Originally Posted by
UAL T38 Phlyer
I believe that retrofit was purely cabin interiors; somewhere on the order of $10-million each.
There are rumors (including one published statement from a CP) that say the company is considering a cockpit retrofit. That would likely cost far more than that.
Will they? It would certainly be welcome, but as always, they won't do it unless they think it is cost-effective. And I think key to that cost-effectiveneess evaluation is:
1. How long are they going to fly them?
2. How many FAA-obstacles will there be to integrating the 756 and 76T fleets, given their differences in instrumentation as well as engines (and some systems)?
3. How much would it cost to buy a replacement 250-seat aircraft?
4. When do they need that lift, and how long would it take to get said replacement?
5. Would maintaining the new glass (and parts commonality) be cheaper than overhauling 30-year-old gauges?
Company statements that say some of the 757s and the 767-300s are "staying longer than previously planned" suggests that the need is now, and replacements (787?) aren't coming fast enough, especially given the time constraints of training, and the domino turmoil of bidding.
I thought Konrad said in a 756 letter a while back the 767-300s were getting
engine upgrades to 60k from 56k
Speed tape on ADI with FMA moving to top of ADI
CPDLC
ADS-B
FMC upgrade to Pegasus 9
along with winglets
Some of this had to happen..there are even FM revisions reflecting some of this..