Iran Says Planes Ready For US Flights

MadameConcorde · Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:25 am

Iran says planes ready for US flights

Quote PressTV
“Iran’s aviation fleet is equipped with long-range planes that can make direct flights to the US without having to stop and refuel anywhere,” said Mohammad Khodakarami, the caretaker head of Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization (CAO).

read more:
http://www.presstv.ir/Detail/2015/07.../Iran-Direct-Flights-US-Sanctions-

I don't see how Iranian airlines can start direct flights to the US at this stage.

Iran Air has one B747-200 and one B747SP available at this point in time which they are using on their South Asia and North Asia routes, Mumbai, Kuala Lumpur and Beijing. They are old machines they could be retired any time soon.

Mahan Air has two B747-300s I am not sure in what condition.

I don't see how Iranian major airlines flying direct from Tehran IKA to New York JFK unless they acquire new aircraft and there could still be some time before they train technical/cabin flight crews after they acquire the new aircraft.

What say you?

A342 · Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:31 am

Mahan Air has recently acquired some A346s, there was a thread about it on a.net...

Ronaldo747 · Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:34 am

Mahan has got some Ex Virgin A346 recently. They could make it but likely with some payload restrictions.

EDIT: too slow. Wink

[Edited 2015-07-28 02:35:30]

seahawk · Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:43 am

I see a market for some A345s.

scbriml · Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:54 am

Quoting Ronaldo747 (Reply 2):
They could make it but likely with some payload restrictions.

IKA-JFK is 5,335nm, which should be comfortable for an A346 without any restrictions.

KarelXWB · Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:57 am

Quoting MadameConcorde (Thread starter):
Mahan Air has two B747-300s I am not sure in what condition.

As mentioned above, Mahan Air just acquired seven A340-600 jets.

See Mahan Is Receiving 7 A340-600 (by yenne09 May 9 2015 in Civil Aviation)

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Fly-K · Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:59 am

IKA is 3,300 ft and quite hot in summer. Should still be possible though with the 343 and 346.

KarelXWB · Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:04 am

Quoting scbriml (Reply 4):
IKA-JFK is 5,335nm, which should be comfortable for an A346 without any restrictions.

Max structural payload is not possible though.

zeke · Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:07 am

Quoting Fly-K (Reply 6):

IKA is 3,300 ft and quite hot in summer. Should still be possible though with the 343 and 346.

Its about an hour shorter flight time IKA-JFK than it is JNB-HKG, and the 343/346 did that comfortably with the higher elevation out of JNB.

behramjee · Tue Jul 28, 2015 10:38 am

IKA-JFK nonstop is 12 hours 20 minutes only so easily do able on any A340 !

A388 · Tue Jul 28, 2015 12:52 pm

Doesn't Mahan Air also have a few 747-400's?

A388

spinkid · Tue Jul 28, 2015 2:11 pm

Send the 747SP to JFK!

It would be spotting madness at JFK.

viasa · Tue Jul 28, 2015 4:06 pm

Quoting A388 (Reply 10):
Doesn't Mahan Air also have a few 747-400's?

Yes, they had three 747-400. All were stored since a long time. Two were just sold to a new Ghanaian operator (Smile Air).

giblets · Tue Jul 28, 2015 4:11 pm

Suspect it may be possible with max weight US -> Iran, but not the other way due to the jetstream.

fanofjets · Tue Jul 28, 2015 4:34 pm

As an American, I am very gratified by the prospect of flights between to previously "taboo" nations, Iran and Cuba. Airline travel was meant to unite people; as such, these events should be great news to civil aviation enthusiasts and anyone interested in exploring new cultures. (I will leave governments out of the equation here.)

pnd100 · Tue Jul 28, 2015 5:38 pm

Quoting spinkid (Reply 11):

That would be awesome!
But I think you will see a W5 A346 prior to any aircraft from IR assuming a resumption of flights within the next year. My guess is that their won't be any bilateral flights for some time. Also I suspect IR would want to modernize their fleet prior to launching what would be a premium destination like JFK

Quoting fanofjets (Reply 14):

Very well put. Agreed

kaitak · Tue Jul 28, 2015 5:45 pm

And quite apart from the bilateral issue, wouldn't the FAA have to audit the Iranian CAA? That would be a fun experience for everyone involved!

