captain777 From Kuwait, joined Dec 2003, 315 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 26476 times:
I have just heard that Airbus has advised Kuwait Airways to stop the operation of all A300-605R fleet. Anyone has more info on this subject and is there any other A300 operator been advised to do the same.
The A300-605R is the backbone of the company it would hit KU hard if this is true.
the sky is the limit.............actually FL410 is the limit
Quote: The Gulf Arab carrier did not specify what prompted the suspension, other than that Airbus had asked the airline to conduct a check-up on its A300 planes after Kuwait Airways "submitted notes" to the manufacturer.
Suggests that KU found 'something' and asked Airbus what to do about it.
captain777 From Kuwait, joined Dec 2003, 315 posts, RR: 0 Reply 2, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 26175 times:
I wonder what the "something" is......
Seems like a team from Airbus have arrived to Kuwait to check the airplanes and they will be sending the planes to Jordan for some maintenance checks..
the sky is the limit.............actually FL410 is the limit
Cubsrule From United States of America, joined May 2004, 21245 posts, RR: 19 Reply 3, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 26102 times:
Quoting captain777 (Reply 2): Seems like a team from Airbus have arrived to Kuwait to check the airplanes and they will be sending the planes to Jordan for some maintenance checks..
Does KU do its maintenance in-house or normally send aircraft to Jordan?
I can't decide whether I miss the tulip or the bowling shoe more
kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11958 posts, RR: 37 Reply 4, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 26065 times:
Could be any one of a number of things - corrosion, incorrectly completed maintenance and/or ADs, damage caused by heavy landings (if there were any).
Sounds pretty serious for this kind of action to be required.
That said, KU should have replaced these aircraft a long time ago. This will hopefully result in a drive to update the airline's fleet, possibly with A330s, if these can be sourced. There was a plan to replace the A300s by 787s, but this was torpedoed by the Kuwaiti parliament.
captain777 From Kuwait, joined Dec 2003, 315 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 25842 times:
Quoting Cubsrule (Reply 3): Does KU do its maintenance in-house or normally send aircraft to Jordan?
Usually all check are done in Kuwait by KU engineering up to the "C" checks for all types 300/310/320/340/747/777.
But I think KU started sending the 310/300 to Jordan for major checks after an agreement between the 2 countries and if i remember correctly these checks where done free of charge due to some political reasons..
the sky is the limit.............actually FL410 is the limit
Aesma From France, joined Nov 2009, 4800 posts, RR: 9 Reply 6, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 25283 times:
So, how would you judge the airline ? I remember the recent incident with the fire alarm mishandled leading to an unnecessary evacuation in total panic with injuries.
New Technology is the name we give to stuff that doesn't work yet. Douglas Adams
macsog6 From Singapore, joined Jan 2010, 477 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 25127 times:
Quoting kaitak (Reply 4): That said, KU should have replaced these aircraft a long time ago
Why? Is there something unique about KU's A300's that mandate replacement? I know that AA, LH and others have done so, but we have many airframes flying about that are much older than the A300.
Sixty Plus Years of Flying! "I fly because it releases my mind from the tyranny of petty things." - Saint Ex
Hiflyer From United States of America, joined Nov 2004, 2118 posts, RR: 4 Reply 8, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 11 hours ago) and read 24873 times:
Suspect it is a maintenance issue with this specific fleet for this carrier on this or a prior maintenance program as there is no general grounding of this type that has been reported.
BlueShamu330s From UK - England, joined Sep 2001, 2515 posts, RR: 25 Reply 9, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 24649 times:
Agree with Hiflyer on this, though am curious as to exactly what the reason is.
Monarch, for one, have no info on a specific fleet wide A360R issue.
Rgds
So I drive a 4x4. So what?! Tax the a$$ off me for it...oh, you already have... :-(
AA777223 From United States of America, joined Feb 2006, 1113 posts, RR: 7 Reply 10, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 22561 times:
Quoting kaitak (Reply 4): There was a plan to replace the A300s by 787s, but this was torpedoed by the Kuwaiti parliament.
Why was this? I can't imagine the Kuwaiti government ould have a problem buying American planes for political reasons. The two countries seem quite friendly. Were they just too pricey or something?
Revelation From United States of America, joined Feb 2005, 10481 posts, RR: 20 Reply 11, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 22353 times:
Quoting BlueShamu330s (Reply 9): Monarch, for one, have no info on a specific fleet wide A360R issue.
According to the wiki, FexEx has 71 "Airbus A300-600" and UPS has 53 "Airbus A300-600RF" so we should have heard a lot about it if it was a fleet-wide issue.
7673mech From United States of America, joined Mar 2004, 632 posts, RR: 0 Reply 13, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 7 hours ago) and read 21378 times:
Quoting Revelation (Reply 11):
According to the wiki, FexEx has 71 "Airbus A300-600" and UPS has 53 "Airbus A300-600RF" so we should have heard a lot about it if it was a fleet-wide issue.
Many of these aircraft are a lot newer. UPS at least was taking deliveries of new builds.
