AMSKAN49 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2009, 28 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 8 hours ago) and read 2638 times:
Perhaps there is good reason for this ban. Here is a quote from "The Exciting World of Philippine Aviation dated Jun 9 2010
:- "Meanwhile, two of the 10 planes owned by South East Asia Airlines (Seair) have been permanently grounded by aviation officials as it was not fit for commercial aviation.
Alfonso Cusi said that one of the planes, the three-engine Dornier DO-24 ATT, was built in the 1930s and should never have been given a certification to fly, even after it had been restored.
The second aircraft, a Dornier 328, which Seair uses extensively to transport tourists from Manila to Boracay and Palawan, was a prototype aircraft that was not intended for regular flight operation, Cusi adds."
Now I consider the ban on the DO-24 a bit of a shame as it is a lovely old aircraft. But the 328? This has been flying commercial routes for well over a year , including international (Puerto Princesa - Kota Kinabalu).
How was this possible, or, is someone making too much of this?
Braniff747SP From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 2627 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (2 years 11 months 2 weeks 7 hours ago) and read 2516 times:
TOLtommy From United States of America, joined Dec 2003, 3220 posts, RR: 4 Reply 3, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 1860 times:
Quoting AMSKAN49 (Thread starter):
Now I consider the ban on the DO-24 a bit of a shame as it is a lovely old aircraft. But the 328? This has been flying commercial routes for well over a year , including international
It has to do with what the inspectors found when checking maintenance practices. Has nothing to do with the aircraft type, or age of the frame.
edichc From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 4, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 1632 times:
Quoting TOLtommy (Reply 3): It has to do with what the inspectors found when checking maintenance practices. Has nothing to do with the aircraft type, or age of the frame.
Not if you read the original post. It is suggesting that the Do328 operated by SeAir for over a year and now grounded was one of Dornier's original prototypes and never intended for commercial service at any time.
MD11Engineer From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 13337 posts, RR: 64 Reply 5, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 6 days ago) and read 1487 times:
To me this sounds more like an airline (maybe the notoorious Lucio Tan?) using his influence on the Filipino authorities to get rid of a competitor.
The Do-24 was designed in the 1930s as a very rugged replacement for the Dornier Wal (of fame in arctic expeditions and early transatlantic mail traffic) in the search and rescue role. It has among the best seagoing capabilities of any flying boat ever designed (it can land in waves of up to 4 feet).
This particular aircraft has been completely rebuilt. In fact, only the fuselage is original (albeit it has been converted from a pure flying boat into an amphibium). The wing has been completely replaced with a modern supercritical wing in the 1990s, at the same time the design incorporated turboporop engines instead of the old radial ones.
The plane was built as a demonstrator to German specs especially for markets like the Philippines or Indonesia, countries with a multitude of islands with plenty of sheltered bays and few landing strips.
And even if the Do-328 was a prototype originally, it was later converted to full specs.
So now, unless Seair failed massively in the maintenance department, there is no reason to ground the aircraft, especially in a country, in which there are still plenty of DC-3s used in commercial service.
AMSKAN49 From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2009, 28 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (2 years 11 months 1 week 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 1262 times:
I think you may have it in your first line!
Very interesting information on the rebuild of the Do-24, I had assumed it was only a renovation to original specs.
Seair still have three Do-328 according to their "fleet" notes, and the airline is celebrating it's 15th year of operation.
For those who may be unaware (I'm sure MD11Engineer is not one of those), Seair is 30% owned by Iren Dornier, grandson of the original "Dornier".
Sponsor Message: 
From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2009, 28 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Oct 2008, 2627 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Germany, joined Oct 2003, 13337 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
