiting to go but they all going back. I would have to go down to the hanger and check but it was still here last week Friday and not on the return list yet. Otherwise they rest have all left already.

Apparently all the aircraft are being returned to get out of expensive contracts and SAA will be leasing "new" aircraft. SAAT unions are requesting the "new" aircraft be 6 to 10 years old so that there is still out of warranty maintenance to be done.

 

Any idea what aircraft they will be looking at?

[Long Wheel Base]

Any idea what aircraft they will be looking at?

We assuming Airbus, seeming all our pilots/crew etc are airbus rated/trained. But you never know with these okes. Technical can do maintenance on Boeing or Airbus so we don't mind. I would prefer Boeing, only because I am a fan.

[Robbie Stewart]

We assuming Airbus, seeming all our pilots/crew etc are airbus rated/trained. But you never know with these okes. Technical can do maintenance on Boeing or Airbus so we don't mind. I would prefer Boeing, only because I am a fan.

 

Some bright spark is going to propose to buy up / lease some unwanted A380's...

 

If this were a perfect world where no problems existed, I would have liked to see SA fly a couple B777. I just love the graceful lines on those birds. And those engines...

[Long Wheel Base]

Some bright spark is going to propose to buy up / lease some unwanted A380's...

 

If this were a perfect world where no problems existed, I would have liked to see SA fly a couple B777. I just love the graceful lines on those birds. And those engines...

Back in 2003 when we got our new fleet, The B777 and the A340-600 were here at ORT and our pilots and big brass were all testing the 2 to decide what to go with. There were big heads of state from Boeing, Airbus and Government all having meetings and discussions for the whole week.The B777 was having engine trouble so was unfortunately not able to fly for most of the week long test. THEN it was at this time where one of the worst, dodgiest deals ever was made that has ultimately caused the airline to pretty much close. That was unknowingly at the time the start of the end. Now I know hindsight and blah blah blah and right now Boeing is not doing so well but at the end of the day, the Airbus deal came with a lot of corruption that Boeing apparently also wanted nothing to do with. There was also a arms deal at the time that was added in for some A400M's that went bad-this also didn't help. Look there obviously were some other factors that they used as an excuse like back then 4 engines was still the preferred option for our long haul routes but those were just excuses in my mind to cover up corruption.

[Bateleur1]

I like both Boeing and Airbus aircraft.  Personally I think a debate between Boeing and Airbus is like a debate between BMW and Mercedes.  At the end both are good products.  Both have pros and cons.  Boeing also had a bit of a rocky start with the 787 with those batteries causing fires.  

 

Personally I think for SAA to get up in the air proitable I would go now for a fleet of A350 and A320 neo aircraft.  Alternatively a fleet of 737-800 and B787 aircraft would also do the trick.

[Robbie Stewart]

Back in 2003 when we got our new fleet, The B777 and the A340-600 were here at ORT and our pilots and big brass were all testing the 2 to decide what to go with. There were big heads of state from Boeing, Airbus and Government all having meetings and discussions for the whole week.The B777 was having engine trouble so was unfortunately not able to fly for most of the week long test. THEN it was at this time where one of the worst, dodgiest deals ever was made that has ultimately caused the airline to pretty much close. That was unknowingly at the time the start of the end. Now I know hindsight and blah blah blah and right now Boeing is not doing so well but at the end of the day, the Airbus deal came with a lot of corruption that Boeing apparently also wanted nothing to do with. There was also a arms deal at the time that was added in for some A400M's that went bad-this also didn't help. Look there obviously were some other factors that they used as an excuse like back then 4 engines was still the preferred option for our long haul routes but those were just excuses in my mind to cover up corruption.

 

I recall back in 2008 I was at the AAD expo at Ysterplaat and there was a C17 being demo'd by the USAF as a replacement to the ageing C130 BZ's of the SAAF. The talk at the time was that the government was looking at the A400M's instead. Probably a case of Boeing not acceding to the "terms" of the deal. I distinctly remember that the USAF brass made an announcement over the PA system late in the afternoon that neither the US, USAF nor any present US military forces in SA had anything to do with the shakeup in the country at that time. Later that evening when I got home news broke that Mbeki had been ousted by Zuma...

[Long Wheel Base]

I like both Boeing and Airbus aircraft.  Personally I think a debate between Boeing and Airbus is like a debate between BMW and Mercedes.  At the end both are good products.  Both have pros and cons.  Boeing also had a bit of a rocky start with the 787 with those batteries causing fires.  

