Robert16627 wrote:

USA Jet is stopping all DC-9 operations March 1st, 192US had no #1 engine as of 1/24/23 and 205US is going to be sold off to another company, presumably Aeronaves.

Are the rest of the DC-9s going to be parked indefinitely? I can’t imagine the DC-9-10s to be very attractive to anyone but Aeronaves.

Also, do you think the bird going to Aeronaves will be put into service or stripped for parts?

I guess the arrival of more MD-88s finally gave them the green light to retire the DC-9s!

Let's look at WGN's status. No one seems to have paid attention to them for a long time.

744:
N258SN Parked SHV, from 05 Jan 2023.
N344KD Landed ORD 4days ago. Likely active.
N356KD Flying WGN5871 to ORD. Active.
N452SN Parked RSW, from 23 Dec 2022.
2 active and 2 parked. Normal for WGN.

MD-11:
N411SN Parked RSW 15 Dec 2022.
N412SN Parked SHV 22 Dec 2022.
N415JN Flew to MHV yesterday. Retired? Storage or maintenance?
N435KD Parked SHV 03 May 2020. Storage nearly 3 years. Will he ever fly again?
N512JN Parked SHV 17 Jan 2023.
N513SN Parked SHV 26 Dec 2022.
N542KD Ferried to HSV 3 days ago. For parking?
N543JN Flew to TPE for maintenance 3 months ago.
N545JN Landed at ICN 3 days ago. Active.
N546JN Parked SHV 18 Dec 2022.
N581JN Parked SHV 27 Mar 2022. Nearly a year.
N630SN Parked OSC 22 Mar 2016. Never into service.
N781SN Parked RSW 23 Dec 2022.
N783SN Parked RSW 04 Dec 2022.
N784SN Ferried to SHV 20 Apr 2022 and has been stored there ever since. Never into service.
N799JN Ferried to RSW 4 days ago.
N804SN Parked RSW 12 Dec 2022.
15 Parked and 2 never into service. 1 maintenance. Only one at service. A very bad situation.

ClassicSpotter wrote:

Robert16627 wrote:

USA Jet is stopping all DC-9 operations March 1st, 192US had no #1 engine as of 1/24/23 and 205US is going to be sold off to another company, presumably Aeronaves.

Are the rest of the DC-9s going to be parked indefinitely? I can’t imagine the DC-9-10s to be very attractive to anyone but Aeronaves.

Also, do you think the bird going to Aeronaves will be put into service or stripped for parts?

I guess the arrival of more MD-88s finally gave them the green light to retire the DC-9s!

I wouldn’t be surprised if Ameristar snagged them up to support their DC-9 fleet. I do wonder if they’ll turn to the MD-88F at some point soon though (although they don’t have a great history with the MD, after the accident in 2017 at YIP)

ChingwangLee wrote:

Let's look at WGN's status. No one seems to have paid attention to them for a long time.

744:
N258SN Parked SHV, from 05 Jan 2023.
N344KD Landed ORD 4days ago. Likely active.
N356KD Flying WGN5871 to ORD. Active.
N452SN Parked RSW, from 23 Dec 2022.
2 active and 2 parked. Normal for WGN.

MD-11:
N411SN Parked RSW 15 Dec 2022.
N412SN Parked SHV 22 Dec 2022.
N415JN Flew to MHV yesterday. Retired? Storage or maintenance?
N435KD Parked SHV 03 May 2020. Storage nearly 3 years. Will he ever fly again?
N512JN Parked SHV 17 Jan 2023.
N513SN Parked SHV 26 Dec 2022.
N542KD Ferried to HSV 3 days ago. For parking?
N543JN Flew to TPE for maintenance 3 months ago.
N545JN Landed at ICN 3 days ago. Active.
N546JN Parked SHV 18 Dec 2022.
N581JN Parked SHV 27 Mar 2022. Nearly a year.
N630SN Parked OSC 22 Mar 2016. Never into service.
N781SN Parked RSW 23 Dec 2022.
N783SN Parked RSW 04 Dec 2022.
N784SN Ferried to SHV 20 Apr 2022 and has been stored there ever since. Never into service.
N799JN Ferried to RSW 4 days ago.
N804SN Parked RSW 12 Dec 2022.
15 Parked and 2 never into service. 1 maintenance. Only one at service. A very bad situation.

