UA accelerates 747-400 retirement

Brick · Mon Oct 30, 2017 3:43 pm

The gentleman who filmed this was sitting in the row ahead of me on the flight. I think he was from New Zealand if I recall correctly.

FoxtrotSierra wrote:
ICN Farewell:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/B747FC/ ... 420735516/

JannEejit · Mon Oct 30, 2017 4:20 pm

iahcsr wrote:
And now there are two.
N118UA and N121UA are the only remaining.
The other three arrived VCV yesterday.

Are these two to be retained for ad-hoc use ?

flyingclrs727 · Mon Oct 30, 2017 4:25 pm

JannEejit wrote:
iahcsr wrote:
And now there are two.
N118UA and N121UA are the only remaining.
The other three arrived VCV yesterday.

Are these two to be retained for ad-hoc use ?

I seriously doubt it. All 747's must have fuel tank inserting systems installed in order to fly in 2018. That's a big reason UA decided to retire their 747 fleet early.

SonaSounds · Mon Oct 30, 2017 6:42 pm

flyingclrs727 wrote:
JannEejit wrote:
iahcsr wrote:
And now there are two.
N118UA and N121UA are the only remaining.
The other three arrived VCV yesterday.

Are these two to be retained for ad-hoc use ?

I seriously doubt it. All 747's must have fuel tank inserting systems installed in order to fly in 2018. That's a big reason UA decided to retire their 747 fleet early.

United is keep 2 B747s for charter use through at least 2020. They will be parked out on plot 41 at SFO.

JannEejit · Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:16 pm

So are they or have they already had the fuel tank mods ?

ual763 · Mon Oct 30, 2017 9:52 pm

SonaSounds wrote:
flyingclrs727 wrote:
JannEejit wrote:

Are these two to be retained for ad-hoc use ?

I seriously doubt it. All 747's must have fuel tank inserting systems installed in order to fly in 2018. That's a big reason UA decided to retire their 747 fleet early.

United is keep 2 B747s for charter use through at least 2020. They will be parked out on plot 41 at SFO.

And you're aware of this how? No offense, but I highly doubt it. I was on the flight yesterday from ICN, I had talked to the pilots. The FO I talked to, was the most senior 747 pilot at United. He had over 17k hours on the -400 alone and flew the -400 itself, for 24 years at United. The airline is moving him to 787 Captain the day after Christmas. If they were to operate Charter 747s, who do you think they will have to crew it? Surely, the pilot I had talked to would have stayed on the 747 if they were to operate it charter (as this is the only plane he has ever loved flying and he was senior enough to hold it, even if charter.)

DC8FanJet · Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:07 pm

SonaSounds wrote:
flyingclrs727 wrote:
JannEejit wrote:

Are these two to be retained for ad-hoc use ?

I seriously doubt it. All 747's must have fuel tank inserting systems installed in order to fly in 2018. That's a big reason UA decided to retire their 747 fleet early.

United is keep 2 B747s for charter use through at least 2020. They will be parked out on plot 41 at SFO.

There remains the SFO-HNL farewell flight next week, after that, the aircraft will retire. There are no plans to keep them that have been communicated to employees.

SonaSounds · Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:13 pm

ual763 wrote:
SonaSounds wrote:
flyingclrs727 wrote:

I seriously doubt it. All 747's must have fuel tank inserting systems installed in order to fly in 2018. That's a big reason UA decided to retire their 747 fleet early.

United is keep 2 B747s for charter use through at least 2020. They will be parked out on plot 41 at SFO.

And you're aware of this how? No offense, but I highly doubt it. I was on the flight yesterday from ICN, I had talked to the pilots. The FO I talked to, was the most senior 747 pilot at United. He had over 17k hours on the -400 alone and flew the -400 itself, for 24 years at United. The airline is moving him to 787 Captain the day after Christmas. If they were to operate Charter 747s, who do you think they will have to crew it? Surely, the pilot I had talked to would have stayed on the 747 if they were to operate it charter (as this is the only plane he has ever loved flying and he was senior enough to hold it, even if charter.)

