Civilian C-17s?

[H8ster]

I heard that some C-17s were going to be bought on the civilian side for outsized cargo. Has anyone else heard anything about this. Seems to be about time concerning the Russkies have cornered much of the market.

 

[bafanguy]

You might look at: www.waysidepro.com as the always-reliable rumor mill thinks this might be the outfit to which you refer.

 

[bocefus]

Old news, there was some talk by the Air Force about doing this and putting them them in the CRAF, but it it not going to happen, way too expensive for any private enterprise to purchase, operate and be profitable. Pipe dream.

 

[bafanguy]

Old news.. Pipe dream.

Exactly..........

 

[easymoney]

Wayside inc

They were gathering names, so when the company got approval from the FAA. They could staff it quickly.

 

[bafanguy]

They were gathering names, so when the company got approval from the FAA. They could staff it quickly.

I certainly wish them luck. I'm always glad to see something happen that puts a few people to work.

 

[Checknsix]

From what my Air Force buddies told me a few years ago...the dispatch rate on the C-17, is going to make it very difficult to make it a profitable airplane to operate. At the time, they were dispatching 2-3 airplanes, for a one airplane mission...all the while, the C-130's were flying back and forth with few problems, on the same legs.

 

[Kikuchiyo]

That reliability rate may have been true prior to IOC. Now we run 95% or greater on-time.

As to civie purchase (& FAA certification), Boeing told me at C-17 plant in 2001 that they were waiting for State Dept approval. Seems there was some concern about other nations' national airlines buying them, then having them used to airdrop paratroops over our allies or us. Just relaying what I was told.

No, the jet isn't economical for generic cargo relative to others. But there's a market for someone to operate the Super Guppy and all those Russian IL-76's & AN-124's. Hopefully we'll see.

 

[bocefus]

Pipe Dream, won't happen. The C-17 is not even close to competing with an AN-124 as to capabilities, there is no market in the west for Il-76's, and they have been banned in most other countries.