Wow! Thanks for taking up the mantle of following them! They're always going to tell you that they're just polishing things up for the next big push...that rarely ever comes.

N799JN WGN M11F currently enroute RSW-FFO - military charter. cheers!

FedEx has parked MD-11F N608FE at VCV According to Skyliner. GE engines.



As of November she had about 92,000 hours and 22.6K cycles.

ChingwangLee wrote:

Let's look at WGN's status. No one seems to have paid attention to them for a long time.

744:
N258SN Parked SHV, from 05 Jan 2023.
N344KD Landed ORD 4days ago. Likely active.
N356KD Flying WGN5871 to ORD. Active.
N452SN Parked RSW, from 23 Dec 2022.
2 active and 2 parked. Normal for WGN.

MD-11:
N411SN Parked RSW 15 Dec 2022.
N412SN Parked SHV 22 Dec 2022.
N415JN Flew to MHV yesterday. Retired? Storage or maintenance?
N435KD Parked SHV 03 May 2020. Storage nearly 3 years. Will he ever fly again?
N512JN Parked SHV 17 Jan 2023.
N513SN Parked SHV 26 Dec 2022.
N542KD Ferried to HSV 3 days ago. For parking?
N543JN Flew to TPE for maintenance 3 months ago.
N545JN Landed at ICN 3 days ago. Active.
N546JN Parked SHV 18 Dec 2022.
N581JN Parked SHV 27 Mar 2022. Nearly a year.
N630SN Parked OSC 22 Mar 2016. Never into service.
N781SN Parked RSW 23 Dec 2022.
N783SN Parked RSW 04 Dec 2022.
N784SN Ferried to SHV 20 Apr 2022 and has been stored there ever since. Never into service.
N799JN Ferried to RSW 4 days ago.
N804SN Parked RSW 12 Dec 2022.
15 Parked and 2 never into service. 1 maintenance. Only one at service. A very bad situation.

Have to wonder if they are having trouble getting crews. Lots of choices out there right now, and I don’t think they’re at the top of anybody’s list

Re: WGN

Well, they had two new classes in late Oct/early Nov. And don't underestimate the lure of flying big metal as a younger pilot. That said, could be staffing. One other thing not to underestimate with them is Chinese New Year, and the effect it has on demand for their services, but that's what they offered up last year at this time when I observed that they only had one aircraft flying and everything else parked. They didn't stay that way. Of course, being Western Global and all, it's not like they ever had full-utilization, either.

Meanwhile, SkyLease seems to have been affected by the new year, but still finds stuff to do until Asia demand is back, including sending one of its aircraft for TLC at SBD.

gdavis003 wrote:

ClassicSpotter wrote:

Robert16627 wrote:

USA Jet is stopping all DC-9 operations March 1st, 192US had no #1 engine as of 1/24/23 and 205US is going to be sold off to another company, presumably Aeronaves.

Are the rest of the DC-9s going to be parked indefinitely? I can’t imagine the DC-9-10s to be very attractive to anyone but Aeronaves.

Also, do you think the bird going to Aeronaves will be put into service or stripped for parts?

I guess the arrival of more MD-88s finally gave them the green light to retire the DC-9s!

I wouldn’t be surprised if Ameristar snagged them up to support their DC-9 fleet. I do wonder if they’ll turn to the MD-88F at some point soon though (although they don’t have a great history with the MD, after the accident in 2017 at YIP)

Either that or some 737 freighters. It would not surprise me if they went for the 737 800 or 734F freighter. While this may be a big jump, if what you’re saying is indeed, true regarding the MD80, then the 737 makes logical sense. Personally, I think the MD 80 is a great aircraft. I like how they perform and with plenty available, it should be a no-brainer to them.

