CX747 wrote:

Focusing on the two resident DC-8Fs of this thread...

OB-2509-OP seems to have last flown into MIA on 10/5/21. Since then, it is believed to be resting on the sunny cargo ramp.

OB-2158-T continues to plug away each day, operating a MIA-MGA-MIA workday on 10/15/21. In the past week or so, the jet has operated sectors from MIA to SAL, SDQ, SAP and BGI.

I haven't been following the two jets as closely as I would like, but is seems OP has been taking more time off than T in the past 30-45 days. That is an interesting role reversal.

Are there any more DC8’s left besides these two and the controversial Samaritans purse one

Cardude2 wrote:

Are there any more DC8’s left besides these two and the controversial Samaritans purse one

N817NA with NASA.

RoyalBrunei757 wrote:

Eastern Air Cargo is getting their first B777-212ER makeshift freighter, taking up mostly Singapore Airlines B772ER, and Emirates B773.

First photo is up: https://www.facebook.com/PA-Coastal-Air ... 948760485/

There is a Twitter thread on the subject: https://twitter.com/JetTipNet/status/14 ... 3444090880
Jet Midwest has reserved 14 registration reserved for Eastern's B777 fleet.
1. N806KW
2. N807KW
3. N808KW
4. N809KW
5. N810KW
6. N811KW
7. N813KW
8. N814KW
9. N815KW
10. N817KW
11. N819KW
12. N820KW
13. N821KW
14. N822KW (refer fleet list below)

Current Eastern/Alta Airlines Holdings B777 fleet as per airfleets.net:
1. N508BC 30873 / 431 Boeing 777-212(ER) 28 Jul 2021 Stored 18.7 Years
2. N519BC 32321 / 447 Boeing 777-212(ER) 27 Jul 2021 Stored 18.3 Years
3. N785BC 33373 / 487 Boeing 777-212(ER) 27 Jul 2021 Stored 17.2 Years
4. N822KW 28532 / 407 Boeing 777-212(ER) 30 Aug 2021 Stored 19.4 Years
5. N825KW 32318 / 441 Boeing 777-212(ER) 28 Aug 2021 Stored 18.4 Years
6. N868BC 32316 / 412 Boeing 777-212(ER) 27 Jul 2021 Stored 19.2 Years
7. N771KW 28530 / 390 Boeing 777-212(ER) 29 May 2020 Parked 19.6 Years
8. N783KW 33683 / 522 Boeing 777-2U8(ER) 15 Oct 2020 Parked 16.3 Years
9. N821JT 28410 / 78 Boeing 777-2H6(ER) 15 Oct 2020 Parked 24.3 Years
10. N805KW 29395 / 326 Boeing 777-31H 19 Feb 2021 Stored MCI 20.7 Years

Do we have anyone with visibility on where these jets currently stand in readiness to enter service? I understand the "plan" is to be operational during the forest quarter of 2022.

I like the new livery but something inside me want to see the old school Eastern blue cheat lines and hockey sticks.

For the fans of the last of the Mohican LH MD-11Fs. It seems a stay of operational execution at the German firm of 48hrs has been ordered. Additonal FRA-JFK sectors are to be flown due to excessive demand.

That new LH livery is very sharp, although I think additional navy blue around the windows, ala Mildenhall based KC-135s would look nice.

https://simpleflying.com/lufthansa-last ... layed/amp/

Cardude2 wrote:

CX747 wrote:

Focusing on the two resident DC-8Fs of this thread...

OB-2509-OP seems to have last flown into MIA on 10/5/21. Since then, it is believed to be resting on the sunny cargo ramp.

OB-2158-T continues to plug away each day, operating a MIA-MGA-MIA workday on 10/15/21. In the past week or so, the jet has operated sectors from MIA to SAL, SDQ, SAP and BGI.

I haven't been following the two jets as closely as I would like, but is seems OP has been taking more time off than T in the past 30-45 days. That is an interesting role reversal.

Are there any more DC8’s left besides these two and the controversial Samaritans purse one

2 operating in the DRC, 9S-AJG & 9S-AJO.

N805SJ & N865F are rumoured to be returning to service.

tjwgrr wrote:

Last LH MD-11F D-ALCC making a low pass at FRA after its final flight from JFK operating as LH8161 on Oct-15:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnJIaLDanrg

Not the last flight it’s taking off from JFK tonight

Cardude2 wrote:

Are there any more DC8’s left besides these two and the controversial Samaritans purse one

I'm missing something: how is that aircraft "controversial", when other DC8s are not? Confused.

Geo Sky’s 4L-GEO exited the GMF Aero Asia shop after 7 weeks in MX early this morning and positioned to CAN. Look forward to seeing if she is in the new livery.

wjcandee wrote:

Cardude2 wrote:

Are there any more DC8’s left besides these two and the controversial Samaritans purse one

I'm missing something: how is that aircraft "controversial", when other DC8s are not? Confused.

I think it is Samaritan's Purse One 'evangilical' operation that is contoversial, not the DC-8 itself. You may read more in their WIki entry under Controversy: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaritan%27s_Purse

CX747 wrote:

RoyalBrunei757 wrote:

Eastern Air Cargo is getting their first B777-212ER makeshift freighter, taking up mostly Singapore Airlines B772ER, and Emirates B773.

