Southern Air

[Microclimates]

Hey Sword, do you guys have gateway cities where you start your trips from?

Are there any international domiciles? specifically, is SYD completely off the charts?

see ya

 

[swordfish]

Hey Sword, do you guys have gateway cities where you start your trips from?

Are there any international domiciles? specifically, is SYD completely off the charts?

see ya

You can Live anywhere in the USA, with the exception of Hawaii. International base are not allowed. which is lame because it would save the company a lots of money, airlines us around the world.

 

[johnsonrod]

What's the latest with Southern? Any update on the incoming 400s? How many pilots are in the hiring pool?

 

[swordfish]

What's the latest with Southern? Any update on the incoming 400s? How many pilots are in the hiring pool?

I have heard that 2 BCF's 400's at the end of summer, I know they have stopped interviewing at the moment. so as far as how many are in the pool..... not really sure. But there has been talk of hiring FO into the 777 and 400,,,,,,, we will see!

sword

 

[Fliteidol]

Southern Air to start replacing 747 Classics with 747-400SFs
By Brendan Sobie


US cargo carrier Southern Air has unveiled plans to start replacing its fleet of 14 747-200/300s with 747-400 converted freighters, with the first of the new type to be placed into service in the middle of this year.
Southern Air CEO Daniel McHugh tells ATI and Flightglobal the carrier has committed to leasing five 747-400SFs, with two to be delivered this year and three next year. He says the carrier is also currently looking at a potential third aircraft for 2011 and fourth aircraft for 2012 as part of the first phase of Southern's new 747-200/300 fleet renewal programme.
He explains "the firm fleet plan" envisions the first 747-400SF being delivered in mid 2011 and the second being delivered in the fourth quarter of 2011. The other three firm 747-400s in the current fleet plan will be delivered throughout 2012.
McHugh says Southern aims to replace most of its 747 Classic freighters over the next three years with 747-400s. The carrier also operates two Boeing 777Fs with four more on order, but these are seen as growth rather than replacement aircraft.
"By the end of 2013 we should primarily be a 747-400 and 777 operator but we'll still have some classics," McHugh says.
The 747-400s will be primarily operated for wet-lease customers. But Southern also expects the new fleet to be used on charters, including military charters. The majority of Southern's business, about 70%, is now generated from its wet-lease or ACMI operation.
This is not the first time Connecticut-based Southern has looked at the 747-400SF. In 2007 the carrier, after being acquired by US private equity firm Oak Hill Capital, said it planned to begin acquiring 747-400SFs. But the carrier in 2008 dropped these plans, deciding to instead focus on acquiring 777Fs. A year ago ATI reported that Southern was looking at opportunities to acquire additional 747-200/300s rather than switch to newer 747-400s.
"We modified our strategy of buying more 747-200s to 747-400s for the cornerstone of our fleet renewal," McHugh explains. "We're now in the process of bringing in 747-400s into the Southern fleet and will start retiring our oldest -200s."
Southern leases both its 777s from OH Aircraft Acquisition, a leasing company in the portfolio of Oak Hill Capital. The 747-400s Southern now intends to lease are owned by other leasing companies but Southern declines to identify the leasing companies.
While the initial five 747-400s are all newly converted aircraft, McHugh envisions taking over the next five years a mix of converted and second hand production freighters for a total fleet of 14 to 15 aircraft. He says Southern is open to operating freighters which have been converted by either 747-400 cargo conversion supplier - Boeing and Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI).
"Ideally the incoming -400s will be a combination of converted freighters and production freighters, which we think will become

 

[johnsonrod]

That's good news. Sounds like the overall 777 fleet plan has been reduced from 10 to 6 airframes.

 

[tubineotter]

Yawn, actions speak loader that words. Dan is say the right thing but aint shiv happening!

 

[K.V.]

Just checked out Southern on APC. If that scale is anywhere near accurate, those guys are getting paid garbage for wide body pilots!

Is there something that I'm missing?

 

[Classicdriver]

Fliteidol,
Any chance we can get a link to that article? Unable to find it anywhere.