MCOflyer wrote:

gdavis003 wrote:

ClassicSpotter wrote:

Are the rest of the DC-9s going to be parked indefinitely? I can’t imagine the DC-9-10s to be very attractive to anyone but Aeronaves.

Also, do you think the bird going to Aeronaves will be put into service or stripped for parts?

I guess the arrival of more MD-88s finally gave them the green light to retire the DC-9s!

I wouldn’t be surprised if Ameristar snagged them up to support their DC-9 fleet. I do wonder if they’ll turn to the MD-88F at some point soon though (although they don’t have a great history with the MD, after the accident in 2017 at YIP)

Either that or some 737 freighters. It would not surprise me if they went for the 737 800 or 734F freighter. While this may be a big jump, if what you’re saying is indeed, true regarding the MD80, then the 737 makes logical sense. Personally, I think the MD 80 is a great aircraft. I like how they perform and with plenty available, it should be a no-brainer to them.

Agreed. My only concern with the 734F for a company like Ameristar though is that their operations do not generally cater to an aircraft of that size - MD is the right size and comparable to the DC-9s. Don’t see too many 734Fs or 738Fs on the on demand auto parts circuit, which is almost exclusively what Ameristar does, besides a few between Kalitta Charters II and Interjet West. Aeronaves is not using their new 734Fs on auto parts - they’re on scheduled cargo flights in Mexico (for Mercado Libre I believe, basically the Amazon of Mexico)

gdavis003 wrote:

MCOflyer wrote:

gdavis003 wrote:

I wouldn’t be surprised if Ameristar snagged them up to support their DC-9 fleet. I do wonder if they’ll turn to the MD-88F at some point soon though (although they don’t have a great history with the MD, after the accident in 2017 at YIP)

Either that or some 737 freighters. It would not surprise me if they went for the 737 800 or 734F freighter. While this may be a big jump, if what you’re saying is indeed, true regarding the MD80, then the 737 makes logical sense. Personally, I think the MD 80 is a great aircraft. I like how they perform and with plenty available, it should be a no-brainer to them.

Agreed. My only concern with the 734F for a company like Ameristar though is that their operations do not generally cater to an aircraft of that size - MD is the right size and comparable to the DC-9s. Don’t see too many 734Fs or 738Fs on the on demand auto parts circuit, which is almost exclusively what Ameristar does, besides a few between Kalitta Charters II and Interjet West. Aeronaves is not using their new 734Fs on auto parts - they’re on scheduled cargo flights in Mexico (for Mercado Libre I believe, basically the Amazon of Mexico)

Auto parts can be light and engines can be heavy. The MD-80 is the perfect size for this type of mission. Now the only thing to worry is about is the number of Green, Pratt and Whitney JT8D 200 series engines. The spares in the desert should take care of this, but rebuilding them is a whole different ball game. Plus if my memory serves me correct, the MD, 80 has a longer cycle an hour lifespan compared to the 737 series.

According to scramble, global X took delivery of it first airbus A321 converted freighter on January 24 of this year. It was ferried to MIA from MCI.

Edit: Registration is N410GX and previously flew for Ural Airlines (c/n 1199).

jetblueguy22 wrote:

ChingwangLee wrote:

Let's look at WGN's status. No one seems to have paid attention to them for a long time.

744:
N258SN Parked SHV, from 05 Jan 2023.
N344KD Landed ORD 4days ago. Likely active.
N356KD Flying WGN5871 to ORD. Active.
N452SN Parked RSW, from 23 Dec 2022.
2 active and 2 parked. Normal for WGN.