Just can't see the route happening for a few years yet, but it will happen - and not just New York, but also IAD and LAX too - both of which have high populations of Iranian descent. Though, how many Iranians would want to return to a country still run by the Islamic Republic's regime remains to be seen; there will certainly be some, but enough to justify a good frequency of flights?

cedarjet · Tue Jul 28, 2015 5:46 pm

IKA is a mile above sea level which might complicate things. In the days of the Shah the SP stopped in LHR for fuel, nonstop back. Not saying today's hardware couldn't do the westbound nonstop but the uninitiated would be amazed what a difference airfield elevation makes.

PS when it happens I'll be onboard. Iran is wonderful and coming in from the cold is way overdue. Well said fanofjets.

777way · Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:25 pm

Considering all the hate speech I'm amazed at their eagerness to serve US instead of refraining as long as possible, very disappointed.

spinkid · Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:43 pm

Quoting kaitak (Reply 16):
Just can't see the route happening for a few years yet, but it will happen - and not just New York, but also IAD and LAX too -

I was also thinking about LAX. I recall reading on a thread here years ago that LAX-IKA is one of the most traveled city pairs that doesn't have a non stop and that a lot of the connections on Turkish head that way.

32andBelow · Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:47 pm

Quoting 777way (Reply 18):
Considering all the hate speech I'm amazed at their eagerness to serve US instead of refraining as long as possible, very disappointed.

The hate speech is internal. Externally they know they need relationship with the US. They also need all the Israeli technology to make their planes get off the ground, and their computers to run.

777way · Tue Jul 28, 2015 6:54 pm

Quoting 32andBelow (Reply 20):
They also need all the Israeli technology to make their planes get off the ground, and their computers to run.

Oh please, like there is not East Asian technology.

DTWPurserBoy · Tue Jul 28, 2015 7:59 pm

Until sanctions are lifted and a decent business market between Iran and the US develops I can see no need for non-stop air travel between the two countries. That will be several years down the road.

lugie · Tue Jul 28, 2015 8:36 pm

Quoting 777way (Reply 18):
Considering all the hate speech I'm amazed at their eagerness to serve US instead of refraining as long as possible, very disappointed.

Quoting 777way (Reply 21):

So just for clarification, you would prefer to see Iran remain isolated?

Wow...

That doesn't make any sense at all to me, with all due respect.

If they don't act right now, you'd be complaining about westerners exploiting the country as soon as someone like UA, DL or AA fills the gap Iranian carrieres would have left if they "refrained" from starting their own service, which appears to be what you're favoring

einsteinboricua · Tue Jul 28, 2015 9:15 pm

I would assume that IKA-JFK would be a westbound flight, which would have to go over the EU, right?

Unless IR gets new equipment or gets 5th freedom privileges, the only airline I see making the leap is W5.

superjeff · Tue Jul 28, 2015 11:12 pm

Quoting 777way (Reply 21):
Quoting 32andBelow (Reply 20):
They also need all the Israeli technology to make their planes get off the ground, and their computers to run.

Oh please, like there is not East Asian technology.

I think, despite your comment, 777way, 32andBelow is right. Much of the technology is Israeli, although, it does seem psychologically impossible for some people to acknowledge thta. But it is easily verifiable.

flybynight · Tue Jul 28, 2015 11:17 pm

Quoting 32andBelow (Reply 20):
The hate speech is internal. Externally they know they need relationship with the US. They also need all the Israeli technology to make their planes get off the ground, and their computers to run.

They really don't to be honest. It reminds me of what men tell their wives....we actually lived and took care of ourselves before we got married.
Sure it would be nice to have a relationship with the US, but the certainly don't need technology from Israel (as if Israel will help Iran anyway).

N62NA · Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:20 am

Quoting spinkid (Reply 11):
Send the 747SP to JFK!

It would be spotting madness at JFK.

Why JFK? EWR also serves New York City.

32andBelow · Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:26 am

Quoting flybynight (Reply 26):
They really don't to be honest. It reminds me of what men tell their wives....we actually lived and took care of ourselves before we got married.
Sure it would be nice to have a relationship with the US, but the certainly don't need technology from Israel (as if Israel will help Iran anyway).

Israel is not helping them directly. It just happens that a high amount of the processors, memory, and components are designed and invented in Israel.

Viscount724 · Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:32 am

Quoting N62NA (Reply 27):
Quoting spinkid (Reply 11):
Send the 747SP to JFK!

It would be spotting madness at JFK.

Why JFK? EWR also serves New York City.

On a longhaul nonstop to Tehran, JFK's longest 14,500 ft. runway would probably be useful. EWR's longest runway is 11,000 ft.

N62NA · Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:40 am

Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 29):
On a longhaul nonstop to Tehran, JFK's longest 14,500 ft. runway would probably be useful. EWR's longest runway is 11,000 ft.