Lets just say I work for one of the companies involved in this and have seen the lease & use agreement for the two B744s at SFO. This is nothing new though. It has been talked about on this form multiple times already by other users.

Flighty · Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:13 pm

I don't see how they would keep highly paid 744 pilots available for "adhoc use." That is not the type of operation United is. At all.

bennett123 · Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:18 pm

Apart from the USA, where does the inerting requirement apply.

PA110 · Mon Oct 30, 2017 10:55 pm

I just flew N121UA a week ago Saturday SFO-LHR. It is scheduled to operate the final SFO-HNL flight on 07Nov. After that, they're gone!

LAXintl · Tue Oct 31, 2017 12:49 am

United is not keeping any 744s operational. They might be on the hook for leases for a period, but aircraft is leaving the fleet and entire pilot cadre has already been awarded other fleet types. 747 Fleet manager only last week sent out a final good-bye note to all fleet pilots.

bennett123 wrote:
Apart from the USA, where does the inerting requirement apply.

Its a global AD.

Over years other types have been required also - 737 family, 757/767, etc.

jumbojet · Tue Oct 31, 2017 10:21 pm

PA110 wrote:
I just flew N121UA a week ago Saturday SFO-LHR. It is scheduled to operate the final SFO-HNL flight on 07Nov. After that, they're gone!

Huge 747 fan here. Sorry but I don't see a UA operated 747 on November 7th on the SFO-HNL route. I see two 777's and two 737's.

N839MH · Tue Oct 31, 2017 10:23 pm

For those wanting to see a Delta B747 in DFW, one will be arriving around 1900 this Friday, November 3rd and departing Saturday morning.

B747forever · Tue Oct 31, 2017 10:24 pm

iahcsr wrote:
And now there are two.
N118UA and N121UA are the only remaining.
The other three arrived VCV yesterday.

Will try to head out to VCV by the end of next week. If I get any good pictures I will post them here.

FoxtrotSierra · Tue Oct 31, 2017 10:38 pm

N839MH wrote:
For those wanting to see a Delta B747 in DFW, one will be arriving around 1900 this Friday, November 3rd and departing Saturday morning.

I thought that was going to be in December, what's this one for?

N839MH · Tue Oct 31, 2017 10:42 pm

It's coming to DFW for overnight parking...middle of charter operations.

jumbojet · Tue Oct 31, 2017 10:44 pm

N839MH wrote:
For those wanting to see a Delta B747 in DFW, one will be arriving around 1900 this Friday, November 3rd and departing Saturday morning.

There was also a DL 747 in AUS earlier today. N667US.

KVH68 · Wed Nov 01, 2017 12:25 am

Last United 747-400 flight

11/07, SFO-HNL, N118UA (8418), flight# 0747, 11:00-14:45

PA110 · Wed Nov 01, 2017 5:11 am

jumbojet wrote:
Huge 747 fan here. Sorry but I don't see a UA operated 747 on November 7th on the SFO-HNL route. I see two 777's and two 737's.

It is a special one-off flight: UA flight# 747 departs SFO 11:00am arrives HNL 2:45pm. It sold out in under an hour because staff and invited guests received special invitations to book and were told when the flight would be loaded into the system.
You can find it on UAʻs website by searching timetable rather than availability HERE

It did make the news. Hereʻs the link to the USA TODAY story

FoxtrotSierra · Wed Nov 01, 2017 5:28 am

jumbojet wrote:
N839MH wrote:
For those wanting to see a Delta B747 in DFW, one will be arriving around 1900 this Friday, November 3rd and departing Saturday morning.

There was also a DL 747 in AUS earlier today. N667US.

Previously, I would've said that a 747 at AUS is a rare sight, but it's about to become the new normal!

speedbird52 · Wed Nov 01, 2017 5:36 am

Is there a plan for the return flight?

jumbojet · Wed Nov 01, 2017 12:06 pm

PA110 wrote:
jumbojet wrote:
Huge 747 fan here. Sorry but I don't see a UA operated 747 on November 7th on the SFO-HNL route. I see two 777's and two 737's.