MD-11:
N411SN Parked RSW 15 Dec 2022.
N412SN Parked SHV 22 Dec 2022.
N415JN Flew to MHV yesterday. Retired? Storage or maintenance?
N435KD Parked SHV 03 May 2020. Storage nearly 3 years. Will he ever fly again?
N512JN Parked SHV 17 Jan 2023.
N513SN Parked SHV 26 Dec 2022.
N542KD Ferried to HSV 3 days ago. For parking?
N543JN Flew to TPE for maintenance 3 months ago.
N545JN Landed at ICN 3 days ago. Active.
N546JN Parked SHV 18 Dec 2022.
N581JN Parked SHV 27 Mar 2022. Nearly a year.
N630SN Parked OSC 22 Mar 2016. Never into service.
N781SN Parked RSW 23 Dec 2022.
N783SN Parked RSW 04 Dec 2022.
N784SN Ferried to SHV 20 Apr 2022 and has been stored there ever since. Never into service.
N799JN Ferried to RSW 4 days ago.
N804SN Parked RSW 12 Dec 2022.
15 Parked and 2 never into service. 1 maintenance. Only one at service. A very bad situation.

Have to wonder if they are having trouble getting crews. Lots of choices out there right now, and I don’t think they’re at the top of anybody’s list

Perfect time for UPS to buy them and all their spare MD11 parts.

UPS757Pilot wrote:

jetblueguy22 wrote:

ChingwangLee wrote:

Let's look at WGN's status. No one seems to have paid attention to them for a long time.

744:
N258SN Parked SHV, from 05 Jan 2023.
N344KD Landed ORD 4days ago. Likely active.
N356KD Flying WGN5871 to ORD. Active.
N452SN Parked RSW, from 23 Dec 2022.
2 active and 2 parked. Normal for WGN.

MD-11:
N411SN Parked RSW 15 Dec 2022.
N412SN Parked SHV 22 Dec 2022.
N415JN Flew to MHV yesterday. Retired? Storage or maintenance?
N435KD Parked SHV 03 May 2020. Storage nearly 3 years. Will he ever fly again?
N512JN Parked SHV 17 Jan 2023.
N513SN Parked SHV 26 Dec 2022.
N542KD Ferried to HSV 3 days ago. For parking?
N543JN Flew to TPE for maintenance 3 months ago.
N545JN Landed at ICN 3 days ago. Active.
N546JN Parked SHV 18 Dec 2022.
N581JN Parked SHV 27 Mar 2022. Nearly a year.
N630SN Parked OSC 22 Mar 2016. Never into service.
N781SN Parked RSW 23 Dec 2022.
N783SN Parked RSW 04 Dec 2022.
N784SN Ferried to SHV 20 Apr 2022 and has been stored there ever since. Never into service.
N799JN Ferried to RSW 4 days ago.
N804SN Parked RSW 12 Dec 2022.
15 Parked and 2 never into service. 1 maintenance. Only one at service. A very bad situation.

Have to wonder if they are having trouble getting crews. Lots of choices out there right now, and I don’t think they’re at the top of anybody’s list

Perfect time for UPS to buy them and all their spare MD11 parts.

With what they’re sending to the desert I don’t think they’re really going to need that many extra spares.

gdavis003 wrote:

MCOflyer wrote:

gdavis003 wrote:

I wouldn’t be surprised if Ameristar snagged them up to support their DC-9 fleet. I do wonder if they’ll turn to the MD-88F at some point soon though (although they don’t have a great history with the MD, after the accident in 2017 at YIP)

Either that or some 737 freighters. It would not surprise me if they went for the 737 800 or 734F freighter. While this may be a big jump, if what you’re saying is indeed, true regarding the MD80, then the 737 makes logical sense. Personally, I think the MD 80 is a great aircraft. I like how they perform and with plenty available, it should be a no-brainer to them.

Agreed. My only concern with the 734F for a company like Ameristar though is that their operations do not generally cater to an aircraft of that size - MD is the right size and comparable to the DC-9s. Don’t see too many 734Fs or 738Fs on the on demand auto parts circuit, which is almost exclusively what Ameristar does, besides a few between Kalitta Charters II and Interjet West. Aeronaves is not using their new 734Fs on auto parts - they’re on scheduled cargo flights in Mexico (for Mercado Libre I believe, basically the Amazon of Mexico)

-All of USA Jet's DC-9's will probably suffer the same fate as their parts MD88's where they'll part em out until they're no good then throw them behind their hangar until the scrapper comes to pick it up.