First photo is up: https://www.facebook.com/PA-Coastal-Air ... 948760485/

There is a Twitter thread on the subject: https://twitter.com/JetTipNet/status/14 ... 3444090880
Jet Midwest has reserved 14 registration reserved for Eastern's B777 fleet.
1. N806KW
2. N807KW
3. N808KW
4. N809KW
5. N810KW
6. N811KW
7. N813KW
8. N814KW
9. N815KW
10. N817KW
11. N819KW
12. N820KW
13. N821KW
14. N822KW (refer fleet list below)

Current Eastern/Alta Airlines Holdings B777 fleet as per airfleets.net:
1. N508BC 30873 / 431 Boeing 777-212(ER) 28 Jul 2021 Stored 18.7 Years
2. N519BC 32321 / 447 Boeing 777-212(ER) 27 Jul 2021 Stored 18.3 Years
3. N785BC 33373 / 487 Boeing 777-212(ER) 27 Jul 2021 Stored 17.2 Years
4. N822KW 28532 / 407 Boeing 777-212(ER) 30 Aug 2021 Stored 19.4 Years
5. N825KW 32318 / 441 Boeing 777-212(ER) 28 Aug 2021 Stored 18.4 Years
6. N868BC 32316 / 412 Boeing 777-212(ER) 27 Jul 2021 Stored 19.2 Years
7. N771KW 28530 / 390 Boeing 777-212(ER) 29 May 2020 Parked 19.6 Years
8. N783KW 33683 / 522 Boeing 777-2U8(ER) 15 Oct 2020 Parked 16.3 Years
9. N821JT 28410 / 78 Boeing 777-2H6(ER) 15 Oct 2020 Parked 24.3 Years
10. N805KW 29395 / 326 Boeing 777-31H 19 Feb 2021 Stored MCI 20.7 Years

Do we have anyone with visibility on where these jets currently stand in readiness to enter service? I understand the "plan" is to be operational during the forest quarter of 2022.

I like the new livery but something inside me want to see the old school Eastern blue cheat lines and hockey sticks.

Sorry, I do not have such info on their readiness for operation. I guess most of them are being activated for pre-delivery checks as majority of them have been in deep storage for some time, especailly those Boeing Corps ones. The ex-KQ (N783KW) has been painted up and stored in the open for past two years at MCI, not sure what's up with it.

It seems Alta is taking those 777 belonging ex-NokScoot, the failed long haul low cost venture between SQ and DD. HS-XBA/ 9V-SRF flew to MCI last week as N826KW.

Another ex-SQ B777-212ER long haul 9V-SVB was registered as N827KW last month.

My guess Alta/Eastern fleet will look as follow if they are indeed taking all ex-SQ/DD airframes:
Current fleet as per airfleets.net:
1. N508BC 30873 / 431 Stored 18.7 Years 9V-SVN
2. N519BC 32321 / 447 Stored 18.3 Years 9V-SRO
3. N785BC 33373 / 487 Stored 17.2 Years 9V-SQN
4. N822KW 28532 / 407 Stored 19.4 Years 9V-SVH
5. N825KW 32318 / 441 Stored 18.4 Years 9V-SRN
6. N868BC 32316 / 412 Stored 19.2 Years 9V-SVI
7. N771KW 28530 / 390 Parked 19.6 Years 9V-SQI
8. N826KW 28521/ 330 Stored 20.6 Years 9V-SRF (flown from ASP to MCI 15-16 October 2021)
9. N827KW 28525 / 353 Stored 20.2 Years 9V-SVB (new registration 20 September 2021), currently at ASP)

Currently there are still nine B777-212ER listed under Singapore Airlines, but all should be out of service and preparing for new owner(s).
1. 9V-SRG 28522 / 337 Stored at ASP, ex-NokScoot HS-XBB 20.5 Years
2. 9V-SRH 30866 / 343 Stored at ASP, ex-NokScoot HS-XBC 20.4 Years
3. 9V-SRJ 28527 / 372 Stored at ASP, ex-NokScoot HS-XBD 20.0 Years
4. 9V-SRL 32334 / 409 Stored at ASP, ex-NokScoot HS-XBE 19.3 Years
5. 9V-SRP 33369 / 448 Stored at SIN, ex-NokScoot HS-XBF 18.3 Years
6. 9V-SRQ 33371 / 449 Stored at SIN, ex-NokScoot HS-XBG 18.2 Years
7. 9V-SVC 28526 / 355 Stored at ASP, 20.2 Years
8. 9V-SVE 30870 / 374 Stored at ASP, 19.9 Years

with other two (ex-KY and ex-MH) B772ER, it will be 19 B77-200ER in total.

wjcandee wrote:

Cardude2 wrote:

Are there any more DC8’s left besides these two and the controversial Samaritans purse one

I'm missing something: how is that aircraft "controversial", when other DC8s are not? Confused.

I was referencing it’s owner, Samaritan purse. See the controversy section on Wikipedia to start you down the rabbit hole
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samaritan%27s_Purse

Edit:
Looks like I wasn’t the first person and missed royal Brunei 757’s post

DLNZ wrote:

In better news, TF-AAJ continues to enjoy her new lease on life, running strongly on TPAC hauling boxes out of Vietnam alongside Longtail's VQ-BZV. Two nice ships I enjoy following. Nothing has exited GMF Aero Asia for a while now, so some can't be far off.

TF-AAJ dropped by BKK unexpectedly today October 18, 2021. A whole 12 hours non-stop from ANC! I wonder why is she in BKK? https://flightaware.com/live/flight/TFAAJ

Local Thai ground crew took some great photo of her: https://www.facebook.com/groups/160748837406820 (You may send a request to join the group). For those without Facebook, the owner (Mac Apinun) allowed me to share here.




All photo credit due to Mac Apinun.

RoyalBrunei757 wrote:

DLNZ wrote:

In better news, TF-AAJ continues to enjoy her new lease on life, running strongly on TPAC hauling boxes out of Vietnam alongside Longtail's VQ-BZV. Two nice ships I enjoy following. Nothing has exited GMF Aero Asia for a while now, so some can't be far off.

TF-AAJ dropped by BKK unexpectedly today October 18, 2021. A whole 12 hours non-stop from ANC! I wonder why is she in BKK? https://flightaware.com/live/flight/TFAAJ

Local Thai ground crew took some great photo of her: https://www.facebook.com/groups/160748837406820 (You may send a request to join the group). For those without Facebook, the owner (Mac Apinun) allowed me to share here.

Great shots, thanks for sharing. There are a few preighter machines working similar routings at the moment, doing pick ups in BKK and Vietnam before heading back across the Pacific. Longtail are working this as well as some Hi Fly machines in the area last time I checked.

In other jumbo news, WGN’s newest 744 is airborne! N452SN departed TPE a few minutes ago, great to see her finally in service.