 

[DC8CRIVER]

Fliteidol,
Any chance we can get a link to that article? Unable to find it anywhere.

http://www.flightglobal.com/article...t-replacing-747-classics-with-747-400sfs.html

 

[dontpost2]

Looks like Southern is losing the THAI contract. I hope the 777's can find more work, it shouldn't be hard I suppose with the growth lately in the industry.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/aviation/224513/thai-to-convert-old-planes-for-cargo

 

[Classicdriver]

I was afraid of this. Thai has never been successful at the all freight business. Atlas, Focus, partner with LH, all no go. I can't believe that Thai was high on the Southern list of ACMI customers, meaning there may not be much demand. EK is just using the 777 on DXB to HKG route. Good luck, there's always MAS?

 

[B747FR8DAWG]

Did Southern hire off the street into the 777? Will there be furloughs if no work is found for these planes, when the Thai contract is terminated?

I'm sure FedEx would like to get their hands on these planes.

 

[swordfish]

Southern never wanted Thai as a long term customer, Thai was the only customer that allowed the flexibility for delivery dates and FAA proving runs. Southern ask Thai 3 months ago to give one of there planes back , when Thai asked for a reduced rates. there a long list of customers in line for them, with Korean at the top. We just renewed our contract with KA with the promise for the next 2 777. SA is still committed to there 777 plans. With two more deliver in the next 12 months. And 2 more the year after. All 777 pilots are the top of the seniority list and would flow back to the classic or 400s when they arrive these fall.

 

[B747FR8DAWG]

Southern never wanted Thai as a long term customer, Thai was the only customer that allowed the flexibility for delivery dates and FAA proving runs. Southern ask Thai 3 months ago to give one of there planes back , when Thai asked for a reduced rates. there a long list of customers in line for them, with Korean at the top. We just renewed our contract with KA with the promise for the next 2 777. SA is still committed to there 777 plans. With two more deliver in the next 12 months. And 2 more the year after. All 777 pilots are the top of the seniority list and would flow back to the classic or 400s when they arrive these fall.

Thanks for the update!

 

[Draginass]

Just checked out Southern on APC. If that scale is anywhere near accurate, those guys are getting paid garbage for wide body pilots!

Is there something that I'm missing?

No, that's right. Quite a cast-off of characters at Southern, as you might imagine.

http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/cargo/southern_air.html

 

[HA25]

Just checked out Southern on APC. If that scale is anywhere near accurate, those guys are getting paid garbage for wide body pilots!

Is there something that I'm missing?

but besides Fedex and UPS, who really isn't getting paid garbage to fly wide body's? Even "the majors" are hugely lagging, especially for FO pay.

 

[dontpost2]

No, that's right. Quite a cast-off of characters at Southern, as you might imagine.

http://www.airlinepilotcentral.com/airlines/cargo/southern_air.html

That was a nice thing to say.

Most of the guys and gals I know at Southern are all furloughees from other airlines who once made really good money. They are all fine aviators and good folks.

 

[HA25]

That was a nice thing to say.

Most of the guys and gals I know at Southern are all furloughees from other airlines who once made really good money. They are all fine aviators and good folks.

there are gals in ACMI? I've been at the 5-clowns, St. Michaels and other frequent destinations in the past 6 years on and off and yet to see one..

 

[PHXFLYR]

We had a gal who was a PFE at ATI while I was there, (mid 90's ). Not only that, she was a check engineer. Of couse boys being boys, we called her the "check chick " .

Not only that , one of my new-hire FO classmates at ATI was a girl who in her prior life was an F28 FO with Horizon.

And while flying a trip from the east coast to PHX recently , I heard an ATI flight check in on center frequency and the pilot working the radio that leg was a girl , not to mention the lady Evergreen pilot I heard talking to Anchorage Center one night on our way up to ANC just a few weeks prior to that.

So I guess it's safe to say that the ladies are out there . It just may be they are going out of their way to avoid you...


I keed .


PHXFLYR