- Ameristar would benefit from picking up a couple "new" DC-9 but they don't seem to move very often, 465TW(732) hasn't moved in a year and a half which leads me to believe it'll be sold or parted out .

- In regards to Aeronaves 734's flying for Mercado Libre, Mercado Libre dropped Aeronaves from flying their freight around for them, they're stripped one of their mustard DC-9's of all titles with one more remaining with everything on

-Kalitta Charters II 738's are only flying freight for DHL, the 727's, 733's and 734's all fly a mix of ad hoc and DHL freight, they recently picked up another 733, 300SV, I assume it's in the new company colors, the checkered tail with "Kalitta Charters II" in grey near the front of the aircraft

Robert16627 wrote:

USA Jet is stopping all DC-9 operations March 1st, 192US had no #1 engine as of 1/24/23 and 205US is going to be sold off to another company, presumably Aeronaves.

The history of 205 is interesting. It's a valuable air-frame just because of the range that plane has, with all the aux tanks on it. Not to mention it was originally built for the Kuwaiti's as a C-9K

Air France, KLM has ordered four A350 freighters for its Martinair, cargo division.

charles022 wrote:

Does anyone know what is happening with the Skybus Jet DC-8's out of Miami? Doesn't look like any have flown in over a month now.

OB-2158-P last recorded flight 16/12/22 La Mesa - Miami

OB-2231-P last recorded flight 23/12/22 La Mesa - Miami

N807DH (OB-2059-P) in Lima since September 2022, apparently awaiting a C-check.

Are flight operations planned to restart soon?

Informed the DC-8 ops should restart on 29th January.

What’s the latest outlook for the B727s at USA Jet, KII, and Interjet West? The extra width has to help at USA jet allowing ad hoc shipments the MD’s can’t accommodate.

Flyer92122 wrote:

What’s the latest outlook for the B727s at USA Jet, KII, and Interjet West? The extra width has to help at USA jet allowing ad hoc shipments the MD’s can’t accommodate.

Interjet West 727 has been parked for six months; I'd say the future is not too rosy.

N542KD WGN HSV- RSW at the moment. Possible parking?

MD11ss wrote:

N542KD WGN HSV- RSW at the moment. Possible parking?

This time of year, everything is taken home for some tweaking and such. Not that there ever all going to be back in service at one time, but that location is one where they give the aircraft some TLC typically. We had the same questions about all of this last year, and they generally had several in the air at any one time starting in February

Flyer92122 wrote:

What’s the latest outlook for the B727s at USA Jet, KII, and Interjet West? The extra width has to help at USA jet allowing ad hoc shipments the MD’s can’t accommodate.

I had a quick look at this. From what I can gather, it seems the number of cargo hauling B722s in the US are now down to five active ones. Two with KII, two with IFL, and one with USA Jet.
KII and USA Jet has one more each that last flew in December, so they might just be in for some maintenance. KIIs fourth one and IFLs third one don't seem to have been active at all lately.

Another B722 operated by a cargo airline that seem to have stopped moving in December is the Zero G frame operated by Everts.

Other than a few VIP/charter machines, I think that's all the commercial 727s left operating in NA. Did I miss any?

Flyer92122 wrote:

What’s the latest outlook for the B727s at USA Jet, KII, and Interjet West? The extra width has to help at USA jet allowing ad hoc shipments the MD’s can’t accommodate.

- Starting with USA Jet, 727US is still flying strong for them, 726US is undergoing a C-Check/new paint down at Brunswick Golden Isles(KBQK) and should be out by March/April

- Kalitta Charters II sent 724CK up to Oscoda for a C check then stored it because there weren't enough crews and trips at the time, 725CK was flying Ad Hoc before it got sent up north to Oscoda for some mx checks, 726CK is currently flying ad hoc cargo and 729CK is flying cargo around for DHL.

