CX storing at ASP?

[MarkR]

B-HNE is currently heading for ASP as CX3491. 12 in total will be stored there with the first arriving a couple of days ago, A333 B-HLV https://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/cx3491

[matthew dobson]

If true, I was wondering why this wasn't an option for some/more Qantas planes

[Kent Broadhead]

If true, I was wondering why this wasn't an option for some/more Qantas planes

I'd expect due to QF having access to many other ports around Australia, whereas CX has limited other options, and the local ones are in a humid environment.

QF had alreayd planned 744 retirement, so accelarating it solved that problem. Not really clear on why the US for the A380 fleet - maybe they booked spots early, or had easier access to ongoing support?

[MarkR]

I believe QF prefer the US as it’s slightly better climate wise and they have a nearby tech crew that can do storage rather than outsource it. I also suspect it’s better for aircraft that are not expected to resume with the fleet as it’s closer to the buyer market. NZ hasn’t yet sent their 777s to ASP, and today’s movement was a CX 777 so space is filling up.

[Dave Dale]

It'd be interesting to know how many will never leave Alice Springs. Some of those 777's of Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific are getting on in their years.

[MarkR]

It'd be interesting to know how many will never leave Alice Springs. Some of those 777's of Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific are getting on in their years.

Your not wrong, B-HNE was the first prototype of the 777-300!

[Michael Mak]

I've read that the climate condition at VCV is better for long term storage (multiple years) and ASP is better for short/medium term storage (months rather than years). QF also has access to LAX-based engineers which is about 90 minutes drive away.

[Brenden S]

ASP have recently opened up more parking to deal with the rush. They are expecting to have over 100 aircraft by years end.

[MarkR]

ASP have recently opened up more parking to deal with the rush. They are expecting to have over 100 aircraft by years end.

By October according to the latest update, with a little help from the NT govt!

There are 44 aircraft currently in storage at the Alice Springs airport facility, with another 30 expected to land by the end of August.

Before the pandemic, APAS stored up to 18 aircraft at a time.

Yesterday, the NT Government announced it would invest a further $3.5 million in the storage facility, which Mr Vincent said would allow the company to store 100 aircraft by October.

This money is on top of a $1 million infrastructure grant the Territory Government provided to APAS earlier this year to help it expand.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-31/alice-springs-aircraft-storage-during-coronavirus-pandemic/12510356

[Aaron M]

I've read that the climate condition at VCV is better for long term storage (multiple years) and ASP is better for short/medium term storage (months rather than years). QF also has access to LAX-based engineers which is about 90 minutes drive away.
Does anyone know, are these Qantas engineers?
If yes why couldn't they have been relocated to ASP, seems silly to have them in LAX still?

[MarkR]

Does anyone know, are these Qantas engineers?
If yes why couldn't they have been relocated to ASP, seems silly to have them in LAX still?

They are Qantas staffers, likely to be US citizens, and as posted before Mojave is better for longer term storage for Qantas environmentally wise. QF did use ASP for short term storage for the 767 exit.

[Michael Mak]

Does anyone know, are these Qantas engineers?
If yes why couldn't they have been relocated to ASP, seems silly to have them in LAX still?
They are Qantas LAX-based engineers.

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/qantas-unveils-new-aircraft-maintenance-facility-at-lax/


https://thepointsguy.com/news/lax-qantas-airbus-a380-hangar/

[MarkR]

NZ have sent their 777s to the states and not Alice, some left this week.
https://flightaware.com/live/flight/ZKOKP

[MarkR]

CX have 60 spots booked at ASP and have used 27, B-HNQ is heading there are it’s visit to Sydney today.

[Michael Mak]

B-HNU arrived at ASP today as CX3490 from MEL. It did CX135 HKG-MEL earlier.

[Stefan Perkas]

B-HNV and B-HNW on their way to Alice Springs now from Sydney and Melbourne respectively.

Also, 3 HK Express A321's are en-route to ASP via DRW today.

[Kent Broadhead]

B-KQK (SYD-ASP) and B-KPD (MEL-ASP) arrived today.

[MarkR]

I wonder which park has more occupants, the car park or the plane park https://twitter.com/PegsontheLine/status/1310509928239382528/photo/1

[Adrian B]

Imagine the conversation when SQ want that farthest A380 out first...

You *&%$ what??

[Steve S... 2]

There is currently a Myanmar 737-800 XY-ALC just SE of Broome, heading in the direction of Alice Springs presumably for storage at ASP!?

It wears an interesting livery.

[Steve S... 2]

It's heading to Sydney for some reason.

[Sean L]

XY-ALC is a repatriation flight.

[MarkR]

There is currently a Myanmar 737-800 XY-ALC just SE of Broome, heading in the direction of Alice Springs presumably for storage at ASP!?

It wears an interesting livery.

No, inbound to yssy

[Sean L]

Departs 9AM on Saturday

[MarkR]

APAS has capacity for 110 now and looking at expanding to 160-200, in the meantime the aircraft at Well amp are stored on their behalf.

[Kent Broadhead]

B-KQI has just departed SYD-ASP. Looks like they're putting some younguns (7 years) there as well as the oldies.

