Australian Air Express 733F

[Peter Smith 1]

G'day all, as many of Australian Air Express's (National Jet Express) 722F's draw closer to the end of their service life, QF/NJS are looking for a replacement, and they have been found in the form of ex- QF 733's, which after completing mainline service served with Jetconnect in NZ, and an initial 4 of these are now being retired from a life of transporting pax, being replaced by VH-TJJ/K/L and eventually M, all 737-476's.

 

The first bird 737-376 ZK-JNH is soon to arrive at AVV for a pre-conversion lay-up and r/r to VH-XMO, before what I am told, is a trip to Subang for freighter conversion, repaint and installation of winglets, making AAE/NJE only the second operator in the world of winglet equipped 733's (the only example being 737-33A EC-IPS with Air Plus Comet).

 

Good spotting times ahead!

 

A MAS source says the carrier’s in-house maintenance division hopes to launch its 737-300/400 cargo conversion soon with orders from several potential customers including Qantas subsidiary Australian Air Express (AEE). Sources say Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) and Pemco Aviation Group have provided Qantas with bids to convert, in the first half of next year, four 737-300s being phased out by Qantas’s New Zealand subsidiary JetConnect. Qantas is being given the option of having some of the aircraft converted in Asia to save on ferrying and labour costs. It is expected to decide on a conversion supplier within the next few weeks and hand the first aircraft over in January.

 

MAS, which last year partnered with Pemco as a conversion centre under its 737-300SF supplemental type certificate (STC), appears to be well placed to convert one or two of the aircraft, with the rest converted by Pemco in Alabama. Pemco’s Chinese partner, Taikoo (Xiamen) Aircraft Engineering, may also convert some aircraft for AEE, but this option is less likely because of a 17% tax imposed by the Chinese government on conversions. Sources say the tax is also a disadvantage for IAI’s Chinese partner Guangzhou Aircraft Maintenance Engineering

MAS Gearing up for 737-300 Conversions

Gibby

Edited December 13, 2005 by Liam Gibb

[S V Choong 4]

Thanks for the news Gibby. Which other Jetconnect 733 will be converted? Heard that the ex-Aussie QF 734 will be here sometime next year!

[Peter Smith 1]

The first one VH-TJJ is at AVV now, being prepared for Kiwi service...and removal of its "Australian Spirit"

 

Be a sad sight to see the end of the 727, as all of them started life with Ansett...Oh and a nice winglet equipped VH-VLG (ex- RMX) is at PER now.

 

Departures:

ZK-JNH on Dec 1st 05

ZK-JNG on Jan 22nd 06

ZK-JNF on March 5th 06

ZK-JNA on April 19th

ZK-JNB on November 06 (this may not go to AAE)

 

Arrivals:

VH-TJJ (ZK-JTP) on Dec 21st 05

VH-TJK on March 4th

VH-TJL on April 18th

VH-TJM sched to arrive November 06, still pending

 

thanks to GM. **subject to change**

[S V Choong 4]

The first one VH-TJJ is at AVV now, being prepared for Kiwi service...and removal of its "Australian Spirit" 

 

Yeah I noticed that too Liam

 

Used to ride on ZK-JNB, JNE, JNF and JNG quite a bit. Might be the last time to catch them during my trip next week.

[Peter Smith 1]

Seems the work may be undertaken completely at AVV. The pre-conversion however will being ~ 27th Dec...total completion 3-4 months later. From LC.

[S V Choong 4]

Will these birds fly back to Qantas at Aussie first before heading to Subang for conversion? What is AVV stand for?

Edited December 15, 2005 by S V Choong