The fact that it is only KU that is having the issue would tell me it has to do with either their maintenance program or repairs they did with Airbus approval, but are now in question.
YAK42 From Ireland, joined Oct 2000, 796 posts, RR: 7 Reply 14, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 20934 times:
Quoting Shany (Reply 12): We all know, there is no 787 in commercial service. If they need replacement now, they can't use 787.
Why? They are not that old that they obsolete. They are good aircraft. Iran Air still uses the B4 and B2 and they are not advised to stop flying them. Its not like the minute LH replaces them everyone else needs to get rid of them also.
KU747 From Kuwait, joined Mar 2008, 368 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 5 hours ago) and read 19714 times:
According to Kuwaiti newspaper Alwatan:
"Hamad al-Falah (Chaiman): Hold includes all the countries of the world and for Kuwait and maintenance takes anywhere from 4 to 6 hours.
Bouresli: KU may lease one aircraft in the event of delay in maintenance procedures.
Kuwait Airways received yesterday morning, a sudden decision from Airbus obliged not to take off any of its aircraft from Airbus A300 before conducting some tests on the ailerons (FLAPS) for those aircrafts."
Quoting AA777223 (Reply 10): Why was this? I can't imagine the Kuwaiti government ould have a problem buying American planes for political reasons. The two countries seem quite friendly. Were they just too pricey or something?
Sure, Kuwait and US has a special relation.
It is politics, the parliament thinks that when KU makes a deal with Boeing or Airbus someone is getting big commission out of it, so no purchase will be done until KU is privatized.
retrolivery From United States of America, joined Nov 2006, 202 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 17452 times:
Quoting captain777 (Thread starter): The A300-605R is the backbone of the company it would hit KU hard if this is true.
Sorry, I just think it's kind of hilarious that it's 2010 and the A300 is still considered the "backbone" of any airline's passenger fleet.
Especially that of a developed nation in the Gulf.
That aside, I do hope that KU will eventually privatize and free itself somewhat from the lethargic Kuwaiti bureaucracy - that will make replacing these frames (in the event that they are grounded in the near future) all the easier.
A3, AA, AC, AI, AK, AM, AP, AZ, B6, BA, CO, DL, EK, FL, FR, KL, KM, LH, MA, MH, MS, OA, OK, OS, SR, TA, U2, UA, US, XG
JBirdAV8r From United States of America, joined Jun 2001, 4459 posts, RR: 22 Reply 17, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 16851 times:
Quoting retrolivery (Reply 16):
Sorry, I just think it's kind of hilarious that it's 2010 and the A300 is still considered the "backbone" of any airline's passenger fleet.
Especially that of a developed nation in the Gulf.
captain777 From Kuwait, joined Dec 2003, 315 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 6 days 2 hours ago) and read 16001 times:
Now there are 2 stories going around here :
The First : The chairmen admits that KU engineering has forgotten to do some of the required checks on the 300 which are required after every 18000 hrs or so, and by releasing this error the engineering department contacted Airbus about there mistake and what action they should take now, Airbus sent a team for analyses and some checks where made and the aircrafts where back in the air after 4-6 hours of checks. Now this story i don't believe cause how can you forget to check an aircraft ?!!! and how could you have missed 5 major checks which are supposed to be at different timings. (KU have 5 A300's)
The Second: One member of the engineering department was not happy with what he had to see at work daily in regards to the integrity of the 300's and how badly they were maintained, so he anonymously contacted Airbus regarding the state of KU's 300 expressing his concern about the aging fleet and maintenance and engineering department.
And am sure i read somthing in one of the local papers about Airbus focusing there checks on the spars connecting the wings to the fuselage
the sky is the limit.............actually FL410 is the limit
KC135TopBoom From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 11714 posts, RR: 52 Reply 19, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 9604 times:
KU has a current fleet of 20 aircraft;
Kuwait Airways Fleet[9] Aircraft Total Passengers Notes
J C Y Total
Airbus A300-600R 5 18 18 196 232 To be Phased out
Airbus A310-300 3 0 24 174 198 To be Phased out
Airbus A320-200 3 0 20 110 130
Airbus A340-300 4 18
18 24
24 222
230 264*
272
Airbus A340-500 2 12 28 200 240
Boeing 747-400M 1 36 36 340 412 Dedicated to London, Cairo, VIP or Hajj flights
Boeing 777-200ER 2 24
24 24
24 219
225 267*
273
Total 20
It had some 55 aircraft just prior to the invasion of Kuwait by Iraq in August 1990. about 42 of the KU aircraft were destroyed by the Iraqis.
B-707 8, all destroyed
B-727 4, all destroyed
B-747 3, 2 destroyed, the other was in LHR at the time, but has since been scrapped. A used B-747-400M has been added
B-767 3, all destroyed
A-310 8, all destroyed, but 3 have been replaced by new build A-310-300s
A-300 8, 5 destroyed and 3 survivors, 2 new build A-306s added
I don't have the list of the other 12 aircraft destroyed.