As mentioned earlier…
4L-GEO currently enroute TBS, with sister ship 4L-GEN on its way to FRA.
Of note, is an even older frame EP-SIH of the Iranian AF currently over Iran .
Nearly 44 yrs old.
Superb .!

According an Iranian Spotter, Saeed Yazdani, 747-2J9F, 5-8115, last registration EP-CQA will also be re-activated soon.
See comments (after a question about the 747 from myself) below this line up picture : https://www.airliners.net/photo/Untitle ... 9C/6573535

Bizarrely , EP-SIH has also carried the registration EP-CQA. But was once 5-8114.
Who knows how they decide the reg’s for these frames, as I’m pretty sure they never go anywhere they can be inspected. Syria maybe, but that’s about it.

DLNZ wrote:

RoyalBrunei757 wrote:

DLNZ wrote:

In better news, TF-AAJ continues to enjoy her new lease on life, running strongly on TPAC hauling boxes out of Vietnam alongside Longtail's VQ-BZV. Two nice ships I enjoy following. Nothing has exited GMF Aero Asia for a while now, so some can't be far off.

TF-AAJ dropped by BKK unexpectedly today October 18, 2021. A whole 12 hours non-stop from ANC! I wonder why is she in BKK? https://flightaware.com/live/flight/TFAAJ

Local Thai ground crew took some great photo of her: https://www.facebook.com/groups/160748837406820 (You may send a request to join the group). For those without Facebook, the owner (Mac Apinun) allowed me to share here.

Great shots, thanks for sharing. There are a few preighter machines working similar routings at the moment, doing pick ups in BKK and Vietnam before heading back across the Pacific. Longtail are working this as well as some Hi Fly machines in the area last time I checked.

In other jumbo news, WGN’s newest 744 is airborne! N452SN departed TPE a few minutes ago, great to see her finally in service.

Most welcome, glad to share. I guess those airframes are having 2021 X 'mas rush? Too early?

Great to see that ex-Asiana airframe back in the air after four years of storage.


N452SN by 昱瀚 CHEN, on Flickr
Caught here on October 16, 2021 few days ago for one last tst flight before delivery flight today.

Just a nice video of a recently resurrected freighter: National’s newest addition, the former Global Supertanker, taking off and in service from ORD https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzjawq1dJq4

Spacepope wrote:

Just a nice video of a recently resurrected freighter: National’s newest addition, the former Global Supertanker, taking off and in service from ORD https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzjawq1dJq4

Great video! They must have added that "30th Anniversary" bug in MCO, because it didn't come from SAT like that. Looks great!

And they're already flying her hard! Fantastic!

Spacepope wrote:

Just a nice video of a recently resurrected freighter: National’s newest addition, the former Global Supertanker, taking off and in service from ORD https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Rzjawq1dJq4

I was thinking about the giant ports/nozels on the belly of that thing that were routed up to the water tanks. For fire fighting it would be so low that pressurization wouldn’t matter. But now that she’s hauling freight, would they have to run her unpressurized, or would they have had to weld her up enough to hold pressure??

Even if she was airtight with the water system installed, once it’s removed there are big holes……

https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/gazette.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/4/7c/47c75093-7553-5444-9854-af4b8eb37039/5b3635e19281c.image.jpg?crop=1449%2C1087%2C228%2C0&resize=1449%2C1087&order=crop%2Cresize

eightcone wrote:

I was thinking about the giant ports/nozels on the belly of that thing that were routed up to the water tanks. For fire fighting it would be so low that pressurization wouldn’t matter. But now that she’s hauling freight, would they have to run her unpressurized, or would they have had to weld her up enough to hold pressure??

I vote for them needing to weld (large) blanks over the holes. Without a pressure vessel for the crew they would have to restrict themselves to lower flight levels which would not be acceptable economically. IIRC the Boeing Dreamlifter created a pressure vessel by adding an appropriate bulkhead behind the cockpit. Otherwise you do have to pressurize the whole fuselage. The extra weight was feasible for Dreamlifter because it would let them expand the fuse tremendously. Not really the same situation for a traditional freighter. Welding a cover for a large opening is a solvable problem. When they do a P2F conversion they remove pax windows and weld blanks over the openings and these welds have to last for the rest of the airplane's life. Same idea on a larger scale for covering up the openings for the fire fighting apparatus.

Revelation wrote:

eightcone wrote:

I was thinking about the giant ports/nozels on the belly of that thing that were routed up to the water tanks. For fire fighting it would be so low that pressurization wouldn’t matter. But now that she’s hauling freight, would they have to run her unpressurized, or would they have had to weld her up enough to hold pressure??

I vote for them needing to weld (large) blanks over the holes. Without a pressure vessel they would have to restrict themselves to lower flight levels which would not be acceptable economically. IIRC the Boeing Dreamlifter created a pressure vessel by adding an appropriate bulkhead behind the cockpit. Otherwise you do have to pressurize the whole fuselage. The extra weight was feasible for Dreamlifter because it would let them expand the fuse tremendously. Not really the same situation for a traditional freighter. Welding a large opening is a solvable problem. When they do a P2F conversion they remove pax windows and weld blanks over the openings and these welds have to last for the rest of the airplane's life. Same idea on a larger scale for covering up the openings for the fire fighting apparatus.

I've been looking for pics of this area post-conversion but so far haven't seen it.

My guess is they didn't weld anything, and instead just replaced that portion of sheet metal and stringers on the belly in a manner similar to when they repair a tailstrike. Welding is usually not what one does with aircraft skin.

Spacepope wrote:

Revelation wrote:

eightcone wrote:

I was thinking about the giant ports/nozels on the belly of that thing that were routed up to the water tanks. For fire fighting it would be so low that pressurization wouldn’t matter. But now that she’s hauling freight, would they have to run her unpressurized, or would they have had to weld her up enough to hold pressure??