- Interjet West has nothing but 737's painted in West Atlantic colors on their ramp in Toledo and haven't seen any of their 727's active in a while.

N979DL arrived at Dothan today. If I’m not mistaken it’s owned by Everts air cargo. Maybe one of the four conversions this year

dtw9 wrote:

N979DL arrived at Dothan today. If I’m not mistaken it’s owned by Everts air cargo. Maybe one of the four conversions this year

Not too sure how accurate plane spotters is, but it shows it being owned by Delta still.

Aero transport data bank shows 979,974,997 and 994 all recently purchased by Everts

dtw9 wrote:

Aero transport data bank shows 979,974,997 and 994 all recently purchased by Everts

I just had a funny feeling that Everets would add capacity as their aging fleet of props are retired.

MCOflyer wrote:

dtw9 wrote:

Aero transport data bank shows 979,974,997 and 994 all recently purchased by Everts

I just had a funny feeling that Everets would add capacity as their aging fleet of props are retired.

The 146s will replace the DC-6s intra-Alaska. Although I don't think the DC-6 will truely be replaced in that environment.

MCOflyer wrote:

dtw9 wrote:

Aero transport data bank shows 979,974,997 and 994 all recently purchased by Everts

I just had a funny feeling that Everets would add capacity as their aging fleet of props are retired.

The 146s will replace the DC-6s.

Here's a quick Skylliner roundup for this fine 12 degree F (and snowy) Sunday:

Aeronaves has taken a second CRJ2F from West Atlantic, SE-DUY has been delivered across the Atlantic.



They have also taken delivery of another CRJ2, N261PS last owned by Skywest. The last SDR shows about 35k hours and cycles in 2019.


CAM is busy as always, the former N152DL has finished up in SNN and is replaced by N154DL after it finished conversion at TLV. They have pulled former Air Canada C-FMWP out of the desert (Pratt Powered!) to ILN to ready it for conversion, and have flown former ANA JA621A to ILN on delivery prior conversion.


Kinda quiet on the 738F front, but Kelowna just finished up conversion of EI-FNW for ASL.

On the Airbus side, Global X has taken their first A321F, N410GX

And Bedek/IAI seems to have completed their first (?) A333F for Avolon, N302PF at TLV. Likely destined for Amazon service with HA. Air Belgium adds to their recent 748F addition with A332F OE-LAJ delivered from SIN.

Spacepope wrote:

And Bedek/IAI seems to have completed their first (?) A333F for Avolon, N302PF at TLV. Likely destined for Amazon service with HA.

I thought Amazon was Altavair ex-Etihad frames?

Re N302PF, looks like it flew over to Eilat to do several takeoffs and landings, then flew back to TLV. So it's flyable. I assume it hasn't been certified yet.

Glad to see they made progress on the A330; weird that we're hearing nothing recently (at least that I have seen) about the Big Twin. Never in a million years did I think that Mammoth would have a chance to catch up, particularly once Boeing eventually makes the decision to do a BCF, but looks like they might.

Okay, upon further review, I found this: https://cargofacts.com/allposts/convers ... st-flight/

But that means the 777 program is behind the A333? Crazy.

Meanwhile, maybe IAI is stretched thin in its engineering units working on stuff like this: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/366165 I think we'd call it a "drone" rather than a "missile", but still pretty-cool.

Spacepope wrote:

And Bedek/IAI seems to have completed their first (?) A333F for Avolon, N302PF at TLV. Likely destined for Amazon service with HA. Air Belgium adds to their recent 748F addition with A332F OE-LAJ delivered from SIN.

wjcandee wrote:

Re N302PF, looks like it flew over to Eilat to do several takeoffs and landings, then flew back to TLV. So it's flyable. I assume it hasn't been certified yet.

Glad to see they made progress on the A330; weird that we're hearing nothing recently (at least that I have seen) about the Big Twin. Never in a million years did I think that Mammoth would have a chance to catch up, particularly once Boeing eventually makes the decision to do a BCF, but looks like they might.