Interestingly, back in the 70s/80s, UA did EWR-NRT with 747-200 and 747--SP nonstop, and that was when EWR only had 9,300 (I might be of by a few hundred feet) runways.

Ammad · Wed Jul 29, 2015 12:45 am

B747-8i in Iran Air livery will looks great.

aryonoco · Wed Jul 29, 2015 1:58 am

A lot has to be done before direct flights can happen between the two countries. The FAA would still have to vet the Iranian side for safety. There are still US sanctions (that are going to be in place for the foreseeable future) that will limit exchange of currency and moving money.

But, if all goes well, and Congress doesn't gut the agreement, and the Iranians hold up their end, then eventually, yes. Direct flight between these two countries are bound to happen. There is a huge Iranian diaspora in the US. And they and their second gen children do travel to Iran regularly. Back in the 90s, it was KLM, LH and BA who served this market. Currently it's the ME3 and TK. I would say there is enough demand to sustain good loads for daily frequencies on both IKA-JFK and IKA-LAX. And if business connections between the two countries develop, then obviously it can only grow.

When/if it comes to pass, I would think that it will be the flag carrier, IR that will fly the route. And it will be with new equipment. It will be quite a prestige route for IR, just like the 747SP was back in the day when it flew THR-JFK.

lijnden · Wed Jul 29, 2015 3:16 am

How about the A380's to do the job? Kind of like a partnership with MH routing KUL-IKA-JFK and back. The A380's one side in Iran Air the other side Malaysia. Would be great for both (islamic) airlines.

Just my two cents

solarflyer22 · Wed Jul 29, 2015 3:24 am

Quoting spinkid (Reply 11):

Send the 747SP to JFK!

That's what they were purchased to do. I think the SP is like the Concorde, you keep it around as long as possible as an icon and these frames have plenty of cycles left. Makes for a fast trip.

Quoting fanofjets (Reply 14):

As an American, I am very gratified by the prospect of flights between to previously "taboo" nations, Iran and Cuba. Airline travel was meant to unite people;

They're doing this in part because its become clear that when Americans visit Iran they aren't the same when they go back. The media/government/special interest groups brainwashing is removed from their consciousness. They're targeting Americans specifically and have said so.

Quoting einsteinboricua (Reply 24):
Unless IR gets new equipment or gets 5th freedom privileges, the only airline I see making the leap is W5.

Mahan is still sanctioned as a "terrorist" Assad supporting airline (ridiculous claim IMO). But they have the equipment in the A340s. IranAir could always buy those off them.

How do you have direct flights without embassy's or even diplomatic relations? There is no precedent that I know of. Pakistan does manage Iran's affairs in the USA though, Suisse in Iran for USA.

rutankrd · Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:32 am

Quoting einsteinboricua (Reply 24):

I would assume that IKA-JFK would be a westbound flight, which would have to go over the EU, right?

Unless IR gets new equipment or gets 5th freedom privileges, the only airline I see making the leap is W5.

Actually the route is likely to be the same that Emirates use today north over Caspian Sea , Russia, Baltic high over Sweden and Norway then over the Ocean.

lychemsa · Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:43 am

The US will never give them landing rights for political reasons at present.
It has nothing to do with aircraft. Impossible.

AirIndia · Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:14 am

Quoting spinkid (Reply 11):
Send the 747SP to JFK!

It would be spotting madness at JFK.

What aircraft does the Iranina president use to come for the UNGA session? wasnt it an IR SP?

PlaneInsomniac · Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:26 am

Quoting 32andBelow (Reply 20):
They also need all the Israeli technology to make their planes get off the ground, and their computers to run.

Quoting superjeff (Reply 25):
Much of the technology is Israeli, although, it does seem psychologically impossible for some people to acknowledge thta. But it is easily verifiable.

Quoting 32andBelow (Reply 28):
It just happens that a high amount of the processors, memory, and components are designed and invented in Israel.

Would you guys care to provide an example?

Gabrielz · Wed Jul 29, 2015 7:55 am

The big ones are:

Cellular phones
Modern Intel chips
Firewalls
VOIP
Instant messaging
voicemail
Google maps traffic routing (via waze)
Small scope cameras
A whole bunch of water purification and reclamation stuff

Israel also has more U.S. patents issued than pretty much any other country, meaning it's pretty hard to use any contemporary technology or biotechnology system without interacting with Israeli tech.

