How about the A310-200 is the LEAST reliable (by a considerable margin) and LEAST efficient plane in the fleet? That is coming from a guy who recently heard SCP-"O" talk in RGS this week.

 

Serious interest in A330-300F from cargo integrators: Airbus-11/11/2009-Toulouse-Flight International

 

Wonder how long the MD-10s have to fly to recover the conversion costs?

 

I had heard this a few weeks ago with the Captain I was flying with. His block rep told him about it. I have also read they are looking at the 777-200/200ER
P2F to replace the MD-10-10/30 respectively. A few months ago I heard they were looking at the 767. I am sure they are looking at everything as they always do to keep the price low.

I am going to miss the Tri-jets when it is all said and done, and my vote is for the 767! I can't stand the looks of the A330 with the blister for the nose gear.

On the A310, I talked to a mechanic while on the jumpseat back home, on a A300. He said from MX stand point the A310 are mx pigs, not common to rest of the Airbus fleet. Some of that was from where we got them from, some of that was from Airbus. He also said that Airbus doesn't like to support older airplanes like Boeing and Douglas. The FAA ends up having to issue ADs for them.

By the way. His take on GE vs Pratts. He said GEs are easier to work on, but if you compressor stall a GE it is usually done. Pratts are harder to work on but are bullet proof.