It is a special one-off flight: UA flight# 747 departs SFO 11:00am arrives HNL 2:45pm. It sold out in under an hour because staff and invited guests received special invitations to book and were told when the flight would be loaded into the system.
You can find it on UAʻs website by searching timetable rather than availability HERE

It did make the news. Hereʻs the link to the USA TODAY story

Thanks so there looks to be no chance for me to buy a ticket on it. Oh well. I think UA has one of the best looking liveries on the 747 and woouldve loved to have flown on the UA 74 just once.

xjetflyer2001 · Fri Nov 03, 2017 3:58 pm

PA110 wrote:
jumbojet wrote:
Huge 747 fan here. Sorry but I don't see a UA operated 747 on November 7th on the SFO-HNL route. I see two 777's and two 737's.

It is a special one-off flight: UA flight# 747 departs SFO 11:00am arrives HNL 2:45pm. It sold out in under an hour because staff and invited guests received special invitations to book and were told when the flight would be loaded into the system.
You can find it on UAʻs website by searching timetable rather than availability HERE

It did make the news. Hereʻs the link to the USA TODAY story

Certain staff may have been notified in advance, senior management maybe, but I can tell you for a fact that regular employees were not notified in advance, we found out when everyone else did, after it was sold out for the most part except for a lucky few who just happened to see it. But regular staff was not at all notified in advance.

kaitak744 · Mon Nov 06, 2017 7:39 pm

LAXintl wrote:
United is not keeping any 744s operational. They might be on the hook for leases for a period, but aircraft is leaving the fleet and entire pilot cadre has already been awarded other fleet types. 747 Fleet manager only last week sent out a final good-bye note to all fleet pilots.

bennett123 wrote:
Apart from the USA, where does the inerting requirement apply.

Its a global AD.

Over years other types have been required also - 737 family, 757/767, etc.

United is keeping the last 2 747-400s operational. I have heard from 2 sources within United to confirm this. They will be used for charters.

727LOVER · Mon Nov 06, 2017 7:48 pm

kaitak744 wrote:
LAXintl wrote:
United is not keeping any 744s operational. They might be on the hook for leases for a period, but aircraft is leaving the fleet and entire pilot cadre has already been awarded other fleet types. 747 Fleet manager only last week sent out a final good-bye note to all fleet pilots.

bennett123 wrote:
Apart from the USA, where does the inerting requirement apply.

Its a global AD.

Over years other types have been required also - 737 family, 757/767, etc.

United is keeping the last 2 747-400s operational. I have heard from 2 sources within United to confirm this. They will be used for charters.

....and those regs?

cruiseshipcrew · Mon Nov 06, 2017 7:51 pm

kaitak744 wrote:
LAXintl wrote:
United is not keeping any 744s operational. They might be on the hook for leases for a period, but aircraft is leaving the fleet and entire pilot cadre has already been awarded other fleet types. 747 Fleet manager only last week sent out a final good-bye note to all fleet pilots.

bennett123 wrote:
Apart from the USA, where does the inerting requirement apply.

Its a global AD.

Over years other types have been required also - 737 family, 757/767, etc.

United is keeping the last 2 747-400s operational. I have heard from 2 sources within United to confirm this. They will be used for charters.

You better let United know that! N118UA has her ferry flight on the 9th to Victorville with N121UA being loaded today or tomorrow. I asked a friend who was a first officer on the 747 until last week about this rumor and it was news to her also.

Phosphorus · Mon Nov 06, 2017 8:13 pm

kaitak744 wrote:
LAXintl wrote:
United is not keeping any 744s operational. They might be on the hook for leases for a period, but aircraft is leaving the fleet and entire pilot cadre has already been awarded other fleet types. 747 Fleet manager only last week sent out a final good-bye note to all fleet pilots.

bennett123 wrote:
Apart from the USA, where does the inerting requirement apply.

Its a global AD.

Over years other types have been required also - 737 family, 757/767, etc.

United is keeping the last 2 747-400s operational. I have heard from 2 sources within United to confirm this. They will be used for charters.

