Alaska ETOPS...problems?

[QCappy]

I think that the kicker will be the winds. AQ had serious problems out of ANC due to winds, and had to send a bunch of bags through SEA quite frequently.

That was in a -700. I'm not sure if the -800s will make a difference.

 

[mdanno808]

I have heard that the 700 actually has better range than the 800. Any truth to that?

 

[Getter]

-700 has the best range of all the 737's except for the BBJ.

 

[Green Banana]

Range is not the issue here. The 800 can carry 20K lbs more than the 700. Extra fuel for the etops requirement.

Also AQ never flew the ANC route. Only YVR.

 

[Old School 737]

I don't think it a range issue but rather a balancing of numbers game. How many people / bags/ cargo / fuel required /can I take and still lift the weight off the runway and still be within ZFW and Max TO weight and Landing weight. If you look at the miliage I think it is more miles from SEA to MIA. And ORD to ANC. I think the -900er would be a great choice for Alaska. I don't have performance numbers but with 28.3K moters and 188,000 takoff weight I bet you could fill up the seats and lift all the people/ bags/cargo / fuel you need.

 

[Green Banana]

The thing I have to laugh at is the APU is on all the way across the pacific. Now I can say I fly a 3 engine jet!!

 

[HAL]

Also AQ never flew the ANC route. Only YVR.

Aloha did fly from ANC to HNL in the winter/spring of 2002/2003 for Hawaiian Vacations, the same charter company that Hawaiian Airlines flies for now. HV needed extra lift and used Aloha. They ran into big problems however with load/range issues, and soon dropped the contract. We (HA) picked up the slack when AQ left.

HAL

 

[Green Banana]

Ahh, contract. Noted.
Thanks

 

[Wally]

...I did hear from some people that we may have to block off a few seats to carry more fuel but this is a rumor.

From the company website:
There will be payload restrictions in the LIH to SEA market (due to the short runway). They will vary by month, but generally will be 10-15 passengers less than a full plane. This was taken into consideration when developing this market and even with the payload restrictions, it should be a viable market for us.

Wally

 

[igneousy2]

AS's EVP of ops stated that the 900er doesn't work for AS because you gain range at the expense of cargo capacity as the extra fuel is carried in space that would have been cargo.

later

 

[Freight Dog]

You can't beat the -700 as far as performance is concerned. We're talking 5700 feet of runway out of SNA to HNL, full house - 12/112... all day long!

I'm really curious how an -800 will work out for us. We're "testing" it on OGG-SMF run. I guess we'll find out next month.

 

[Dan Roman]

Having flown the ANC to HNL route quite a few times, I can tell you from experience that it get somes hellacious winds relative to the lower 48 to Hawaii. It's a different beast. I've seen 6 hrs at Mach .80 fairly often. AQ's 700 failed misarably on the route, but they work OK West Coast to Hawaii. I assumed AS knew what they were doing, after reading this thread I'm wondering.

 

[ReverseSensing]

I assumed AS knew what they were doing.......

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:...Oy! I've pissed meself!

 

[Dan Roman]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:...Oy! I've pissed meself!

LOL, OK point taken.
I'm thinking that trying to fly a 800 from ANC to HNL will be an unmitigated disaster. It's nothing like lower 48 to Hawaii. Much more weather in the winter that requires extra fuel for headwinds, more weather deviations and turbulence.

 

[QCappy]

:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:...Oy! I've pissed meself!

Again!?! I told you to stop drinking so many beers when I'm not around:beer: ....Homeland Security issue

 

[mach none]

You have to remember, This IS Alaska Airlines and we just keep reinventing the wheel everytime. In fact, we are celebrating 75 years of first day operations.

 

[ReverseSensing]

Again!?! I told you to stop drinking so many beers when I'm not around:beer:

I refuse to believe it's the beer. I'm thinking enlarged prostate. Even your jokes would probably make me squirt a little anymore.

 

[igneousy2]

Good to go

FAA grants Alaska Airlines
ETOPS authority for Hawaii flights

October 10, 2007

By Don Conrard

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved Alaska Airlines’ application for Extended Operations, capping 23 months of intense effort by employees throughout the company.

ETOPS authority clears the way for the airline to begin service to Hawaii on Friday with daily flights between Seattle and Honolulu. Nonstop service to Lihue on the island of Kauai will begin Oct 28, followed by Anchorage-Honolulu service Dec. 9.

“There were a lot of smiles around here when the FAA called to give us the good news,” said Mike Thynes who led the certification effort as ETOPS senior project manager. “Gaining ETOPS authority is a huge achievement that could not have been accomplished without the enthusiastic support of hundreds of employees around the company. Thanks to everyone involved, we now have an exciting, new destination for nonrevs to visit and a great growth opportunity for Alaska Airlines.”

Documents granting the carrier ETOPS authority were signed yesterday afternoon at the FAA’s Certificate Management Office in Seattle. Vince Hasson, director of quality control and chief inspector, and Jim Winkelman, director of regulatory compliance, signed on behalf of Alaska Airlines. Jim Dodge, the FAA’s principal maintenance inspector, signed on behalf of the agency.
​

 

[DashTrash400]

Looks like AS pulled off another ready-fire-aim

"We have ETOPS! And we're going to Hawaii! That means we're finally a REAL airline...like ATA!!!"

 

[regionaltard]

To Hawaii and Beyond!

 

[Green Banana]

rumors, rumors.........

First flight to Hawaii lands on time.

http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/14332561/detail.html

 

[Baze]

rumors, rumors.........

First flight to Hawaii lands on time.

http://www.thehawaiichannel.com/news/14332561/detail.html

Yeah, but how many bags did Mensa lose for us?

 

[FlickerFade]

RASM, CASM, when you can't even sell all the seats have to be killer.