Okay, upon further review, I found this: https://cargofacts.com/allposts/convers ... st-flight/

But that means the 777 program is behind the A333? Crazy.

Meanwhile, maybe IAI is stretched thin in its engineering units working on stuff like this: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/366165 I think we'd call it a "drone" rather than a "missile", but still pretty-cool.

I am afraid that there are a few photos of N302PF of a few days ago, see for example https://twitter.com/AeronewsGlobal/stat ... 1292832769 that show it in IAI colors, but not converted yet. I assume that the conversion is only starting now.

a2b7 wrote:

Spacepope wrote:

And Bedek/IAI seems to have completed their first (?) A333F for Avolon, N302PF at TLV. Likely destined for Amazon service with HA. Air Belgium adds to their recent 748F addition with A332F OE-LAJ delivered from SIN.

wjcandee wrote:

Re N302PF, looks like it flew over to Eilat to do several takeoffs and landings, then flew back to TLV. So it's flyable. I assume it hasn't been certified yet.

Glad to see they made progress on the A330; weird that we're hearing nothing recently (at least that I have seen) about the Big Twin. Never in a million years did I think that Mammoth would have a chance to catch up, particularly once Boeing eventually makes the decision to do a BCF, but looks like they might.

Okay, upon further review, I found this: https://cargofacts.com/allposts/convers ... st-flight/

But that means the 777 program is behind the A333? Crazy.

Meanwhile, maybe IAI is stretched thin in its engineering units working on stuff like this: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/366165 I think we'd call it a "drone" rather than a "missile", but still pretty-cool.

I am afraid that there are a few photos of N302PF of a few days ago, see for example https://twitter.com/AeronewsGlobal/stat ... 1292832769 that show it in IAI colors, but not converted yet. I assume that the conversion is only starting now.

Huh. Looks like Skyliner jumped the gun with declaring her an F then.

The FedEx dash to park planes continues. 757F N933FD is headed to VCV today. Another MD-11F, N604FE also headed that way on 02/01. Should be showing up soon on the SoCal Boneyard thread.

Fly Meta takes 4 77WSFs. But, the AerCap PR states: "The Boeing 777-300ERSF, also known as 'The Big Twin', is the first passenger-to-freighter aircraft conversion program of the Boeing 777-300ER and will be the largest twin-engine freighter when it enters service this year." So planning entry to service this year - surprising given the lack of info we have had.

https://newsroom.aviator.aero/aercap-si ... -aircraft/

HPRamper wrote:

The FedEx dash to park planes continues. 757F N933FD is headed to VCV today. Another MD-11F, N604FE also headed that way on 02/01. Should be showing up soon on the SoCal Boneyard thread.

Speaking of FedEX, it looks like their schedule cuts went into effect today. Up until last week, there was a second late am bank that departed IND, which seems to be totally gone now.

Perhaps the more remarkable thing about the big twin is that the order book is only 20 firm orders. I guess everybody assumes it will be a success once it hits the street, but 20 is not a lot.

wjcandee wrote:

Perhaps the more remarkable thing about the big twin is that the order book is only 20 firm orders. I guess everybody assumes it will be a success once it hits the street, but 20 is not a lot.

Yea, Fly Meta is getting these late next year, which surprised me. Perhaps just timing with cheap 767s and A330s for conversion, discounted new-build 777Fs, and a bit of a uptick in leasing for 77Ws to fill in for new aircraft delays?

flyguy1 wrote:

HPRamper wrote:

The FedEx dash to park planes continues. 757F N933FD is headed to VCV today. Another MD-11F, N604FE also headed that way on 02/01. Should be showing up soon on the SoCal Boneyard thread.

Speaking of FedEX, it looks like their schedule cuts went into effect today. Up until last week, there was a second late am bank that departed IND, which seems to be totally gone now.