 

Personally I think for SAA to get up in the air proitable I would go now for a fleet of A350 and A320 neo aircraft.  Alternatively a fleet of 737-800 and B787 aircraft would also do the trick.

Yeah it would make the most cents(done on purpose) to go with exactly what you have suggested. The few spares we do still have are for airbus. A lot of the current A320 stuff we got fits on the neo. As for the wide body, A350 like you said or even the A330-300 is not a bad option as they may be a bit cheaper than the A350.

[Bateleur1]

I recall back in 2008 I was at the AAD expo at Ysterplaat and there was a C17 being demo'd by the USAF as a replacement to the ageing C130 BZ's of the SAAF. The talk at the time was that the government was looking at the A400M's instead. Probably a case of Boeing not acceding to the "terms" of the deal. I distinctly remember that the USAF brass made an announcement over the PA system late in the afternoon that neither the US, USAF nor any present US military forces in SA had anything to do with the shakeup in the country at that time. Later that evening when I got home news broke that Mbeki had been ousted by Zuma...

 

Remember one thing about US military equipment, they will do the maintenance and supply the support personell.  They don't quite sell a of the shelve product.  During the arms tenders as far as I remember they offered a squadron or two of F16's for almost free, but they will have their own support staff and people looking after the aircraft.  No such thing as training your people to maintain the aircraft.  It is all good and well until you are in conflict with another US buddy (lets for argument sake say Botswana).  All of a sudden you have no support staff, no spares and no weapons that go with it and then you have a squadron of very fancy toys.

[Robbie Stewart]

Remember one thing about US military equipment, they will do the maintenance and supply the support personell.  They don't quite sell a of the shelve product.  During the arms tenders as far as I remember they offered a squadron or two of F16's for almost free, but they will have their own support staff and people looking after the aircraft.  No such thing as training your people to maintain the aircraft.  It is all good and well until you are in conflict with another US buddy (lets for argument sake say Botswana).  All of a sudden you have no support staff, no spares and no weapons that go with it and then you have a squadron of very fancy toys.

 

I heard the same from a chap who was in the naval submariner force. He also told me of the F16 viper deal and how the SAAF ended up choosing the Gripen instead. It kinda makes sense, but hind sight being 20/20, either way the SAAF ended up with expensive and fancy toys.

 

 

He also referred to the SA navy buying these 3 x subs, and usually each sub needs three sets of spares to go with each part on each boat. One being used, one on the boat to be used as spare in the case an emergency breaks out somewhere remote, and one dockside.

 

Apparently the SAN decided to not buy the spares and rather rotate the parts MANY times over....way beyond their useful lifespan. And then to replace parts as they were so worn down that recycling was not viable anymore. At the end of this, it cost the SAN waaaay more to refurbish a ship than buying a new one.

 

I would not set foot on a SAN sub.

[Bateleur1]

I heard the same from a chap who was in the naval submariner force. He also told me of the F16 viper deal and how the SAAF ended up choosing the Gripen instead. It kinda makes sense, but hind sight being 20/20, either way the SAAF ended up with expensive and fancy toys.

 

 

He also referred to the SA navy buying these 3 x subs, and usually each sub needs three sets of spares to go with each part on each boat. One being used, one on the boat to be used as spare in the case an emergency breaks out somewhere remote, and one dockside.

 

Apparently the SAN decided to not buy the spares and rather rotate the parts MANY times over....way beyond their useful lifespan. And then to replace parts as they were so worn down that recycling was not viable anymore. At the end of this, it cost the SAN waaaay more to refurbish a ship than buying a new one.

 

I would not set foot on a SAN sub.

 

I worked a bit on those subs but only spend a little time on them and only while they are docked. No bloody way will I go out at sea in any sub thank you.

[SwissVan]

Short runway or optical illusion?

 

 

 

 

Photo of the Week

So, how are your rudder skills? Doron Talmi’s photo captures the crosswind challenges of flying into Ilulissat, Greenland airport. The pilot of this landing Air Greenland Dash 8 is certainly putting their rudder skills to the test in this strong crosswind at the airport in July 2017.

Wiki lists the runway length at 845m

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ilulissat_Airport

 

 

 

 

[Frosty]

Do we need those fancy 3D glasses to view the illusion?