QANTAS Fleet and Operations

[Rowan McKeever]

The post I’ve seen says ZNG requiring the rudder change and has 12 December return to service in the same sentence.

[Tristan S]

Another A380 is leaving the desert with VH-OQL about to depart VCV for LAX

[James Smith]

Thanks for that update, Tristan. Just VH-OQI left to depart the desert, in one piece that is!

[James Smith]

An article in Simple Flying about QANTAS reintroducing its sixth A380, specifically OQA, in mid December got me thinking.

In a further boost to its international network, Qantas will bring back its sixth Airbus A380 later this month. After almost three years in storage, the aircraft will offer vital operational resilience over the busy Christmas holiday period.

The aircraft, registered as VH-OQA, is currently undergoing final maintenance checks at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), before re-entering into service in mid-December.

https://simpleflying.com/qantas-rein...h-airbus-a380/

OQA only arrived in AUH on 18/11/22 for refurbishment and possibly other maintenance. It seems improbable that it will return to service after only a month, as refurbishment has taken at least two months and up to three months with aircraft done prior to COVID. Could it be OQG returning to service instead as it has been in AUH for over four months? I don't think it will be OQC as she seems to like the desert too much!

As with an in-service A380 - OQJ, replacing another in-service A380 - OQK with the wing spar inspections, I thought it possible that one of the remaining in-service A380s, OQB, OQD, OQH would be next after OQK. But that would only leave five A380s in service for the next 150 days (50 days per aircraft inspection) without other A380s returning.

So, if a sixth A380 is to return to service it would more likely be OQK, which completes its wing spar inspection in the next few days, and then bring an aircraft not currently in service for the next inspection.

I guess we will just have to wait and see how accurate this article is.

Source: Simple Flying 5 December, 2022

[MarkR]

OQA was the frame that spurred the wing spar issues in the first place, it’s likely to have been cured of that issue unlike the rest of the fleet, so interior refit could be quite quick

[Dennis McLean]

So, what is happening with VH-OQC which has been in AUH since 21/6 21??

[Tristan S]

OQL is due to position to LHR on the 16th and then to AUH on the 17th.

In other news.. I went past the QF hangar at BNE today...
QPG is sitting outside the hangar, sans rudder.
EBD is also sitting outside the hangar, looking worse for wear - but with an engineer on a scissor lift on the far side (couldn't tell what they were doing)
Am guessing EBB was in the hangar (could see something, but unsure of rego)

[James Smith]

Thanks for that update, Tristan. It looks as though AUH is going to get busier unless we see some QF A380 departures.

In other QF news, B789 ZNG is scheduled to depart LAX in a few minutes on its return from maintenance and is to operate QF94 to MEL.

[Peter C]

With B789 VH-ZNG back in service, it will be interesting to see when ZNJ & ZNK head to Singapore for their 3yr Heavy Maintenance.

[James Smith]

A380 VH-OQK returned to service after its wing spar inspections operating the delayed QF1D this evening.