[Kent Broadhead]

B-KPW on its way to ASP this morning. 9yo.

Anyone know how many are there now?

[Kent Broadhead]

B-KPW on its way to ASP this morning. 9yo.

B-KPL and B-KPQ arrived yesterday. I flew HKG-BOS on KPL back in December last year

HNX, KPM and KPR have also arrived in the last week.

Anyone know how many are there now?

[Adrian B]

Updated ASP photos in this article by News.com.au - Incredible images of plane ‘graveyard’ near Alice Springs (https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incredible-images-of-plane-graveyard-near-alice-springs/news-story/65d31168715851a9125a322157676bcd)

[Kurt A]

Here are the rest of the photos - Seth Jaworski.

https://sjap.smugmug.com/View-from-above/Alice-Springs/

[MarkR]

Anyone know how many are there now?

I counted 114

[Kent Broadhead]

Cheers Mark

And thanks to Seth too for his pics. I had a great trip in Dec-Jan, and for the birds I few on to be parked up like that, well....

B-KPZ arrived yesterday.

[Kent Broadhead]

FR24 seems to have been having some issues. B-KQL only arrived today.

[Kent Broadhead]

And now B-KPV today. B-LAF (A333) arrived over the weekend.

[MarkR]

B-kpn is currently inbound to ASP ex SYD as CX3492

[Kent Broadhead]

B-KQM also arrived on Monday, via MEL.

[Robert.M]

B77W B-KPE (https://flightaware.com/live/flight/BKPE) just departed Sydney for Alice Springs as CX3492

[Kent Broadhead]

B-KQN arrived yesterday, and B-KPS today. All 777 unless noted

[Kent Broadhead]

I will try to pul together a single list, but B-KQS (777) and B-LAJ (A333) arrived today.

[Kent Broadhead]

Here's my list as it currently stands. I think it's got all the 777 (22 today), but A333 is incomplete:

B-HNE
B-HNQ
B-HNV
B-HNW
B-HNX
B-KPD
B-KPE
B-KPL
B-KPM
B-KPN
B-KPQ
B-KPR
B-KPS
B-KPV
B-KPW
B-KPZ
B-KQI
B-KQK
B-KQL
B-KQM
B-KQN
B-KQS

A333
B-HLV
B-LAF
B-LAJ

[Kent Broadhead]

B-KQC on its way now from SYD

[Michael Mak]

B-HLP/R/S/U, LAD/Q are stored in ASP too.

[Kent Broadhead]

B-HLP/R/S/U, LAD/Q are stored in ASP too.

Cheers - I only started paying attention once the 777s started, so missed those.

Over 30 CX widebodies, including 1/3 of the 777 fleet

[MarkR]

Here's my list as it currently stands. I think it's got all the 777 (22 today), but A333 is incomplete:

B-HNE
B-HNQ
B-HNV
B-HNW
B-HNX
B-KPD
B-KPE
B-KPL
B-KPM
B-KPN
B-KPQ
B-KPR
B-KPS
B-KPV
B-KPW
B-KPZ
B-KQI
B-KQK
B-KQL
B-KQM
B-KQN
B-KQS

A333
B-HLV
B-LAF
B-LAJ

Add
B-HNH
B-HNG
B-HNF
B-HNI
B-HNJ
B-HNK
B-HNS
B-HNU
B-HNM
B-HNN
B-HNO
B-HNP
B-HNQ

[Kent Broadhead]

Only one double up :)

So nearer half the 777 fleet parked at ASP?

[Kent Broadhead]

B-KQE today

[Kent Broadhead]

Then B-KQZ and B-KQO the day after.

37 in total now it would seem

[Kent Broadhead]

Updated 777 list
B-HNE
B-HNF
B-HNG
B-HNH
B-HNI
B-HNJ
B-HNK
B-HNM
B-HNN
B-HNO
B-HNP
B-HNQ
B-HNQ
B-HNS
B-HNU
B-HNV
B-HNW
B-HNX
B-KPD
B-KPE
B-KPL
B-KPM
B-KPN
B-KPQ
B-KPR
B-KPS
B-KPV
B-KPW
B-KPY
B-KPZ
B-KQE
B-KQI
B-KQK
B-KQL
B-KQM
B-KQN
B-KQO
B-KQS
B-KQX
B-KQZ

[Kent Broadhead]

And B-KQD currently enroute, and B-KQP just departed SYD. I wonder if the whole KQ series ends up there?

Anyone know whether significant ground work is needed for new spots, or mainly grading and compacting?

[MarkR]

And B-KQD currently enroute, and B-KQP just departed SYD. I wonder if the whole KQ series ends up there?

Anyone know whether significant ground work is needed for new spots, or mainly grading and compacting?

Apparently they are expecting a rolling holding of 200 or so, with applications in for expansion to 300 spaces!

https://fortune.com/2020/10/27/grounded-jumbo-jets-desert-australia/

[MarkR]

Lots of space now. Last CX bird departed on the 6th June B-HLV

[Laurent Sanhard]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvDcNX-S7_o

Cathay maintenance crew based in Alice farewell last aircraft A330