Transpac787 From United States of America, joined Jul 2007, 3139 posts, RR: 14 Posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 6953 times:
Hey all,
For about the last week or so, UA has been having 763 substitutions all over the domestic system. DEN alone, for about the past 5-6 days, has been getting at least 1x 744 each day in place of a 763 flight. Yesterday, 05MAR, we got two 744's in place of 763's. Tomorrow, 07MAR, there are two 763>744 subs as well as two 763>319 subs and two more 763>320 subs.
So.... what's going on?? Did half the fleet go hard down on MX??
AA737-823 From United States of America, joined Mar 2000, 5340 posts, RR: 11 Reply 1, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 6407 times:
Maybe they're getting cracking on those cabin upgrades?
Or are the 763s already done? I know the 777s haven't been started.
jetboy2 From United States of America, joined Jan 2010, 46 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 6375 times:
Quoting AA737-823 (Reply 1): Or are the 763s already done? I know the 777s haven't been started.
All of the 767s and 747s are completed. As of about a week ago the first 777 was in the hangar for the interior update. I would think that all of these swaps are to fill in for that 777.
Quoting Transpac787 (Thread starter): DEN alone, for about the past 5-6 days, has been getting at least 1x 744 each day in place of a 763 flight. Yesterday, 05MAR, we got two 744's in place of 763's. Tomorrow, 07MAR, there are two 763>744 subs as well as two 763>319 subs and two more 763>320 subs.
Maybe the 763s are filling in the 777's routes (ie: to Europe) until it comes out of the shop and so you receive a 747 because there is slack in that fleet.
UA777222 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3348 posts, RR: 13 Reply 3, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 18 hours ago) and read 6364 times:
Quoting AA737-823 (Reply 1): Maybe they're getting cracking on those cabin upgrades?
Or are the 763s already done? I know the 777s haven't been started.
All of the international 763s have been converted. As well, all of the 747s have been converted. 777s are last man out. They were supposed to start the conversion process last month but I haven't seen any news of converted aircraft.
How long does it take to swap out an interior? Additionally, do they pull these guys out of service to do just the conversion or do they do the install during scheduled mx checks.
UALPUFF From United States of America, joined Apr 2008, 15 posts, RR: 0 Reply 4, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 6252 times:
Quoting UA777222 (Reply 3): How long does it take to swap out an interior? Additionally, do they pull these guys out of service to do just the conversion or do they do the install during scheduled mx checks.
It actually takes quite long. The first 777 came into the hangar on Feb 8 to begin the cabin conversion. Cycle time was to be 50 days. Currently it is behind schedule. It is a lot more complicated than just tearing out old seats and putting new ones in. This aircraft (2994) is the prototype for the conversion so hence it was given a 50 day cycle for the learning curve. Eventually cyle time will be down to about 20 days. Project will last about 3 years.
drerx7 From United States of America, joined Jun 2000, 4906 posts, RR: 9 Reply 5, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 6103 times:
RoseFlyer From United States of America, joined Feb 2004, 8746 posts, RR: 52 Reply 6, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 6056 times:
747s can swap pretty easily since there a lot of spare 747s in the winter schedule. When the summer comes around, that will end.
The 767s have had some bad luck with mechanical problems that require long term fixes and damages to aircraft. It happens from time to time where a spike happens especially as a fleet ages. There are not that many substitute 767s, so flexibility is needed.
If you have never designed an airplane part before, let the real designers do the work!
hamster From United States of America, joined Sep 2006, 192 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 15 hours ago) and read 5798 times:
Quoting UALPUFF (Reply 4): It is a lot more complicated than just tearing out old seats and putting new ones in.
How complicated is this process?
Does swapping 747's for 767's put a dent in the airliners bottom line?
United1 From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 5337 posts, RR: 8 Reply 8, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 14 hours ago) and read 5506 times:
Quoting hamster (Reply 7): Quoting UALPUFF (Reply 4):
It is a lot more complicated than just tearing out old seats and putting new ones in.
How complicated is this process?
From what I know they literally gut the interior of the aircraft. Every seat, lav, galley and closet is yanked out and new wiring for AVOD/cabin fixtures has to be installed. The plumbing needs to be switched around a bit for the galleys/lavs. I'm not sure if this is one of the planes that needs to have the lower lobe crew rest installed but if so that has to be put in place. They then need to reinstall every seat, lav, galley ect that was removed and then on top of it all the FAA needs to certify the configuration.
Packcheer From United States of America, joined Nov 2008, 323 posts, RR: 0 Reply 9, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 13 hours ago) and read 4475 times:
Quoting United1 (Reply 8): then on top of it all the FAA needs to certify the configuration.
The FAA certifies every single aircraft's configuration, or they certify the first aircraft, then this is part of what leads to the shorter time on future aircraft?
flylku From United States of America, joined Apr 2006, 721 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 12 hours ago) and read 3853 times:
Quoting UALPUFF (Reply 4): Eventually cyle time will be down to about 20 days.
Wow. Do they time the cabin upgrade to coincide with other required maintenance? If so, what?
As an aside, I thought one of the selling points of the 777 was that the cabin was engineered in such a way as to allow for quick changes in configuration. I know this is an upgrade and not a configuration change but is the 777 easier to do a configuration change on?
UA777222 From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3348 posts, RR: 13 Reply 11, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 3744 times:
United1 From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 5337 posts, RR: 8 Reply 12, posted (3 years 2 months 2 weeks 3 days 11 hours ago) and read 3727 times:
Quoting Packcheer (Reply 9): The FAA certifies every single aircraft's configuration, or they certify the first aircraft, then this is part of what leads to the shorter time on future aircraft?
They certify the first aircraft...
Quoting UA777222 (Reply 11): Where are the conversions taking place?
Some are being done by UA at SFO some are also being farmed out.
Quoting flylku (Reply 10): Will this aircraft get the 3-3-3 coach seating?
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