I vote for them needing to weld (large) blanks over the holes. Without a pressure vessel they would have to restrict themselves to lower flight levels which would not be acceptable economically. IIRC the Boeing Dreamlifter created a pressure vessel by adding an appropriate bulkhead behind the cockpit. Otherwise you do have to pressurize the whole fuselage. The extra weight was feasible for Dreamlifter because it would let them expand the fuse tremendously. Not really the same situation for a traditional freighter. Welding a large opening is a solvable problem. When they do a P2F conversion they remove pax windows and weld blanks over the openings and these welds have to last for the rest of the airplane's life. Same idea on a larger scale for covering up the openings for the fire fighting apparatus.

I've been looking for pics of this area post-conversion but so far haven't seen it.

My guess is they didn't weld anything, and instead just replaced that portion of sheet metal and stringers on the belly in a manner similar to when they repair a tailstrike. Welding is usually not what one does with aircraft skin.

Identical like a tailstrike repair : new aircraft skin panel(s) and , if necessary replacement of stringers, all according the 744 Structural Repair Manual (SRM), with engineering assistance (if needed) by Boeing.

747classic wrote:

Spacepope wrote:

My guess is they didn't weld anything, and instead just replaced that portion of sheet metal and stringers on the belly in a manner similar to when they repair a tailstrike. Welding is usually not what one does with aircraft skin.

Identical like a tailstrike repair : new aircraft skin panel(s) and , if necessary replacement of stringers, all according the 744 Structural Repair Manual (SRM), with engineering assistance (if needed) by Boeing.

Interesting! I stand corrected.

With a bit more research I found viewtopic.php?t=748835 from 15 years ago which suggests the window plugs on P2F conversions are bolted not welded.

Seems we do agree that the entire fuse is pressurized though.

Revelation wrote:

eightcone wrote:

I was thinking about the giant ports/nozels on the belly of that thing that were routed up to the water tanks. For fire fighting it would be so low that pressurization wouldn’t matter. But now that she’s hauling freight, would they have to run her unpressurized, or would they have had to weld her up enough to hold pressure??

I vote for them needing to weld (large) blanks over the holes. Without a pressure vessel for the crew they would have to restrict themselves to lower flight levels which would not be acceptable economically. IIRC the Boeing Dreamlifter created a pressure vessel by adding an appropriate bulkhead behind the cockpit. Otherwise you do have to pressurize the whole fuselage. The extra weight was feasible for Dreamlifter because it would let them expand the fuse tremendously. Not really the same situation for a traditional freighter. Welding a cover for a large opening is a solvable problem. When they do a P2F conversion they remove pax windows and weld blanks over the openings and these welds have to last for the rest of the airplane's life. Same idea on a larger scale for covering up the openings for the fire fighting apparatus.

The Aircraft still had the ability to be pressurized. In the link it gives the information about a flight from COS to TLV to fight fires. It made the journey in 12.5 hours at 37,000 feet. Having friends in the Forest Service I was pretty sure the aircraft could fly at altitude and be dispatched anywhere worldwide. It made a few trips too South America and Australia as I remember.
https://fireaviation.com/2016/11/25/747 ... in-israel/

747classic wrote:

Identical like a tailstrike repair : new aircraft skin panel(s) and , if necessary replacement of stringers, all according the 744 Structural Repair Manual (SRM), with engineering assistance (if needed) by Boeing.

I was assuming the plumbing for the dump valves were too big to snake between stringers, so removing it all and starting with something more like a factory aircraft would be less of a MX headache.

With mixed feelings I report that N452SN has made it to home plate at SHV. Hopefully not for long. I was curious that she made the entire TPE-ANC-SHV journey at FL270, and via quite unusual routings compared to those around her on similar journeys. Let's hope her stay at SHV is for conformity only, and she is up and running soon.

And it looks like my region's sole 757F is heading north. The very senior 1985-build 757-225PCF (ln 75, msn 22611) which had been on the market here in Australia and not actively flying, has departed BNE earlier today to points across the pacific. Will be curious to see where she ends up. She spent several months at CHC in maintenance a couple of years ago, so I hope she finds another operator with those lovely RB211s. Any thoughts from friends in North America where she might end up?

DLNZ: Looks like your 757 is heading towards Hawaii and maybe Guam. Anybody's guess, I guess. There's our favorite Guam-based 757 operator. Or that could be just a stop. I know Amerijet was in the market. I guess we'll see if she stops in Guam and if so for how long.

wjcandee wrote:

DLNZ: Looks like your 757 is heading towards Hawaii and maybe Guam. Anybody's guess, I guess. There's our favorite Guam-based 757 operator. Or that could be just a stop. I know Amerijet was in the market. I guess we'll see if she stops in Guam and if so for how long.

I wondered about Amerijet also, as I heard one of their people in an (albeit informal) online discussion saying how the lack of 757 capacity was an ongoing issue for them and leading to the continued use of outsourced capacity, including 727s and our favourite DC8s. Long may that continue of course, but this 757 candidate would be useful as while she has been sitting for several months, the work Air NZ engineering did on her back in 2018 was extensive, and costly, and she hasn't done an enormous amount of flying locally in the interim.

She looks to be mainland bound, now filed PPG-OGG.

DLNZ wrote:

wjcandee wrote:

DLNZ: Looks like your 757 is heading towards Hawaii and maybe Guam. Anybody's guess, I guess. There's our favorite Guam-based 757 operator. Or that could be just a stop. I know Amerijet was in the market. I guess we'll see if she stops in Guam and if so for how long.

I wondered about Amerijet also, as I heard one of their people in an (albeit informal) online discussion saying how the lack of 757 capacity was an ongoing issue for them and leading to the continued use of outsourced capacity, including 727s and our favourite DC8s. Long may that continue of course, but this 757 candidate would be useful as while she has been sitting for several months, the work Air NZ engineering did on her back in 2018 was extensive, and costly, and she hasn't done an enormous amount of flying locally in the interim.

She looks to be mainland bound, now filed PPG-OGG.

Locally it has been reported that it is heading for scrapping, have to wait and see.

Our Guam based operator had N757QM operate HNL/PPG/SYD on Monday. Departed to Guam on Tuesday evening. Such a gorgeous aircraft.