Yes, the Response project is now ended. A whole lot of metal freed up for other routes....or parking.

jbs2886 wrote:

wjcandee wrote:

Perhaps the more remarkable thing about the big twin is that the order book is only 20 firm orders. I guess everybody assumes it will be a success once it hits the street, but 20 is not a lot.

Yea, Fly Meta is getting these late next year, which surprised me. Perhaps just timing with cheap 767s and A330s for conversion, discounted new-build 777Fs, and a bit of a uptick in leasing for 77Ws to fill in for new aircraft delays?

Is Boeing discounting the 777F? I thought it would be one of the higher margin products in their catalogue, especially given that it's essentially a monopoly for it's part of the market (for deliveries in the next few years at least).

N269CM CAM B763 BDSF routed SNN-CVG-ILN 2day. cheers!

Any news on Western Global? Also, not too sure this was mentioned, but global X will be using their converted air bus freighters for Avianca.

N863GT GTI B748F, the last 747 built, was delivered to CVG today as GTI747 - landing rwy 36R. Check out her flight path over Washington state - the "747 crown". cheers!

FedEx seems to be pivoting some of their megahub operations to IND for tonight due to winter weather in Memphis. The nightly BHM-MEM-BHM (FX1288/1488) has been switched to BHM-IND-BHM for today. FX1281 from GSP is another example (usually goes to MEM but going to IND tonight)

gdavis003 wrote:

FedEx seems to be pivoting some of their megahub operations to IND for tonight due to winter weather in Memphis. The nightly BHM-MEM-BHM (FX1288/1488) has been switched to BHM-IND-BHM for today. FX1281 from GSP is another example (usually goes to MEM but going to IND tonight)

Looking at the MEM arrival board it almost looks like they’re taking in the international and a handful of domestics (perhaps flights with international starting legs?). And what I’m guessing is gateways without IND connections.

What a mess. Feel for their crews and their network teams right now. You’re going to be able to walk from IND-MEM there is going to be so much FX metal moving freight when it gets back open.

jetblueguy22 wrote:

gdavis003 wrote:

FedEx seems to be pivoting some of their megahub operations to IND for tonight due to winter weather in Memphis. The nightly BHM-MEM-BHM (FX1288/1488) has been switched to BHM-IND-BHM for today. FX1281 from GSP is another example (usually goes to MEM but going to IND tonight)

Looking at the MEM arrival board it almost looks like they’re taking in the international and a handful of domestics (perhaps flights with international starting legs?). And what I’m guessing is gateways without IND connections.

What a mess. Feel for their crews and their network teams right now. You’re going to be able to walk from IND-MEM there is going to be so much FX metal moving freight when it gets back open.

That seems to be about right. Domestic to MEM seems to really only be from major outstations, which would have substantial numbers of packages going to one of those international gateways that are only through MEM, and west coast outstations. The domestic outstations that are operating to MEM (as in, currently en route to MEM but could divert conceivably) tonight appear to be ATL (multiple from ATL), DTW, DEN, IND, IAD, CPR, RNO, SAN, GEG, PHX, BOS, SAT, LCK, EWR, ONT, LAX, and OAK. There may be more to add to this list, but I am sure that they will continue to funnel other routes to IND tonight, given that they have major connections to the network in Indy.

I see that flights from FNT, BHM, GSP, CHA, and JAX went to IND instead of MEM tonight. There's a lot of stuff on the MEM scheduled board that hasn't departed. I presume that some of those will shift to IND and some will be cancelled. This seems like a big disaster brewing unfortunately.

stretch8 wrote:

N863GT GTI B748F, the last 747 built, was delivered to CVG today as GTI747 - landing rwy 36R. Check out her flight path over Washington state - the "747 crown". cheers!

Thanks for the tip, Stretch8!

So it looks like CAM's fresh-from-conversion 763, N269CM, is on its way today (2/2/23) from ILN to ROW for paint at Dean Baldwin. This is an ex-Air Canada frame. I don't know if it's part of the Air Canada sale/convert/leaseback deal or whether it's going to another customer, so we'll be keeping an eye on her when she emerges from paint in two weeks!