There are interviews of cockpit crews out there -- they seem unanimous -- everyone bid for other types, there's no option to stay a "747 pilot". You mean, some pilots will fly other types, while being kept, separately, current on 747-400? Or there's a group of pilots, who are kept dedicated to 747?
Then there's the story of fuel tank inerting; conventional wisdom says it's the deal breaker, forcing airlines either to retire 747-400 pax before December 31, or invest in them. Has the decision to invest been taken?

United787 · Mon Nov 06, 2017 9:12 pm

I can't believe United will no longer have 747s in a matter of days

End of an era... Adios UA747

kaitak744 · Mon Nov 06, 2017 10:06 pm

727LOVER wrote:
kaitak744 wrote:
LAXintl wrote:
United is not keeping any 744s operational. They might be on the hook for leases for a period, but aircraft is leaving the fleet and entire pilot cadre has already been awarded other fleet types. 747 Fleet manager only last week sent out a final good-bye note to all fleet pilots.

Its a global AD.

Over years other types have been required also - 737 family, 757/767, etc.

United is keeping the last 2 747-400s operational. I have heard from 2 sources within United to confirm this. They will be used for charters.

....and those regs?

Are the tank mods required if the aircraft are just being used for charter?

There are several United FAs that are having their 747s certs kept up to date. Perhaps they will use non-United pilots?

It would cost very little for United to keep the frames around. If they are not approaching any major maintenance or engine overhaul, they can do 1-2 charters per month and keep the planes around for a long time until they hit the next major maintenance task / engine overhaul. At that point, it's just a matter of keep a crew around to fly them.

kaitak744 · Mon Nov 06, 2017 10:08 pm

cruiseshipcrew wrote:
kaitak744 wrote:
LAXintl wrote:
United is not keeping any 744s operational. They might be on the hook for leases for a period, but aircraft is leaving the fleet and entire pilot cadre has already been awarded other fleet types. 747 Fleet manager only last week sent out a final good-bye note to all fleet pilots.

Its a global AD.

Over years other types have been required also - 737 family, 757/767, etc.

United is keeping the last 2 747-400s operational. I have heard from 2 sources within United to confirm this. They will be used for charters.

You better let United know that! N118UA has her ferry flight on the 9th to Victorville with N121UA being loaded today or tomorrow. I asked a friend who was a first officer on the 747 until last week about this rumor and it was news to her also.

Those 2 could be going to VCV for some form of maintenance or modification. To my knowledge, they will be staying in SFO for the time being.

OneSexyL1011 · Tue Nov 07, 2017 4:10 am

There has been absolutely ZERO mention of keeping 2 747's on property for charter operations. At least in my department that I know of. It was commonly known, and said that all 747's will exit the fleet by the end of the year. The only thing I can think of is we have outstanding charter contracts that require a 747 for operation to fulfill. However from my understanding no additional charter flights will be contracted using the 747.

Not sure where this rumor is coming from unless there is something that we do not know.

FoxtrotSierra · Tue Nov 07, 2017 6:00 am

Farewell UA 747, thanks for 47 years of the Queen. :worried:

cruiseshipcrew · Tue Nov 07, 2017 8:10 am

kaitak744 wrote:
cruiseshipcrew wrote:
kaitak744 wrote:

United is keeping the last 2 747-400s operational. I have heard from 2 sources within United to confirm this. They will be used for charters.

You better let United know that! N118UA has her ferry flight on the 9th to Victorville with N121UA being loaded today or tomorrow. I asked a friend who was a first officer on the 747 until last week about this rumor and it was news to her also.

Those 2 could be going to VCV for some form of maintenance or modification. To my knowledge, they will be staying in SFO for the time being.

Bristol Associates, a firm United hired to offload the 747s, still shows that N121UA is still available for sale. N121UA's ferry to VCV is flight 2690 on the 8th and N118UA is #2778 on the 9th.

iahcsr · Tue Nov 07, 2017 8:15 am

kaitak744 wrote:
cruiseshipcrew wrote:
kaitak744 wrote:

United is keeping the last 2 747-400s operational. I have heard from 2 sources within United to confirm this. They will be used for charters.

