Jump to content

Recommended Posts

Posted

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2012/08/18/qantas-bids-to-continue-vital-lord-howe-island-service/

 

Quote

 

(...) the Q200s are no longer being built, and as planes, even very good planes, age and accumulate pressurisation cycles and all of the other stresses on their aluminium airframes, they become increasingly costly to maintain as safe and reliable.

 

End quote

 

Remember the Beech 1900 story recently? Lord Howe Island depends on the viability of a large operator such as QANTAS being able to economically keep this aircraft type in charter AND fly with safety foremost. The story linked above suggests that no other operator will or can provide the same safety emphasis and outcomes.

 

Why then, did QANTAS quietly remove the life rafts from the types servicing this destination (in accordance with a CASA requirement relaxation)? Would other operators do the same? Or would they just not bother bidding?

 

 

Guest David C
Posted

Yes , Qantas may have a bit of a problem here looking for a Dash 8-200 replacement . There's not a lot of 30-40 seaters that can operate into 880M strips , the one that springs to mind may be the Dornier328 . This has almost the same field length performance as the Dash but at a reduced payload . The other alternative would be to downsize the aircraft, then the choice of aircraft is much larger . An opening for the new manufactured Nomad ? ...

 

Dave C

 

 

Posted

Nomad - not this time. The Dash 8-200 needs to fly 425 nm plus taxying & holding. It can do 900nm+ one way (source Wikipedia). So it can fly there and back without landing ... The alternate to YLHI is the place you started at, YSSY. The nomad can do 580nm one way with full fuel, one life raft and only a few passengers.

 

Dornier Sea Star? That would be enough of a reason to get me to go the Lord Howe Island!

 

http://www.flyingmag.com/pilot-reports/turboprops/flying-boat-back

 

 

Posted

Dornier Sea Star TODR = 410m (No really, that's to 50 feet on land) Plus it can land on water

 

Dornier 328JET TODR = 935m

 

Embraced ERJ 135 TODR = 1760m

 

YLHI TODA = 886m (ERSA)

 

http://www.aircraftcompare.com/helicopter-airplane/Fairchild-Dornier-328JET/462

 

http://www.aircraftcompare.com/helicopter-airplane/Embraer-ERJ-135/120

 

Go the Sea Star!

 

 

Posted

I see Airliners has some nice images as well, some in flight and others giving a good view of the open hatches etc.. Airborne photos with the gear up really shows up some complex shapes in the hull.

 

That Flyingmag pilot report linked above is really interesting reading.

 

Cheers, Willie.

 

 

Posted

C27J Spartan with seats in it? TODR = 580m @ MTOW, less for landing, plus it can take an 11 Tonne payload or fly 1000 nm with a 10 tonne payload. Translates to 9.1 Clive Palmers in the new measurement system.

 

In flight catering might be a bit BYO, plus there are no windows. On the upside you could start your holiday at Lord Howe with a complimentary skydive before meeting your luggage on the ground.

 

Check the seating out here:

 

http://c-27j.ca/c-27j-features-and-capabilities

 

I hear the USA military have a few spare of these... :D plus they are made by the same people who brought you bits of the ATR42/72

 

 

Guest David C
Posted

I like that idea ... Could probably throw in the odd barrel roll or two as well ..

 

Dave C

 

 

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

What about the PZL M28?

 

Data from Jane's All The World's Aircraft 2003–2004[3]

 

General characteristics

 

 

 

Performance

 

 

 

 

 

 

.

 

 

Posted
What about the PZL M28?

Range is a bit tight (for YSSY-YLHI), might need to bump a passenger or two for the life raft as well

 

 

Guest avi8tr
Posted

An interesting point about the rafts. The liferafts aren't required because it's just outside the minimum distance that mandates their use. They lose a number of seats because the have to go on the floor.

 

 

Posted

QANTAS used to have life rafts. Under CAO 20.11 part 5.2.1.1 they took them out because they could. Not because it made sense.

 

Would you prefer a life raft to be there given you could be in the drink 200nm from land at night and bloody miles from the nearest shipping lane?

 

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/planetalking/2011/11/08/why-should-lord-howe-air-travellers-be-at-greater-risk-drowning-in-a-ditching

 

 

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...