ATR Replacement Decision

[A185F]

QUOTE (Albatross @ Jul 24 2008, 06:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Like everything in a public forum, it's open to speculation and rumour, as is my comment about the sim. I've never seen it, nor spoken to anyone operating it, but I have spoken with someone who has flown it (this week). I also heard they were having trouble certifying it, so maybe that might mean they sell it along with their ATR's.. so who knows really...

Regards

ahhh true good thinking. The initial type rating will still have to be done up in bangkok but gettin all the little things done here as opposed to sendin em all the way up there sounds smart. How smart though when they've had em for years and they just decide to get one of these puppies when they are soon about to replace em....

[Peppermint]

Still no news about a replacement yet? Dang...

[Njbb1995]

they are taking there time arnt they

[victor_alpha_charlie]

They've probably decided, they're just not going to tell every one right now though...

[NZ255]

Do you what what the verdict is?

[FlyingKiwi]

Pretty sure it's been delayed *again*.

[Anthony]

I read that the details would be released somewhere around late August, but thats a rumour from an internet forum.
One choice probably has it in the bag but no official decision has been made or released - what Tom/victor_alpha_charlie said.

[Link148]

Hi guys!
Wow my first post. Well there are no mutterings from the inside either. If I was to put money on it I would put my money on the Q400. It has so much going for it.
1, I see people talking about commonality between the Q300 and 400. For a pilot it would be a simple 1 day course to convert between Q300 and 400 or vise versa. Alot of systems are the same on each aircraft.

2, The q400 would be about 10 mins slower on a WLG to AKl leg and burn far less fuel per seat. They would be great during the off peak to fly on the main trunk at a lower fuel burn and get a far better return.

3, Some parts are I believe are interchangable therefore reducing the amount of stock needing to be held. They could both be maintained in Nelson????

Who knows? All this is just talk we won't know for deff until they announce it. The only downfall for the 400 is they will stop making the 300 next year once our 23rd a/c comes off the production line. So the commonality thing will go out the window if Air Nelson has to replace it's fleet in the years ahead.

Guess we will have to keep guessing until they make the call.

[Naki]

Thanks for a bit of a view on the inside Link148 - my bet is the Q400 too.

[Anthony]

Thanks for posting Link148.
You make some good points, although the Q300s are pretty new so I can't imagine them being replaced soon.
Then again the ATRs aren't that old and they're being replaced, so I couldn't say for sure.
Q400 looks very likely to the replacement though.

By the way, welcome to NZFF!

[benwynn]

Whats with comonality here guys?? Its a different airline, different pilots. There is no comonality between the Q400 and the ATRs.

[mavman]

Not sure if the "decision" has been made but can tell you an announcement won't be made now until October/November...

[bestpilotindaworld]

Just another idea might they just drop the atr's and get another couple 73's

[benwynn]

They cant get the 737s into places where Mt Cook have to go, so that wont happen. Plus, I say this time and time again, They are seperate airlines under contract from Air New Zealand.

[bestpilotindaworld]

QUOTE (benwynn @ Aug 6 2008, 10:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They cant get the 737s into places where Mt Cook have to go, so that wont happen. Plus, I say this time and time again, They are seperate airlines under contract from Air New Zealand.

Where do Mt Cook go that 737's can't go? Mt Cook it self and maybe Napier?

[benwynn]

lol Mt Cook dont actually fly to Mt Cook as funny as it is (And Napier takes the Q300 now)

Im sure most places could take the 737 (Not sure about Invercargill) But, it would not be profitable. Firstly, if they were to fly the 737s, they would have to fill it. A difficult task in itself. Plus, would it be profitable?.......

[Naki]

ahh Mount Cook no longer fly to Mount Cook (ironic isnt it) and last time I flew to Napier it was with Air Nelson - in any case I am pretty sure Napier can handle 737s anyway. Actually I am pretty sure all of the airports that handle ATRs can also handle 737s - but I don't think they will replace ATRs with 737s as there will be too much capacity and/or not enough frequency.

Edit: bit slow in getting my post done - I have basically repeated Benwynn

QUOTE (benwynn @ Aug 5 2008, 07:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Whats with comonality here guys?? Its a different airline, different pilots. There is no comonality between the Q400 and the ATRs.

Who said there was commonality between ATRs and q400s? - if there is some comnonality between q300s and q400s; even if they are in seperate airlines, they are all still working together for Air NZ - therefore no doubt there will share resources

[benwynn]

Sorry Naki, I was talking about people saying- "They will get the Q400 as it has the advantage with fleet commonality with the Q300"

Im sure they would share resources- ie Flight Simulator etc- but from the perspective of Pilots upgrading to the new aircraft, its completely separate.

[bestpilotindaworld]

QUOTE (benwynn @ Aug 6 2008, 12:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

lol Mt Cook dont actually fly to Mt Cook as funny as it is (And Napier takes the Q300 now)

Im sure most places could take the 737 (Not sure about Invercargill) But, it would not be profitable. Firstly, if they were to fly the 737s, they would have to fill it. A difficult task in itself. Plus, would it be profitable?.......

Its the normal ALT for ZQN. 737 flights are not fill like they used to be why did they not long ago get another two then??

[Naki]

No probs - I wonder if the delay in the decision is because they are looking at new derivatives of existing models or completely new types that aren't ready to be launched yet?