You better let United know that! N118UA has her ferry flight on the 9th to Victorville with N121UA being loaded today or tomorrow. I asked a friend who was a first officer on the 747 until last week about this rumor and it was news to her also.

Those 2 could be going to VCV for some form of maintenance or modification. To my knowledge, they will be staying in SFO for the time being.

Both of the remaining craft are scheduled to be in VCV by the 9th. It is ‘possible’ they could be kept in a state of readiness should they be needed.... but I very, very, very seriously doubt it.

FoxtrotSierra · Tue Nov 07, 2017 9:17 pm

Wheels up at SFO UA747 at 10:59AMPDT, en route to HNL!

iahcsr · Wed Nov 08, 2017 1:35 am

... And that’s a wrap.... All done.... No more...

KVH68 · Wed Nov 08, 2017 1:54 am

Here is the arrival in Honolulu

http://mynewsfeed.today/player?s=facebo ... 2690479%2F

Continental767 · Wed Nov 08, 2017 2:12 am

Wow. An end of an era.

spyglass · Wed Nov 08, 2017 2:44 am

Oh well, there'll still be some freighters around for a while.....and a few airfields here might see a 748 occasionally....LH or some other....maybe.

crownvic · Wed Nov 08, 2017 3:06 am

come to Orlando on any Saturday and see 5 747-400's at the gate all together same time!

N415XJ · Wed Nov 08, 2017 3:29 am

Well, now I'm even more convinced that I need to find my way onto a DL 747 before the Queen is gone from the US Majors forever.

Does anyone know if DL plans on scheduling the 747s from DTW-Europe any time soon, or will they stay exclusively on DTW-Asia until retirement?

727LOVER · Wed Nov 08, 2017 3:53 am

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/m/b38bd45 ... final.html

United Airlines' final Boeing 747 flight features retro flare
https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/03b1d89c-e ... oeing.html

United gave its final 747 aircraft a 1970s sendoff
https://www.yahoo.com/news/united-gave- ... 32484.html

maintenance issue caused an hour delay?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/bd15da09-f ... elays.html

United Airlines' final Boeing 747 flight takes off
https://www.yahoo.com/news/m/6755eb62-2 ... oeing.html

michman · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:36 am

N415XJ wrote:
Well, now I'm even more convinced that I need to find my way onto a DL 747 before the Queen is gone from the US Majors forever.

Does anyone know if DL plans on scheduling the 747s from DTW-Europe any time soon, or will they stay exclusively on DTW-Asia until retirement?

Scheduled service is now only on DTW-ICN until December 17th. Any other flights are for charters.

usxguy · Wed Nov 08, 2017 5:12 am

that video quality of the HNL arrival is aweful, what's the background sound??

1g · Wed Nov 08, 2017 5:41 am

United 747 special departure out of SF

https://twitter.com/rpmcb/status/928063405361000448

FoxtrotSierra · Wed Nov 08, 2017 8:26 am

crownvic wrote:
come to Orlando on any Saturday and see 5 747-400's at the gate all together same time!

I feel really blessed to live in Orlando right now lol

usxguy · Wed Nov 08, 2017 8:27 am

Video of departure from a new chopper with LIVE ATC..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGsLlJe-lhk&t=5s

JannEejit · Wed Nov 08, 2017 9:33 am

spyglass wrote:
Oh well, there'll still be some freighters around for a while.....and a few airfields here might see a 748 occasionally....LH or some other....maybe.

This year is just the end of 747 passenger ops by US airlines, not the end of 747 passenger ops in US destinations. You still have plenty time to see, even fly on one. British Airways for another seven years by current reckoning. And as Crownvic states, you can probably witness more Virgin Atlantic 744's on the ground at the same time at MCO than anywhere else including in the UK ! ;-)

Quick question re: the United 744 charter ops rumour (which I agree is just a rumour) How long is one type rating retained for, after said pilot has moved on to another type. Can two or more ratings run concurrently ?

OneSexyL1011 · Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:47 pm

The way UA did this, I couldn't be any more proud to be a UA employee. They truly did the 747 justice in its retirement.
I cant believe its gone. SFO and ORD to me will never be the same.

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