Originally Posted by
SHT88T
Whist there are cabin differences as mentioned above, this was not the reason VH-OQC was moved. Qantas posted on social media a while back to say it needed maintenance and a gravity gear extension test that could only be performed at LAX.
Originally Posted by
unconfirmedsource
Depends if they’re parked or stored.
If parked the aircraft are maintained, their navigational databases updated, they are kept in weekly check and maintenance performed. Airbus have a requirement to cycle the landing gear once every 90 days I think it is. This could be done on the ground using jacks but it is typically easier to fly the aircraft.
If stored the aircraft are inhibited and protected. As such no maintenance is carried out or modifications embodied. There is a 30 day return to service package to bring the aircraft back to operational status. I think a test flight is also required.
I wonder whether QF had to go through that process to get VH-OQC moved from VCV to LAX? And would VCV-LAX have been possible as the test flight? At 43 minutes flying time, it might have been the right sort of duration.
G-XLEF's flight today was her first for exactly 14 weeks (98 days), which would seem to be consistent with an Airbus requirement of that kind. Her last previous movement was LHR-MAD on 9 March 2021.