LTEN11 wrote:

Locally it has been reported that it is heading for scrapping, have to wait and see.
Our Guam based operator had N757QM operate HNL/PPG/SYD on Monday. Departed to Guam on Tuesday evening. Such a gorgeous aircraft.

Thanks for those updates! I'm a little-dubious about the scrapping, except for the fact that she's a very-early copy. I don't know what her hours/cycles are, but it's hard to imagine she'd be at her LOV yet.

Delays are piling up at Hong Kong's air cargo terminal due to a COVID outbreak there, leading to delays of 2-3 days to handle cargo:

https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/ho ... na/608361/

Dive Brief:

• Transit times at a Hong Kong International Airport cargo terminal "are likely to extend by an average of 2 to 3 days" due to quarantine rules stemming from a positive COVID-19 case, Flexport said last week.
• Workforce capacity at Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals, known as HACTL, will be reduced by around 25% until the end of October, according to an update by Everstream Analytics. "Both import and export cargo are likely to be significantly delayed and congestion issues are likely to occur," the update said.
• HACTL said in a press release that a fully vaccinated employee "preliminarily tested positive" for COVID-19 on Oct. 7. The terminal added it is working to identify close contacts and that only employees who have tested negative will be allowed to return to work.

RoyalBrunei757 wrote:

CX747 wrote:

RoyalBrunei757 wrote:

Eastern Air Cargo is getting their first B777-212ER makeshift freighter, taking up mostly Singapore Airlines B772ER, and Emirates B773.

First photo is up: https://www.facebook.com/PA-Coastal-Air ... 948760485/

There is a Twitter thread on the subject: https://twitter.com/JetTipNet/status/14 ... 3444090880
Jet Midwest has reserved 14 registration reserved for Eastern's B777 fleet.
1. N806KW
2. N807KW
3. N808KW
4. N809KW
5. N810KW
6. N811KW
7. N813KW
8. N814KW
9. N815KW
10. N817KW
11. N819KW
12. N820KW
13. N821KW
14. N822KW (refer fleet list below)

Current Eastern/Alta Airlines Holdings B777 fleet as per airfleets.net:
1. N508BC 30873 / 431 Boeing 777-212(ER) 28 Jul 2021 Stored 18.7 Years
2. N519BC 32321 / 447 Boeing 777-212(ER) 27 Jul 2021 Stored 18.3 Years
3. N785BC 33373 / 487 Boeing 777-212(ER) 27 Jul 2021 Stored 17.2 Years
4. N822KW 28532 / 407 Boeing 777-212(ER) 30 Aug 2021 Stored 19.4 Years
5. N825KW 32318 / 441 Boeing 777-212(ER) 28 Aug 2021 Stored 18.4 Years
6. N868BC 32316 / 412 Boeing 777-212(ER) 27 Jul 2021 Stored 19.2 Years
7. N771KW 28530 / 390 Boeing 777-212(ER) 29 May 2020 Parked 19.6 Years
8. N783KW 33683 / 522 Boeing 777-2U8(ER) 15 Oct 2020 Parked 16.3 Years
9. N821JT 28410 / 78 Boeing 777-2H6(ER) 15 Oct 2020 Parked 24.3 Years
10. N805KW 29395 / 326 Boeing 777-31H 19 Feb 2021 Stored MCI 20.7 Years

Do we have anyone with visibility on where these jets currently stand in readiness to enter service? I understand the "plan" is to be operational during the forest quarter of 2022.

I like the new livery but something inside me want to see the old school Eastern blue cheat lines and hockey sticks.

Sorry, I do not have such info on their readiness for operation. I guess most of them are being activated for pre-delivery checks as majority of them have been in deep storage for some time, especailly those Boeing Corps ones. The ex-KQ (N783KW) has been painted up and stored in the open for past two years at MCI, not sure what's up with it.

It seems Alta is taking those 777 belonging ex-NokScoot, the failed long haul low cost venture between SQ and DD. HS-XBA/ 9V-SRF flew to MCI last week as N826KW.

Another ex-SQ B777-212ER long haul 9V-SVB was registered as N827KW last month.

My guess Alta/Eastern fleet will look as follow if they are indeed taking all ex-SQ/DD airframes:
Current fleet as per airfleets.net:
1. N508BC 30873 / 431 Stored 18.7 Years 9V-SVN
2. N519BC 32321 / 447 Stored 18.3 Years 9V-SRO
3. N785BC 33373 / 487 Stored 17.2 Years 9V-SQN
4. N822KW 28532 / 407 Stored 19.4 Years 9V-SVH
5. N825KW 32318 / 441 Stored 18.4 Years 9V-SRN
6. N868BC 32316 / 412 Stored 19.2 Years 9V-SVI
7. N771KW 28530 / 390 Parked 19.6 Years 9V-SQI
8. N826KW 28521/ 330 Stored 20.6 Years 9V-SRF (flown from ASP to MCI 15-16 October 2021)
9. N827KW 28525 / 353 Stored 20.2 Years 9V-SVB (new registration 20 September 2021), currently at ASP)

Currently there are still nine B777-212ER listed under Singapore Airlines, but all should be out of service and preparing for new owner(s).
1. 9V-SRG 28522 / 337 Stored at ASP, ex-NokScoot HS-XBB 20.5 Years
2. 9V-SRH 30866 / 343 Stored at ASP, ex-NokScoot HS-XBC 20.4 Years
3. 9V-SRJ 28527 / 372 Stored at ASP, ex-NokScoot HS-XBD 20.0 Years
4. 9V-SRL 32334 / 409 Stored at ASP, ex-NokScoot HS-XBE 19.3 Years
5. 9V-SRP 33369 / 448 Stored at SIN, ex-NokScoot HS-XBF 18.3 Years
6. 9V-SRQ 33371 / 449 Stored at SIN, ex-NokScoot HS-XBG 18.2 Years
7. 9V-SVC 28526 / 355 Stored at ASP, 20.2 Years
8. 9V-SVE 30870 / 374 Stored at ASP, 19.9 Years

with other two (ex-KY and ex-MH) B772ER, it will be 19 B77-200ER in total.

