Flyboy80 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1858 posts, RR: 3 Posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2989 times:
Has anyone heard anything regarding the livery in which HP aircraft will be painted in, our plans in the works currently to begin painting any aircraft? I wouldn't anticipate it for several months, but potentially, has either airline commented on this? thanks
bri-eug
Burnsie28 From United States of America, joined Aug 2004, 7421 posts, RR: 9 Reply 1, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2987 times:
They said it will be a new one because the US colors wont hold up in PHX.
"Some People Just Know How To Fly"- Best slogan ever, RIP NW 1926-2009
A330323X From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 3039 posts, RR: 47 Reply 2, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2955 times:
Quoting Burnsie28 (Reply 1): They said it will be a new one because the US colors wont hold up in PHX.
Who's "they"? Surely you don't mean the random speculation going on here.
Quoting Flyboy80 (Thread starter): I wouldn't anticipate it for several months, but potentially, has either airline commented on this?
Actually, yes, US just commented on it on its employee news:
Many employees have inquired via the Merger News site on theHub, or through e-mails send directly to "questions@usairways.com," about whether the merged US Airways will have new uniforms, aircraft livery, and a new corporate logo. As part of our preparation for our planned merger with America West, we are looking at a number of potential changes, including branding and livery. So while a change is possible, there have been no decisions made one way or another on this issue. Stay tuned!
Or were you looking for a comment that actually conveyed some information?
I'm the expert on here on two things, neither of which I care about much anymore.
PanAm330 From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 2603 posts, RR: 10 Reply 4, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2775 times:
I hope it stays. The US scheme is one of the few schemes out there with actual class, and I love the livery. If they deviate to some cheap ass knock-off of the current HP livery, it's going to absolutely suck. That said, I think a few minor tweaks could help, like the "HP wave" hidden in the tail, similar to a picture in the aforementioned thread. I beg of you, US future execs, please keep the current livery.
Aloha717200 From United States of America, joined Aug 2003, 4398 posts, RR: 17 Reply 5, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2758 times:
I doubt it will. Those dark colours in the phoenix sun will need frequent repainting as they will fade quickly with so many planes based in that sunnier, hotter environment. It'll be cheaper in the long run for them to change colours.
I'll welcome the change. Personally, I think the US livery is every bit as dull and stodgy as the old UA blue/grey scheme.
Jmc1975 From Israel, joined Sep 2000, 3167 posts, RR: 17 Reply 6, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2749 times:
Quoting PanAm330 (Reply 4): I beg of you, US future execs, please keep the current livery.
That's all fine, cute and romantic being that you're from Syracuse and stuff. But the reality is the current USAirways livery simply will not work in the Phoenix environment. Not only is it technically prohibitive, but that livery is out-of-place for an airline based in the desert southwest.
HAL From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 2472 posts, RR: 53 Reply 7, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2750 times:
Quoting PanAm330 (Reply 4): I beg of you, US future execs, please keep the current livery.
As much as I admire the current USAirways livery, as a pilot for America West, I have to say there are some practical issues involved. First and foremost, imagine the interior of a black car sitting in the sun in Phoenix at 115 degrees for a few hours. Now change that to a ramp full of similarly dark aircraft. It's hard enough to keep our planes cool during a 1 - 2 hour turn in PHX when they're painted white. Imagine the cooling bill (and extra maintenance, worn out AC packs, etc) for a fleet of extra dark blue planes. Also, that dark paint absorbs heat easier, causing the paint itself to deteriorate faster, meaning more cosmetically unappealing aircraft and more frequent trips for a touch-up paint job (meaning more $). It's not so bad in the cooler north where USAirways is based, but our bases are in PHX and LAS. Not exactly the cloud capitols of the western US.
When the costs escalate like that, I'm sure there will be a new paint scheme that emphasizes white overall. Beyond that, it's anyone's guess how it will look. No decisions have been made, as there are much more pressing matters - like getting the deal done in the first place.
