Hal 717 phnl-oak

[t-bone]

I saw this guy land in OAK today...is it common to send the 717s back to the mainland or is this airplane leaving the HAL lineup? Seems like a lot of work to bring it back just for MX in BFI!

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/HAL9002/history/20111120/1900Z/PHNL/KOAK

 

[Dan Roman]

It's not common, but it is done. We just added 3 717's so it might have something to do with that.

 

[HAL]

It does happen several times a year. HA sends the 717's to MIA for heavy checks, which come up about once every 18 months for each aircraft.

Doing it this way ends up being cheaper than having all the equipment needed for a heavy check in HNL, along with a hangar, which would only be used once a month.

HAL

 

[jetflier]

Any more DAL rumors there?

 

[t-bone]

Does the airplane have the range to do the crossing without adding extra fuel tanks? I don't know much about the 717...

 

[bri5150]

I saw a HAL A330 in MSP a couple weeks ago. I imagine it was contract mx as well?

 

[Jim]

^ I think it was a NFL charter. We fly the Raiders and Seahawks.

They put aux tanks in the 717's cabin for the mainland trips.

 

[landlover]

They put aux tanks in the 717's cabin for the mainland trips.

really? so it's also empty, as in no pax i would assume? that's a long leg to do empty round trip.

 

[Dan Roman]

Any more DAL rumors there?

None actually.
My take is Hawaiian's worth is as Hawaiian Airlines. Paint another name on the side of the airplane and much of what makes them successful goes away. Also, trying to eliminate a local institution and one of the states largest local employer's might be more difficult than many realize.

 

[Jim]

really? so it's also empty, as in no pax i would assume? that's a long leg to do empty round trip.

Yes they fly empty. They are not certified for ETOPS and can't fly pax on these flights.