Which company is being chartered for the Corona Virus Flights?

[Dronepiper]

Just curious as to which company the government has contracted to fly Canadians back from China.

[BMLtech]

Haven’t seen it reported anywhere but I suspect it could be the same Kalitta B744F that the Americans used with palletized seating. It was interesting that it appeared to be operated without any passenger 02 or escape slide provisions. Desperate times I guess.

[Caterpillar]

Why not use AC? They have stopped their flights to China, so I believe a few 777/787 are available...

[Cessna 180]

Why not use AC? They have stopped their flights to China, so I believe a few 777/787 are available...

Because their crew would be stuck from going to the USA for 14 days, and I'm sure the Union would raise a fit just like American Airlines union. Plus who knows the sanitation requirements after a flight. That freighter can probably be cleaned easier with fewer textiles on board.

[TwinOtterFan]

Haven’t seen it reported anywhere but I suspect it could be the same Kalitta B744F that the Americans used with palletized seating. It was interesting that it appeared to be operated without any passenger 02 or escape slide provisions. Desperate times I guess.

We ride in the Globemaster all the time like that, cold as balls too!

I'm surprised they just didn't use one of ours.

[smooth]

we have 5 CC-150(Airbus 310-300) or Globemaster III

[Eric Janson]

Hifly A333 on its way. Destination Hanoi initially.

This was going to be an A380 flight - I understand it will be doing a different evacuation flight.

[Gannet167]

I think a C17 with palletized seats hold less than a typical 319. And it would generate a lot of complaints about the accommodation, the travelling public has an existential crisis when the WiFi goes down. Gov't may not want that on social media. Those planes would likely be pulled from other operational taskings. Better to contract.

The 310, of which we have 4 serviceable at best (and likely forever going forward as #1 has a wrinkled fuselage) would require a couple fuel stops. Not sure how US would feel about a plane of people on the verge of becoming zombies stopping in Anchorage etc.

[plhought]

Like mentioned above, it's Hi-Fly 330 initially, maybe another if required.

Also the air-stairs in Trenton reach the door on the 330 (same as 310)... Maybe not a 380

HiFly has been doing some military work already lately (recently visited YEG) so they're all up to speed on things.

Of course any good opposition MP should rant and rave why the work wasn't given to a Canadian company blah blah blah

[Capt. Underpants]

I'd be surprised if any Canadian company was able to crew one of these flights.

[Eric Janson]

I'd be surprised if any Canadian company was able to crew one of these flights.

It's not just a crewing issue.

This kind of short notice operation is completely different than an Airline operation where everything is organised before any flights are performed.

This requires a great deal of flexibility from all involved plus the capability to do everything yourself with little to no support.

Our flights are all remote dispatched with papers e-mailed to us. We prepare our own load sheets and have to instruct the ground staff how to load the aircraft.

A couple of years ago 2 of us were standing in the snow front of an unpowered aircraft. The Engineer had been called away to help with another aircraft in a different country. I had to organise the refuelling and do the maintenance release in the tech log. Not an unusual situation for us.

We operate all over the world. Jeppesen has had to put together a special database just for our company as none of their packages fit our operation. I've seen both a flag carrier and another scheduled airline try to do these flights - it was a big mess.

One of the reasons I joined was the attraction of the extremely diverse range of flights/destinations the company has.

I'm at our head office 2-3 times a year.

[Capt. Underpants]

All of Canada’s large airline operators have the capability to manage the logistical challenges you have suggested. They do adhoc charters like this fairly often. They know how to arrange databases, fueling etc. It isn’t rocket science, but getting cabin crew to agree to spend 15+ hours in an airplane with a group of people who are potentially infected with a fairly serious affliction is another story in a country where the right to refuse unsafe work is covered in our laws.

[Eric Janson]

All of Canada’s large airline operators have the capability to manage the logistical challenges you have suggested. They do adhoc charters like this fairly often.

All within N America.

Don't underestimate the difficulty of operating in Asia, Africa and South America where our aircraft operate quite frequently.

Not to mention various Military bases.

This is very specialised flying.

[Heliian]

[



This is very specialised flying.

"specialised"

gimme a break, it's a passenger charter, there are several canadian companies capable of performing the task, maybe just not available or for the right price. Sure, they won't have the full handling experience of a five star airline but they can still get it done. It's not a war zone, it's just a little pandemic.

[Capt. Underpants]

All within N America.

Don't underestimate the difficulty of operating in Asia, Africa and South America where our aircraft operate quite frequently.

Not to mention various Military bases.

This is very specialised flying.

You have no idea what they are capable of. Stop trying to fluff your own pillows by sullying the capabilities of the competition.

[smooth]

The first charter plane is the Kalitta 744, currently east of Japan. i think there is another one plane leaving Wuhan on Friday

57B2F660-66C5-47CE-ACBB-368ABD83CD47.jpeg (557.54 KiB) Viewed 1846 times

[Inverted2]

Are they serving Coronas on board?

[Heliian]

https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/flight-ca ... -1.4801361

It's an a350 by the looks of it.