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Post by Darren Masters on Apr 4, 2015 20:30:03 GMT 12
The 580 being phased out has nothing to do with a CAA decision. It is simple economics with PBN taking over the country. Replacement airframe are going to be 737, front runner possibly ex jet connect aircraft. Thank you for this. Do you know when?
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Post by madmac on Apr 4, 2015 22:52:26 GMT 12
So, can we assume this is one of the seven that airwork signed up to get converted (they brought a bulk lot of ex jetconnect 737's) www.aeronautical-engineers.com/news/83/which leaves the question is this a lease from airwork or have they buying out right.
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Post by ruakituri on Apr 19, 2015 16:21:18 GMT 12
Possibly ex Air NZ airframes too. Probably nothing before the end of the year. Either way a big freight door will need to be added.... and that isn't a small job.
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Post by atea on Jun 26, 2015 12:56:52 GMT 12
I am an employee of NZ Post. It has been announced today that there will now be a joint air freight operation between us and freightways. This will mean a replacement of the Convairs, F27's and Metroliners with 3 737-400 to be operated between Auckland, Palmerston North and Christchurch. Exciting news to see this investment by these companies and sad to see the old work horses time is up. Interestingly they will be the only jet services into Palmerston North.
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Post by delticman on Jun 26, 2015 14:02:15 GMT 12
What happens to Air Post's Cook Straight Flights?
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Post by scrooge on Jun 26, 2015 14:06:32 GMT 12
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Post by atea on Jun 26, 2015 14:48:44 GMT 12
What happens to Air Post's Cook Straight Flights? Sorry I got a bit mixed up with the Metroliners as there is no mention of them. I think there will be a major upgrade of the air network for Post with probable changes in how product is moved around the country. Most in-island freight is moved by the road network but pressure is being put on this with greater volumes carried. Maybe a Metroliner will operate out of Blenheim to Palmerston North or Auckland for the inter-island freight out of the Northern South Island. I would think there would be no flights to Wellington with that product road freighted to Palmerston North for air freight. It may also be possible with the ferry delays we seem to experience almost daily that some of the extra capacity will be used for non priority product. This looks to be a good venture for both companies as it makes little sense to be operating dual services in a country the size of New Zealand.
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Post by ZacYates on Jun 26, 2015 16:33:39 GMT 12
I wonder what will happen to the Friendships. I feel so fortunate to have seen one at Omaka this year.
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Post by atea on Jun 26, 2015 16:37:56 GMT 12
Shall we buy one Zac? Should be pretty cheap as there isn't really much use for them aside from scrap.
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Post by dazz on Jun 26, 2015 20:57:13 GMT 12
Sounds like the Airfreight Convair guys are shortly to find themselves surplus to requirements, not a nice situation to find yourself in, my commiserations! On the up side there may be a few jet upgrades for the Airwork F27 and metro guys. Interesting times.
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Post by atea on Jun 26, 2015 21:43:16 GMT 12
Yes will be a few job losses there I would think. I understand that only one F27 was regularly flying the Blenheim-Wellington-Auckland-Palmerston North-Blenheim route so 1 crew there. Upgrade for the current 737-300 crew. No mention of the metroliners though that I can see. Maybe they will be operated on Christchurch-Dunedin and into Blenheim to provide the links in the post network outside of Auckland-Christchurch-Palmerston North remaining as AirPost. Were AirFreight operating all 5 Convair's nightly? There was one here in Palmerston North doing engine run-ups the other day. It didn't look or sound too healthy. This may also be why there seems to be taxiway upgrades going on at Palmerston North Airport over to the corner that Courierpost and Freightways are based in.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jun 26, 2015 21:53:13 GMT 12
I thought Freightways and NZ Post were arch-enemies.Will it last?
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Post by kiwithrottlejockey on Jun 26, 2015 22:15:13 GMT 12
I wonder what will happen to the Friendships. I feel so fortunate to have seen one at Omaka this year. I feel fortunate to have flown in Friendships heaps of times with NAC and Air NZ. I also spent a lot of time flying around NZ in the cockpit of Friendships, because I used to be cheeky enough to ask if I could ride up there and on about 75% of the occasions I asked, the Captain was happy to grant my request. That was naturally well before 9/11 when it became not a good idea to make requests like that. I got to ride in the cockpit of a 737-200 a few occasions too because I was cheeky enough to ask, and I even got to spend the entire trip from engine start to engine shut-down on a flight from Auckland to Brisbane in a 767-200 in 1990.
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Post by scrooge on Jun 27, 2015 8:39:47 GMT 12
Atea, remember each aircraft will usually have more than 1 crew depending on utilisation. So removing 1 aircraft might mean up to 6 pilots in some cases (though I think post might have 6 f27 crew available for 2 aircraft). Do the math: crews for 1 737, 5 convairs and 2 friendships into 3 737-400s. That's probably half the jobs gone. And airwork have just downsized their metro crew.
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Post by atea on Jul 9, 2015 19:37:14 GMT 12
Looks like the Friendships are being replaced at the right time. One of them is apparently not in good shape. Sounds Air ran a freight flight Blenheim to Palmerston North last night with one of their Cessna Caravans.
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Post by skyhawkdon on Jul 9, 2015 20:42:09 GMT 12
Overhauling the engines on the Friendships must be an issue. The Chch Engine Centre stopped supporting them a couple of years ago. I'm not sure if there is anyone else in the world still in the RR Dart overhaul business?
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Post by keroburner on Jul 9, 2015 22:32:59 GMT 12
Yeah. I recall when Christchurch were still doing them that they stated only them and one other place still overhauled them in the world. Assumed that was Rolls Royce?
Doesn't Iran still put up the occasional F27?
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Post by atea on Jul 14, 2015 19:57:27 GMT 12
The Convair that I saw doing engine run ups seems to still be in residence in the Fieldair hangar here in Palmerston North. Must be in a bit of a state. Looks like the investment that is being made in the 737's is the right one.
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Post by scrooge on Jul 15, 2015 3:13:17 GMT 12
Sure it's the same one? Look closely.
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Post by atea on Jul 15, 2015 10:52:59 GMT 12
Well I saw it from quite a distance so just assuming really. Definitely one of the Convairs though I was surprised that it fitted in the hangar.
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