ATA and the DC-10: When

[CopilotDoug]

When do they start flying them and when do they get painted?

 

[HalinTexas]

We have them on the property. So to speak.

The first one out of SAT, our MX contractor, is in April.

Don't have any crews trained, other than CX airman. The bid comes out next month. Supposed to start flying them in June. Somehow, I don't think we're going to make that timeframe.

 

[CopilotDoug]

Thanks Halin. I'm sure they'll look pretty sharp in the ATA paintjob.

 

[HalinTexas]

I've heard there won't be a new paint job. Just covering up the NWA logos and emblems. Don't know this for fact.

 

[CopilotDoug]

that's a shame. I can see it making "cents" since it's a relatively new paintjob and all, but...bummer. Oh well.

 

[MD11Drvr]

Any ideas how long until ATA can get the DC-10 on the AMC flying. I had heard AMC requires one year on the property before operating for D.O.D. contracts. It will be too bad to see the L-1011 go away as I still enjoy seeing them around the world doing what they were built to do. Won't be much longer until all the steam gauges are gone and the newbies won't know anything about tuning a coffee grinder style ADF or even how to fly an NDB approach.

 

[jimcav]

Any ideas how long until ATA can get the DC-10 on the AMC flying. I had heard AMC requires one year on the property before operating for D.O.D. contracts. It will be too bad to see the L-1011 go away as I still enjoy seeing them around the world doing what they were built to do. Won't be much longer until all the steam gauges are gone and the newbies won't know anything about tuning a coffee grinder style ADF or even how to fly an NDB approach.

Or fly without autothrottles.

 

[AvroGuy]

Why are the L1011 going away? I have been told it is a much better airplane than the DC10.

 

[skid]

Why are the L1011 going away? I have been told it is a much better airplane than the DC10.

I have also heard they are a nice pilots airplane. Not that great of a performer long range and heavy. My guess is that they are becoming more and more of maint. nightmares. I have heard that due to such a short production run that cost of maint and spare parts is high.

 

[Wesb737fo]

I believe ATA is operating about three L-10's until the DC-10's are up and running. I think they may be the last L-10 operator period. Anybody know of any foreign L-10 operators remaining? The story we were told back in 2003 was the L-10's were to be replaced by 767's but ATA couln't get the military to commit to more than ATA wanted so the deal never went through (who knows the real story..maybe Hal does).

People that I spoke with there had fond memories of the L-1011, but they were mx hogs. Don't know more than that. I never flew it, never bid to fly it, never even rode on it...looked up front once..nice and roomy.

 

[AvroGuy]

I flew on it several times out of BWI when I was going to the sandbox. Now I see them every day at DFW. All three most of the time.

 

[HalinTexas]

There were only a couple of B767-300's available at the time. We were down to the wire on one of them, but as usually happens, the prices started going up. Since were were in BK at the time we could not then, and cannot now afford the current prices on B767-300's. One thing you have to understand is that in the charter business the airplanes do a lot of sitting. No sense in paying high lease rates when there may be periods when the airplanes sit.

Rumor/Speculation is that once the B787's start coming out in greater numbers these B76's will start appearring on the market at lower prices, making them affordable to us. Any mergers/acquisitions that might occur as a result of the "Open Sky" aggreement could change timelines.

 

[skid]

I think they may be the last L-10 operator period. Anybody know of any foreign L-10 operators remaining?

Is there many out there on the corporate side of things? I know that one of the casinos in Vegas just picked on up to fly to CHina. Only problem is that the range does not meet the needs. I have heard it can go nonstop only if conditions are perfect. Otherwise it requires a stop in ANC.

Any thoughts to the range/performance?

 

[HalinTexas]

The -250's and -500's a the long range birds. 11-30 hours.

The others are in the 7-9 hours range.

 

[CopilotDoug]

The -250's and -500's a the long range birds. 11-30 hours.

11-30 hrs !!! Holy cow! How fu**king far can an airplane fly in 30 hours?!?

 

[Quimby]

pretty freakin' far.

 

[HalinTexas]

Sorry, meant 11-13 hours.

 

[MD11Drvr]

Or fly without autothrottles.

I enjoy turning them off and just flying the airplane. At the very least holding them to steady them out when its gusty. When I flew the DC-10 I would turn them off for all the approaches as I found them to be more trouble than they were worth. In 1800 hours I made 2 landings with them on in the DC-10, but I have to admit the ATS in the MD-11 is a much better system than the DC-10. I still miss the DC-8 though, no ATS and a autopilot that was only good in cruise if you were lucky.............

 

[Citrus531]

Is there many out there on the corporate side of things? I know that one of the casinos in Vegas just picked on up to fly to CHina. Only problem is that the range does not meet the needs. I have heard it can go nonstop only if conditions are perfect. Otherwise it requires a stop in ANC.

Any thoughts to the range/performance?

The Vegas Casino Mogul out west just picked up 2 L1011-500's...ex Saudi birds...saw the pics on airliners.net...sweet paint job.

The last L1011 worldwide fleet list I saw had about 20ish or so still active or at least airworthy...EuroAtlantic, the RAF, ATA, Air Universal(parked in Tehran, Iran currently), Luzair, and a couple of others I think. I did see a pic of the ATA -100 sitting in South Florida awaiting it's fate...retired a couple of months ago.

In production from only 1972-1983 with only 250 frames built...what a shame...I love the Tristar!

 

[pianoman]

Ever notice almost any cheesy USA-network type movie that has an airplane scene uses a Tri-Star? (Just saw Stephen King's "The Langoliers" on TV the other day)