-G

PlaneInsomniac · Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:27 am

Quoting Gabrielz (Reply 39):
The big ones are:

Would you mind being a little more concrete?

Quoting Gabrielz (Reply 39):
Israel also has more U.S. patents issued than pretty much any other country,

Origin countries for issued U.S. patents 2014:
U.S. 144621
Japan 53849
Germany 16550
South Korea 16469
Taiwan 11332
China 7236
Canada 7043
France 6691
UK 6487
Israel 3471

Israel is in the 13th place - after countries like Switzerland, Italy, Sweden, and the Netherlands - when considering the total number of patents issued since 1963. In this statistic, Japan has been issued a total of more than a million U.S. patents (incredible!) versus Israels 30,000.

Source: http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/ac/ido/oeip/taf/cst_utl.htm

Unfortunately, I am afraid this is the level of factual accuracy at which this entire discussion is taking place.

Don't get me wrong, the innovation coming out of Israel is remarkable for a country of its size, and it is a testament to the inventiveness, creativity, and high level of education of its people. However, the claim that all modern technology was effectively "invented" in Israel and that no plane could fly and no computer could run without "Israeli" technology is totally laughable, to be honest.

IR800 · Wed Jul 29, 2015 8:35 am

Quoting AirIndia (Reply 37):
What aircraft does the Iranina president use to come for the UNGA session? wasnt it an IR SP?

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AirIndia · Wed Jul 29, 2015 10:25 am

Quoting IR800 (Reply 41):
Not with max payload of course.

Also:

Seems like the Govt charters from private airlines since one can see Iran Aseman and Mahan aircraft

Armodeen · Wed Jul 29, 2015 11:53 am

Quoting cedarjet (Reply 17):

PS when it happens I'll be onboard. Iran is wonderful and coming in from the cold is way overdue. Well said fanofjets.

I would love to do so as well - I need an excuse to visit Iran, it's been on my 'to do' list for years.

UA444 · Wed Jul 29, 2015 4:22 pm

Quoting N62NA (Reply 27):

Because JFK is more important and prestigious.

jetblue1965 · Wed Jul 29, 2015 4:47 pm

Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 29):

On a longhaul nonstop to Tehran, JFK's longest 14,500 ft. runway would probably be useful. EWR's longest runway is 11,000 ft.

That hardly matters. JFK-IKA is barely 6140mi while EWR-HKG is a whopping 8072mi. UA's 77E depart out of EWR everyday with no issues at all. That "extra runway" is absolutely irrelevant in terms of performance.

JFK/EWR is neither hot nor high. Arriving from IKA, neither runway's length is an issue either.

Can we please NOT turn this thread into another tired JFK vs. EWR thread again ? 99.9% chance Iran Air will arrive at JFK if that happens, case closed.

n729pa · Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:10 pm

Weren't the SPs and 742's banned from the EU?

Presumably EU airspace would have to be used even non-stop.

I fancy they will be allowed to lease in some more advanced equipment, even if it's only second hand 744/777/A340s etc

My dad worked for IR from 1978-1992, I remember the JFK flights.

Here's a taster!!

seabosdca · Wed Jul 29, 2015 5:15 pm

Plenty of A340s now in Iran or headed to Iran. There is no doubt they could start IKA-JFK tomorrow if it were legal.

In the future... IKA-LAX would be a wonderful A380 route, really showing off what that big wing can do in hot and high conditions. The 747-8 could also fly the route, but with less margin for cargo capacity. Any of the big twins would struggle with it.

777way · Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:09 pm

Quoting lugie (Reply 23):
So just for clarification, you would prefer to see Iran remain isolated?

They have connections to the world including US on multiple airlines including European, one would imagine that bunch would have abandonned Iran but they didnt.

Quoting AirIndia (Reply 42):

Seems like the Govt charters from private airlines since one can see Iran Aseman and Mahan aircraft

Afghanistan govt. does the same Kam and Safi are used instead of the state airline, and in the past Koreans did it too using Asiana at times.

einsteinboricua · Wed Jul 29, 2015 6:10 pm

Quoting rutankrd (Reply 35):
Actually the route is likely to be the same that Emirates use today north over Caspian Sea , Russia, Baltic high over Sweden and Norway then over the Ocean.

Thing is, IR only has a few A300s and A310s certified to operate to the EU so even the mere use of EU airspace is enough to forbid IR from flying. So in this case, its 747s cannot go westward. The Airbii don't have enough range unless they use 5th freedom (or 2nd freedom but I doubt IR is gonna send a fully loaded A310 to JFK without taking more passengers somewhere in Europe).

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