Any idea about SQs frame 9V-SQL, another stored 772ER? Is it also a candidate to be converted for cargo and join its sisterships?

AlexA340B777 wrote:

RoyalBrunei757 wrote:

CX747 wrote:

Do we have anyone with visibility on where these jets currently stand in readiness to enter service? I understand the "plan" is to be operational during the forest quarter of 2022.

I like the new livery but something inside me want to see the old school Eastern blue cheat lines and hockey sticks.

Sorry, I do not have such info on their readiness for operation. I guess most of them are being activated for pre-delivery checks as majority of them have been in deep storage for some time, especailly those Boeing Corps ones. The ex-KQ (N783KW) has been painted up and stored in the open for past two years at MCI, not sure what's up with it.

It seems Alta is taking those 777 belonging ex-NokScoot, the failed long haul low cost venture between SQ and DD. HS-XBA/ 9V-SRF flew to MCI last week as N826KW.

Another ex-SQ B777-212ER long haul 9V-SVB was registered as N827KW last month.

My guess Alta/Eastern fleet will look as follow if they are indeed taking all ex-SQ/DD airframes:
Current fleet as per airfleets.net:
1. N508BC 30873 / 431 Stored 18.7 Years 9V-SVN
2. N519BC 32321 / 447 Stored 18.3 Years 9V-SRO
3. N785BC 33373 / 487 Stored 17.2 Years 9V-SQN
4. N822KW 28532 / 407 Stored 19.4 Years 9V-SVH
5. N825KW 32318 / 441 Stored 18.4 Years 9V-SRN
6. N868BC 32316 / 412 Stored 19.2 Years 9V-SVI
7. N771KW 28530 / 390 Parked 19.6 Years 9V-SQI
8. N826KW 28521/ 330 Stored 20.6 Years 9V-SRF (flown from ASP to MCI 15-16 October 2021)
9. N827KW 28525 / 353 Stored 20.2 Years 9V-SVB (new registration 20 September 2021), currently at ASP)

Currently there are still nine B777-212ER listed under Singapore Airlines, but all should be out of service and preparing for new owner(s).
1. 9V-SRG 28522 / 337 Stored at ASP, ex-NokScoot HS-XBB 20.5 Years
2. 9V-SRH 30866 / 343 Stored at ASP, ex-NokScoot HS-XBC 20.4 Years
3. 9V-SRJ 28527 / 372 Stored at ASP, ex-NokScoot HS-XBD 20.0 Years
4. 9V-SRL 32334 / 409 Stored at ASP, ex-NokScoot HS-XBE 19.3 Years
5. 9V-SRP 33369 / 448 Stored at SIN, ex-NokScoot HS-XBF 18.3 Years
6. 9V-SRQ 33371 / 449 Stored at SIN, ex-NokScoot HS-XBG 18.2 Years
7. 9V-SVC 28526 / 355 Stored at ASP, 20.2 Years
8. 9V-SVE 30870 / 374 Stored at ASP, 19.9 Years

with other two (ex-KQ and ex-MH) B772ER, it will be 19 B77-200ER in total.

Any idea about SQs frame 9V-SQL, another stored 772ER? Is it also a candidate to be converted for cargo and join its sisterships?

Thank you for your message.. I am afraid currently I do not have such information. The airframe is still under BCC. Given that N868BC (ex 9V-SVI, previously also with BCC) is now with Alta, I won't be surprised if 9V-SQL and her other five siblings will join as well given that they are slightly more younger.

1. N509BC 33370 / 451 Stored GYR 18.2 Years 9V-SQL
2. N749BC 33372 / 485 Stored GYR 17.3 Years 9V-SQM
3. N772BC 32320 / 438 Stored GYR 18.5 Years 9V-SRM
4. N784BC 30874 / 430 Stored GYR 18.7 Years 9V-SVM
5. N940BC 32335 / 415 Stored VCV 19.2 Years 9V-SVJ
6. N945BC 30869 / 366 Stored GYR 20.1 Years N945BC

Has there been any news on the Nepal B757-200M Combi that was for sale not too long ago? Could that be a candidate for returning to service?

DLNZ wrote:

wjcandee wrote:

DLNZ: Looks like your 757 is heading towards Hawaii and maybe Guam. Anybody's guess, I guess. There's our favorite Guam-based 757 operator. Or that could be just a stop. I know Amerijet was in the market. I guess we'll see if she stops in Guam and if so for how long.

I wondered about Amerijet also, as I heard one of their people in an (albeit informal) online discussion saying how the lack of 757 capacity was an ongoing issue for them and leading to the continued use of outsourced capacity, including 727s and our favourite DC8s. Long may that continue of course, but this 757 candidate would be useful as while she has been sitting for several months, the work Air NZ engineering did on her back in 2018 was extensive, and costly, and she hasn't done an enormous amount of flying locally in the interim.

She looks to be mainland bound, now filed PPG-OGG.

So 757PCF VH-PQA made it to MCI earlier today. Unsure if that is good or bad news, but obviously a good MRO presence at that port.

DLNZ wrote:

So 757PCF VH-PQA made it to MCI earlier today. Unsure if that is good or bad news, but obviously a good MRO presence at that port.

So there's still hope!

Of a bit more concern on the air cargo side, I'm beginning to wonder whether ATSG's AMES at ILN has bitten off more than it can chew. Besides readying aircraft for re-lease to the likes of DHX, and managing pre-conversion and post-conversion activities on the multiple 767s that are there, and doing regular maintenance, and doing letter-checks on the ABX and ATI fleets, they've signed a huge new contract with United for, among other things, 757 maintenance. They had been doing onesies and twosies for United over the past few years, but now it's a deluge.

AMES currently has six (count 'em -- SIX) 757s at ILN for heavy-checks as part of the new contract, and the numbers are starting to look a little concerning. N34131 has been there 3.5 months. N17122 has been there for 3 months and a week. It did a test flight on 10/12 and again on 10/16, and went back to the shop on both occasions. Then, tonight it was supposed to be delivered from ILN to EWR and then do a revenue flight to DEN. It took off to EWR and then did an air-return to ILN.

