I predict that when the last B-777 crew drops off the last B-777 at the airplane bone yard, that crew will be picked up by a Boeing 727 crew and flown back to Mecca Red Necka, courtesy of the 727-200.

 

[quote=Albief15;181570]Any SA on what is going on with the 'bus fleet? Are some of the Europe birds coming stateside when 757s go over there? Are we "optimizing" away the missing lines, or are they going 1 for 1 over to the 'bus?

According to the "Oracle", rumor has it all Subic buses are coming back, replaced by MD-10's in new Asia hub (Guangzou?). Flt MD-11 across the big pond, pick up an MD-10 for intra-asia pairing, then fly an MD-11 back stateside.

 

I doubt if the autopilots can be changed, but GPS's can and have been moved to other airplanes.

 

Remember taking one out west at a "high" mach number. 35 early, very few airplanes up there can "run" with the -100.

 

[/QUOTE]According to the "Oracle", rumor has it all Subic buses are coming back, replaced by MD-10's in new Asia hub (Guangzou?). Flt MD-11 across the big pond, pick up an MD-10 for intra-asia pairing, then fly an MD-11 back stateside.[/QUOTE]

Doubtful, it will most likely remain an Airbus operation. The MD10's can not be maintained overseas since we are the only one's flying them. In order to support them we would have to have an unrealistic parts stock, from what I have heard.

Also, the HKG FDA will be a positioning domicile, so crews will have some sort of Company provided transport into the China Hub. It will be very interesting to see what they come up with.

 

I didnt' mind the lack of GPSs for a while, but its sooo nice in my little GA bird to have the SA the GPS gives and the ability to navigate point to point. Hard to believe my 62 Rangemaster--which probably costs less than a couple takes of 727 gas--can go IFR direct to MEM but when I show up there I can't do the same thing in a 727. I gotta believe the ability to skip going VOR to VOR might save some fuel bucks for the company down the road.

I was SIBA qual'd in the 727, so for a while I could use them. I wish next year instead of visiting mx or goc during recurrent we'd do a GPS class and get everyone allowed to use those instead. Seems silly when we finally do get to a bird with GPS, we aren't to use it. It ain't that hard...

 

I'm confused (but i'm told that's normal for me ) which birds are you talking about salvaging GPS's & autopilots from? I'm assuming 727's but you know what ass.u.me means.

 

According to the "Oracle", rumor has it all Subic buses are coming back, replaced by MD-10's in new Asia hub (Guangzou?). Flt MD-11 across the big pond, pick up an MD-10 for intra-asia pairing, then fly an MD-11 back stateside.[/QUOTE]

Doubtful, it will most likely remain an Airbus operation. The MD10's can not be maintained overseas since we are the only one's flying them. In order to support them we would have to have an unrealistic parts stock, from what I have heard.

Also, the HKG FDA will be a positioning domicile, so crews will have some sort of Company provided transport into the China Hub. It will be very interesting to see what they come up with.[/QUOTE]

It may initially be an Bus operation, Buy I think the MD-10 is feasible over there. There are a lot of operators of DC-10 and MD-11 in Asia. I was parked beside an AEROFLOT DC-10 in HKG last month.
Between those 3rd party fleets and our own supply of MD-10 specific parts ( think VIA and carbon brakes) it would be manageable.
But what do I know, I'm just a mushroom!

 

Actually, at the moment, no GPS equipped 72s are on the retirement schedule, so that is not a factor, right now. What Albie is refering to is the 727s equipped with the SP-50 or SP-150 Mod Block 4 Single channel autopilot. This is the same AP and two paddle, 1 knob control head that the -100s had. It has no altitude capture or IAS hold, and is a royal pain to fly. Unfortunately, none of those planes are on the current retirement schedule. Only planes with the good AP control heads are going. In fact, 477, 478, and 496 are all Cat 3 capable jets. As I mentioned previously, they are obviously not retiring the most poorly equipped jets first, so it must be either cycles or corrosion.

 

It might not be that hard, but in the past few months, I've come to dread watching the front enders attempting to get the thing to work. A few weeks ago I watched as a very, very senior captain, who had not a clue how to operate the GPS, constantly screw his up and then in turn the F/O's. What a joke. I'd prefer that they take the damn things out, because some of these senior guys can't or won't learn how to use them. That's why they're still on the 72, instead of flying something more modern.