A332s EBA and EBN both performed SYD SYD test flights yesterday, the first time they have flown since they were positioned to SYD in July and September last year, respectively.

Does anyone know what EBM is doing in Abu Dhabi?

MTOW upgrade?

A332 VH-EBA returned to service last night, 13/9/21 when it operated QF7325 from SYD-MEL. With EBNs test flight last week this leaves just it, EBB and EBD still to return to service.

A332 VH-EBN returned to service last night, 16/9/21 when it operated QF653 from SYD-PER. This leaves EBB and EBD still to return to service.

QPA went to DRW earlier today under a 6xxx number, now operating QF110 back to Sydney, presume more vaccines and maybe some Howard springs returnees.

That switch seems to have been to allow 789 ZNC to head back to the UK as QF109 (a Scheduled Repatriation flight)

TQY ferried SYD-CNS for maintenance after spending 18 months in storage

Qantas update via the ASX

One A380 back Dec 25 for crew training, two in service April to LAX, also bringing forward delivery of three 787s

Dash 8-300 VH-TQM resumed service with QLink on 23/10/21, after it returned from its stint in NZ with Jetstar in December 2019, and subsequent storage at TMW. It had maintenance carried out at CNS and repainting into the QLink scheme at TSV prior to re-entry.

VH-TQL is currently under maintenance in CNS prior to repainting and return to service with QLink.

TQL will ferry to TSV today for repaint.

Does anyone know why VXI positioned to Hong Kong from Darwin yesterday? I thought all maintenance on the 737 fleet was done in Australia?

A332 VH-EBM has just completed a test flight AUH AUH as qf6013

First A380 due back is YSSY next week (Tuesday afternoon - VH-OQB ex DRS)

A332 VH-EBM is currently making its way back to Sydney as QF6014 direct from AUH, due 1830 this evening.

QF6023 is due in from DRS at 1430, 17:21 duration

Currently overflying Zamboanga at FL410 and due into SYD at 1501hrs , 18h40m flight time .

Dave C

Large welcome party planned.

Expect good press coverage in tonight's news

About to overfly Darwin

Just came over me at about 3,500 feet, then the airport and now the harbour.

Nice to see!

OQB tracked along the 07 approach path, over the airport like a missed approach, continued over the eastern suburbs then north and down the harbour at 3,000.

QANTAS are certainly milking the arrival for all it's worth and the aircraft hasn't even landed as yet. All after nearly 19 hours airborne. It looks to be on descent and making an approach to 07 now.

TQL will ferry TSV-BNE-SYD today after repaint into QantasLink colours.

With Tasmania's border to Victoria reopening next month, Qantas will begin a new Melbourne-Burnie service from 17th December. The route will be served by QantasLink Q300 aircraft.

This is just one of a number of new Qantas services to Tasmania introduced since international borders closed. Others include Perth-Hobart, Canberra-Hobart, Adelaide-Hobart, Brisbane-Hobart, Brisbane-Launceston and Sydney-Launceston.

TQL is named 'Kyneton'

Qantas 787 Crew Unable To Raise Landing Gear After Takeoff

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation has found the failure to remove two downlock pins before departure prevented the main landing gear of a Qantas Boeing 787-9 from retracting after takeoff earlier this year.

Preflight inspections did not spot two downlock pins

The aircraft, VH-ZNH, was operating QF645 from Sydney to Perth on Monday, June 21, 2021. There were 106 passengers and 13 crew on the flight. After taking off, the pilots selected UP on the aircraft’s landing gear lever.

They then received a warning indicating that neither main landing gear had retracted to the ‘up and locked’ position. Working through the aircraft’s electronic checklist did not resolve the issue. The pilots then selected the landing gear lever to DOWN. There was a positive gear extension indication, and the aircraft returned to Sydney for a safe landing.

https://simpleflying.com/qantas-787-...-landing-gear/

https://www.atsb.gov.au/media/news-i...before-flight/

In today's QANTAS New Room announcement about the conversion of two A332s to freighters, the following paragraph was also included:

Source https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/me...mmerce-demand/

This brings forward the previous advice that the three aircraft would be delivered in the 2022/23 financial year.

they announced they were bringing new deliveries forward Oct 22

Looks like there is a fair bit of crew training happening now with the A330-200's on the Australia-US route with EBS, EBR currently operating inbound & EBM, EBO operating outbound flights to the US

VH-OQK QF6021 from Victorville (VCV) Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on December 11th, 2021.

Source: https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/me...alia-to-italy/

A333 VH-QPE, which has been on the ground in BNE since 22/09 is currently operating a test flight BNE BNE.

QANTAS has been operating a B787-9 on SYD-MEL-SYD services since Tuesday 14/12/21. The rotation has been QF409 SYD-MEL departing at 7:00; QF432 MEL-SYD departing at 10:00; QF449 SYD-MEL departing at 14:00 and QF470 MEL-SYD departing at 17:00. Wednesday saw the first two flights operated by a B738.

ZNK has been operating the services since last Thursday. The flights are possibly for technical crew training as QANTAS is substantially increasing its international services over the next three days and HNL, HND & YVR are coming back on line.

The first rotation on Wednesday was operated by ZNJ an hour later than the other days : as QF419 returning as QF436. Still had time to operate the second rotation.

It appears that the QF1/QF2 rotation SYD-LHR via DRW and QF11/QF12 rotation SYD-LAX have been upped to a daily service, in addition to the new services.

Anyone know the purpose for 787-9 VH-ZND positioning from Sydney to Dubai as QF6019 this morning ?

Qantas to introduce the A380 back into service from Jan 11th on the BNE to LAX route . The early re entry into service is due to staffing shortages on the 787 crews due to Covid restrictions and quarantine requirements .

Dave C

Charter for Aussie Open Tennis players

Thanks Greg : VH-ZND coming into Melbourne as QF306 today (Thursday)

There is also a SA A380 charter from Dubai with Tennis players and officals

VH-ZND is currently returning to DXB from MEL as QF6003.