I would like to see AMES do well and they're a quality shop, but it seems like they're having trouble moving these United aircraft through in a normal time frame.

And if the contract work is behind, then it doesn't bode well for the organic work they need to do on the cargo planes. There are five pre-conversion 767s at ILN now waiting to go over to TLV, and presumably at least one coming back soon from TLV. And 762CX is there for a C-check, as is 229AZ.

Busy is good. Not getting it done, though, is Not Good.

DLNZ wrote:

DLNZ wrote:

wjcandee wrote:

DLNZ: Looks like your 757 is heading towards Hawaii and maybe Guam. Anybody's guess, I guess. There's our favorite Guam-based 757 operator. Or that could be just a stop. I know Amerijet was in the market. I guess we'll see if she stops in Guam and if so for how long.

I wondered about Amerijet also, as I heard one of their people in an (albeit informal) online discussion saying how the lack of 757 capacity was an ongoing issue for them and leading to the continued use of outsourced capacity, including 727s and our favourite DC8s. Long may that continue of course, but this 757 candidate would be useful as while she has been sitting for several months, the work Air NZ engineering did on her back in 2018 was extensive, and costly, and she hasn't done an enormous amount of flying locally in the interim.

She looks to be mainland bound, now filed PPG-OGG.

So 757PCF VH-PQA made it to MCI earlier today. Unsure if that is good or bad news, but obviously a good MRO presence at that port.

Speaking of MCI, looks like Ameristar’s passenger 737-200 (N467TW) exited maintenance at MCI this morning and flew back up to YIP. Probably some maintenance before a busy season of college sports charters, nice to see this 737 classic still in operation.

Its DC-9 freighter siblings have all been active on the auto parts circuits lately, sans N782TW, which is of some concern, as it still sits at BYH after flying over there on July 31. It was certainly concerning when 782 and one of its siblings (can’t remember which) flew into BYH in the summer, but one made it out quite quickly, as it seemed to be either a very quick maintenance stop or an actual cargo flight. Hopefully, it is just maintenance and not the end of the road, although BYH often signifies the latter. Sister ship N783TW even made a massive trek from MIA to ANC recently, with stops in SLN and BFI. Quite the journey for a 54 year old DC-9, hope to see 782 back in service soon.

mark1484 wrote:

Has there been any news on the Nepal B757-200M Combi that was for sale not too long ago? Could that be a candidate for returning to service?

The aircraft is very old 33 years and has flown 89,462 hours. It is left out in the cold and wet climate at KTM since it returned from KUL maintenance visit in early 2019. Sold to CSDS two months ago, no news since then. Not sure if she is still air worthy for commercial service. https://www.aviationnepal.com/nepal-air ... s-company/

Fleet movement over the the past three days October 21, 2021

1. Boeing 737-436(F) 25857 2451 PK-MYJ My Indo Airlines on air-test at CGK 15oct21 “Al-Mi’Raj” ex PK-DJK
2. Boeing 737-48E(F) 27632 2857 F-GZTT ASL Airlines France ferried 18oct21 BEG-SEN for paint, for Lineas Aéreas Suramericanas Colombia as HK-5385 ex OE-IAX
3. Boeing 737-8AS 33549 1361 EI-DAN Incline II Ltd ferried 211oct21 QLA-TLL-NQZ prior freighter conversion
4. Boeing 737-8AS 33719 1312 EI-DAM ASL Airlines Belgium ferried 19-20oct21 QLA-OVB-TNA, for freighter conversion
5. Boeing 737-86N 43411 5773 N264GE GECAS ferried 20oct21 SZB-TNA prior delivery to? ex XY-ALF
6. Boeing 757-225(F) 22611 75 VH-QPA Pacific Air Express Australia ferried 19-20oct21 BNE-PPG-OGG-MCI on return to lessor ex N315ST
7. Boeing 757-204 28836 861 N28836 BlackRock Investment ferried 07/15-16oct21 MZJ-HNL-GUM-XMN, for freighter conversion ex G-BYAY
8. Boeing 757-223(F) 32398 1002 OE-LNZ DHL Air Austria G-reg canx 15oct21 at BUD on transfer ex G-DHKP
9. Boeing 767-300F 66253 1255 N280FE FedEx delivery 19oct21 PAE-IND
Source: https://www.skyliner-aviation.de/regdb. ... av4&page=4

gdavis003 wrote:

Speaking of MCI, looks like Ameristar’s passenger 737-200 (N467TW) exited maintenance at MCI this morning and flew back up to YIP. Probably some maintenance before a busy season of college sports charters, nice to see this 737 classic still in operation.

Its DC-9 freighter siblings have all been active on the auto parts circuits lately, sans N782TW, which is of some concern, as it still sits at BYH after flying over there on July 31. It was certainly concerning when 782 and one of its siblings (can’t remember which) flew into BYH in the summer, but one made it out quite quickly, as it seemed to be either a very quick maintenance stop or an actual cargo flight. Hopefully, it is just maintenance and not the end of the road, although BYH often signifies the latter. Sister ship N783TW even made a massive trek from MIA to ANC recently, with stops in SLN and BFI. Quite the journey for a 54 year old DC-9, hope to see 782 back in service soon.

So cool! Fleets I haven't followed. Very good info!

gdavis003 wrote:

Its DC-9 freighter siblings have all been active on the auto parts circuits lately, sans N782TW, which is of some concern, as it still sits at BYH after flying over there on July 31. It was certainly concerning when 782 and one of its siblings (can’t remember which) flew into BYH in the summer, but one made it out quite quickly, as it seemed to be either a very quick maintenance stop or an actual cargo flight. Hopefully, it is just maintenance and not the end of the road, although BYH often signifies the latter. Sister ship N783TW even made a massive trek from MIA to ANC recently, with stops in SLN and BFI. Quite the journey for a 54 year old DC-9, hope to see 782 back in service soon.