HAL
One smooth landing is skill. Two in a row is luck. Three in a row and someone is lying.
PhoenixX2 From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 100 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 19 hours ago) and read 2743 times:
HAL......................could of not said it better! I think a lot of people are going to find out what a LCC is really all about. Saving the $$$.
Flyboy80 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1858 posts, RR: 3 Reply 9, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 2530 times:
Whoa meteorologists! Lets slow down here! Lets remember where airplanes fly, they all are in constant contact wtih heavy UV rays above the clouds, the "fading" your referring to won't have a lot to do with being based in PHX, in fact, It will be quite minute if anything from the information I'm being provided...However I can definitely back up jmc1975, the corporate branding for a desert southwest based airline is far from the US Airways "all business" livery...thanks for everyone's input!
bri-eug
HAL From United States of America, joined Jan 2002, 2472 posts, RR: 53 Reply 10, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 2334 times:
Quoting Flyboy80 (Reply 9): Lets remember where airplanes fly, they all are in constant contact wtih heavy UV rays above the clouds, the "fading" your referring to won't have a lot to do with being based in PHX, in fact, It will be quite minute if anything from the information I'm being provided...
I didn't say the fading was due to UV rays. It is due to excessive temperatures on the ground - 110F plus in the summertime. In flight the skin is usually down around -40 to -50C.
The main concern I had was with the actual temperatures generated inside the aircraft while sitting on the ramps on PHX & LAS. It makes everything work harder inside to keep it cool, which translates into more maintenance expense. It simply gets too damn hot in there! And I can back it up. I used to fly for Chautauqua as part of the USAirways express network on the Saab 340. When I was there about half of the planes were old USAir white, and half were new USAirways dark blue. We didn't' have APU's or Air Conditioning on the ground, and in the summertime it was obvious which style plane I was in while sitting on the ramp without looking at the paint job. The dark ones were much hotter than the white ones. If there were AC packs running, the darker ones would have been working a lot harder.
That is why the livery needs to be changed, and will probably be changed to a mostly white one.
HAL
One smooth landing is skill. Two in a row is luck. Three in a row and someone is lying.
Flyboy80 From United States of America, joined Jul 2001, 1858 posts, RR: 3 Reply 11, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 12 hours ago) and read 2225 times:
I think a change is deffinately necessary for the company image, in addition thats certainly correct, the aircraft will attract more heat with the darker collors, nontheless in the summer, your going to spend a lot cooling aircraft in PHX, cause like you said, it does get very hot, wether the plane is bright white, or dark black.
-bri
HPRamper From United States of America, joined May 2005, 3706 posts, RR: 8 Reply 12, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 2155 times:
I'd like to see at least some of the current HP livery remain, I think it, not US, has a lot of character. Wouldn't it be cheapest to just keep all the colors the same and erase "America West" and put on "US Airways" and the little flag on the side?
Luv2fly From United States of America, joined May 2003, 11957 posts, RR: 51 Reply 13, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 2141 times:
I hope US totally rebrands itself, new airline, new look! The old color scheme is totally outdated and boring to say the very least. Now the current HP color scheme is need of a tweak or two as well.
A330323X From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 3039 posts, RR: 47 Reply 14, posted (7 years 11 months 2 weeks 2 days 10 hours ago) and read 2130 times:
Quoting HPRamper (Reply 12): Wouldn't it be cheapest to just keep all the colors the same and erase "America West" and put on "US Airways" and the little flag on the side?
Well, something similar will no doubt happen the day of the merger, until the HP birds can get repainted into whatever it is they decide the combined livery to be.
And I mean the date of the merger this fall (or very soon thereafter), not the date of the operational merger a few years from now. I think the planes flown on the HP cert for the next few years will be "US Airways operated by America West Airlines", similar to what happened with AA/TWA.
I'm the expert on here on two things, neither of which I care about much anymore.
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