PlaneHunter From Germany, joined Mar 2006, 6191 posts, RR: 79 Reply 20, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 9417 times:
Quoting retrolivery (Reply 16): Sorry, I just think it's kind of hilarious that it's 2010 and the A300 is still considered the "backbone" of any airline's passenger fleet.
KU's A300s are younger than countless A320s, 737s, 757s, 767s, MD-80s, DC-9s etc. operated by American and European carriers.
ltbewr From United States of America, joined Jan 2004, 12337 posts, RR: 12 Reply 21, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 14 hours ago) and read 9234 times:
It would be interesting to find out the truth as to what the issue was and how Airbus was notified, but still, this seems like a resolvable problem that only took out the a/c's in question for maybe one day, nothing apparently serious found. Still one has to wonder about the mx procedures and management at KU, perhaps Airbus should be consulted with improving mx to appropriate standards.
codeshare From Poland, joined Sep 2002, 1854 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (2 years 4 months 3 weeks 5 days 13 hours ago) and read 8670 times:
I think it is the result of a lot of things happening at KU, the airline is at a standstill for many years now, unfortunatelly. Changing boards and privatization issues etc. They should already be receiving new aircraft and evolving, but sadly they are not. That's where Middle East competition and locals: Jazeera and Wataniya benefit.
KS/codeshare
How much A is there is Airliners Net ? 0 or nothing ?
Kuwait Airways Fleet[9] Aircraft Total Passengers Notes
J C Y Total
Airbus A300-600R 5 18 18 196 232 To be Phased out
Airbus A310-300 3 0 24 174 198 To be Phased out
Airbus A320-200 3 0 20 110 130
Airbus A340-300 4 18
18 24
24 222
230 264*
272
Airbus A340-500 2 12 28 200 240
Boeing 747-400M 1 36 36 340 412 Dedicated to London, Cairo, VIP or Hajj flights
Boeing 777-200ER 2 24
KU has a fleet of 17 aircraft:
5 - A300
3 - A310
3 - A320
4 - A340
2 - 777
The 744 you mentioned is for the Emir of Kuwait official trips, even though it has KU name on it but you will see the emblem of Kuwait on both sides in the front of the aircraft. and KU uses this a/c for passengers flight as you have mentioned to LHR-BEY-CAI-DXB-JED. In addition there is 1-A310 and 1-A300 all are for the state of Kuwait Emiri fleet.
Total Emiri fleet is:
1 - 744
1 - A310
1 - A300
2 - A345
There were not destroyed but they send to Syria as a gift.
Quoting KC135TopBoom (Reply 19): B-747 3, 2 destroyed, the other was in LHR at the time, but has since been scrapped.
Total 742 in KU fleet was 4 they were named as follows: (Al-Sabahiya, Al-Jaberiya, Al-Salmiya, Al-Mubarakiya)
2 were sold and 2 currently are stored in RUH enjoying the heat for the past 6 or more years. What a waste.
25 OA260: I flew on that one IIRC it was also the one that was hijacked.
26 captain777: a new update regarding the 300. Although i can't find an official source on the web about this new update I just read in todays local news paper ALQAB
27 U2380: I doubt/hope it’s not true, surely they would be damaging their own company, Airbus, and its reputation if they did that? As well as disadvantaging
28 BA: This is not correct. Kuwait Airways did not have anywhere close to 42 aircraft in 1990. Just prior to the start of the Gulf War, the Iraqis flew 10 K
29 KU747: Yes I totally forgot about this one, this can be used as a medical aircraft. Yes, this aircraft was hijacked. Correct. Also one more aircraft A300 B4
30 ltbewr: Does this mean just KU's A300's or those of all operators? Or is it as to older series A300's including some of KU? I hope this is clarified soon. If
31 PlaneHunter: The first of five A300s in passenger service was delivered in May 1993. PH
33 LEEDS19: I did notice that the day the news was posted Kuwait used the 747-400 on the evening KWI-DXB flight which is very unusual,but yesterday it was back to
34 KU747: You can check Kuwait International Airport site which shows arrivals and departures along with the type of aircraft. http://www.kuwait-airport.com.kw/
35 USXguy: I wonder how Airbus's PBX system works. "Good (afternoon/evening), Thank you for calling Airbus. For English, press 1, Para Espanol, marque numero do
36 AustrianZRH: I read it like they only want to ban KU's A300s, i.e., all their A300s, from flying to the EU as opposed to all A300's in service.
37 Aesma: There is also Tunisair that still flies A300s. For short/medium haul it's nice, I flew one ORY-TUN and back.
38 CobraManeuver: ''The First : The chairmen admits that KU engineering has forgotten to do some of the required checks on the 300 which are required after every 18000
39 QatarA340: Apparently they are not safe and they are bleeding money. That's why not.
40 JBirdAV8r: Any airplane is unsafe if you don't maintain it properly. Case in point TAAG's brand new 777s. And buying new airplanes CERTAINLY won't enhance their
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