I think we just need to be patient. With GM shuttering all but 4 of their NA plants the demand has dropped for auto parts on new vehicles tremendously. Also, since there was no conversion program for DC-9 P2F, those that were built with cargo doors are in great demand. We've seen Aeronaves TSM, which LOVES its DC-9F fleet, resurrect some real hulks (Evergreen DC-9-15Fs) and even buy Glenn Beck's former DC-9-10 bizjet for parts/engines to sustain them. If there were any signal that 782 were meeting its end, I would fully expect to see a ferry flight down to Saltillo. Beautiful area in SLP, I did field work down there for oil geology back around 20 years ago.

I keep an eye on the auto parts side of things and the FA-20 cargo fleets worry me. We've had a fatal crash already recently and these late 60s builds are getting a regular workout and are not getting any younger.

Cargo Aircraft Management bought 767-300 N255ER (ex C-FMWQ) on Tuesday.

Spacepope wrote:

gdavis003 wrote:

Its DC-9 freighter siblings have all been active on the auto parts circuits lately, sans N782TW, which is of some concern, as it still sits at BYH after flying over there on July 31. It was certainly concerning when 782 and one of its siblings (can’t remember which) flew into BYH in the summer, but one made it out quite quickly, as it seemed to be either a very quick maintenance stop or an actual cargo flight. Hopefully, it is just maintenance and not the end of the road, although BYH often signifies the latter. Sister ship N783TW even made a massive trek from MIA to ANC recently, with stops in SLN and BFI. Quite the journey for a 54 year old DC-9, hope to see 782 back in service soon.

I think we just need to be patient. With GM shuttering all but 4 of their NA plants the demand has dropped for auto parts on new vehicles tremendously. Also, since there was no conversion program for DC-9 P2F, those that were built with cargo doors are in great demand. We've seen Aeronaves TSM, which LOVES its DC-9F fleet, resurrect some real hulks (Evergreen DC-9-15Fs) and even buy Glenn Beck's former DC-9-10 bizjet for parts/engines to sustain them. If there were any signal that 782 were meeting its end, I would fully expect to see a ferry flight down to Saltillo. Beautiful area in SLP, I did field work down there for oil geology back around 20 years ago.

I keep an eye on the auto parts side of things and the FA-20 cargo fleets worry me. We've had a fatal crash already recently and these late 60s builds are getting a regular workout and are not getting any younger.

I would hope that maintenance is the case as well. Would certainly make sense, as they’ve been running their fleet hard the last few years, and there are substantial supply chain issues in the auto industry, which probably means somewhat of a decrease in business for these operators. Anecdotally, I went to a Mercedes dealership to look at a car the other week, and I was told that the G Wagon sitting at the front of the dealership was selling for 230K these days, 50K over MSRP. A substantial markup due to these supply chain issues, and it’s not getting any better. He said that unless you have to buy a car right now, you ought to wait at least another year.

A quick update on Western Global's jumbos, and it's not great news sadly:
N258SN, Factory-F machine. Had an air return yesterday at HKG. Still on ground.
N344KD: Generally operating reliably between civilian and 'Camber' duties. Spent a week at SHV in late SEP, currently resting at ICN.
N356KD: At SHV home plate since 10/02.
N452SN: New bird, ferried from TPE to SHV after four months in MX.

So only 1 of four operating. I'll do a check on the MD11s over the weekend.

WGN MD11 STATUS CHECK:

411sn 6 days in SHV
543jn 3 weeks in MEM
545jn 6 weeks in SHV

412sn, 415jn, 512jn, 513sn, 581jn, 799jn, 542kd, 546jn all operating normally. A rush to China past couple of days.

wjcandee wrote:

WGN MD11 STATUS CHECK:

411sn 6 days in SHV
543jn 3 weeks in MEM
545jn 6 weeks in SHV

412sn, 415jn, 512jn, 513sn, 581jn, 799jn, 542kd, 546jn all operating normally. A rush to China past couple of days.

Thank you, appreciate it. So all things being equal the MD's are going okay at the moment. And 781 & 784 the first two of the LH machines to come in, they are looking in reasonable shape. I hope I haven't spoken too soon!

National have a lot of military work on currently, with three ships (936, 702, 756) operating Camber duties as we speak.

So, a while back there was some random chatter about 738 freighters being added to an integrator's fleet for domestic US runs, instead of their current smallest aircraft (757). I know the conversion houses for 738s are going like crazy, with even Kelowna delivering one this week, would they even be able to get their hands on a critical mass of conversion slots near term?

Peak looks to be ramping up around here, with my friend working with his personal car delivering (freelance) for UPS since last Monday. Word is Tucson area will see this surge on the 25th (as will, I'm sure other areas). Might be getting close to starting the dedicated Peak thread soon, there's already Christmas displays out in the grocery store.

Spacepope wrote:

So, a while back there was some random chatter about 738 freighters being added to an integrator's fleet for domestic US runs, instead of their current smallest aircraft (757). I know the conversion houses for 738s are going like crazy, with even Kelowna delivering one this week, would they even be able to get their hands on a critical mass of conversion slots near term?

Peak looks to be ramping up around here, with my friend working with his personal car delivering (freelance) for UPS since last Monday. Word is Tucson area will see this surge on the 25th (as will, I'm sure other areas). Might be getting close to starting the dedicated Peak thread soon, there's already Christmas displays out in the grocery store.

At least for FX, the 738F isn't in the near or medium-term plans...but some of those 757s are already pretty tired. Just saying. I don't specifically know what UPS thinks about them but both FX and 5X seem to mostly be interested in factory new-builds lately. At PAE just this morning there was a 5X 748F and another FX 767F getting ready for delivery plus I think there's a FX 777F kicking around also within a week or so of delivery that I couldn't see from my spot.

Peak is indeed coming....that thread is always tempting but let's not jump the gun quite yet. Let's shoot for Halloween?

Well with the supply chain issues this year, I went ahead and shopped for my 5 grand kids. Everything I wanted was available and coming via Amazon, I think it will be crazy to be ordering in mid December.