UAL Flts 8000 callsign...

[JTrain]

Flying out of IAD the last 2+ yrs have pretty much gotten a feel for all the callsigns and flt #s of the co's that fly in and out of there. However, several times in recent weeks I have heard UAL flights with callsigns in the 8000 range. Knowing how UAL does their schedule, their flights are only numbered from 1-2000 (with many gaps in that 1-2000), for marketing purposes Air Canada flights are given UA flt #s in the 3000 - although they obviously operated under the Air Canada callsign, then the Express family (SkyWest, AirWisc + ACA bringing the #s approx to the 7000s, but for ATC purposes they drop the first digit + use the appropriate callsign, be it Wisconsin, SkyWest, or Blue Ridge).

What are these UAL flts with 8000 callsigns? Mx repos? Charters? It seems every time I saw one, it was a 757. Anybody? Just curious!

JTrain

 

[NEDude]

My guess is MX or a charter. A few years back when working ramp in SLC, a Southwest flight came in with flight number in the 7000 range. Turns out it was a charter for the University of North Texas football team.

 

[flywithruss]

Odd-numbered flights like this are usually either repositions or charters. Most all of the airlines fly charters for pro sports teams, and (especially for football) the B757 is a popular airplane for the number of folks traveling (players, coaches, support folks, radio, local news, etc.).

Another good clue is seeing an "atypical" airplane somwhere. I saw a Delta 757 at CLT once ... not a usual stop for them, but quickly realized it was an NFL charter. Saw a SWA bird at ROC once (this was eight years ago ... let's not start any rumors now) ... same routine. Speaking of ROC ... saw the BA Concorde there once a few years ago. When the Ryder Cup was played there, the Royal Family chartered the Concorde to go to and fro.

Fly safe!

R

 

[Lazyrider]

United's 8000 flight range is reserved for charters and extra sections.

 

[MAK]

We commonly use...

... an 8000 number as a radio call sign for ATC even though our flight number is different.

This will happen when a flight is broken into 2 or more segments with an aircraft change, but one first aircraft is delayed and will be airborne at the same time as the second airplane.

For example, let's say UAL flight 960 is LHR to LAS with a stop in LAX. A 777 will fly the LHR-LAX segment and a 737 will fly LAX-LAS. If the 777 is delayed for some reason, the 737 will not wait, but it can't takeoff as UAL 960 because the 777 is already airborne and using that callsign. Thence, the 737 will get a radio call sign of something like 8126 so it can operate at the same time as the 777.

Get it???? Good, now explain it to me!!! ;-)