UA Temporarily Grounds Boeing 772 (PW Power); returning to service: late May 2022
#301
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,241
It’s believed that United will be announcing a large aircraft order on Tuesday. There’s speculation that the order will include 20 787-10s. That would be the right amount to replace the 20 domestic 777s where other fan blade cracks have been found. Further speculation is that the PW 777ERs, that have Polaris/PP, will return after the engine modification plan is finalized and installation completed.
Let’s see what Tuesday brings.
Let’s see what Tuesday brings.
#302
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
How do they do that - as in, have they already cleared inspection?
#303
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SRQ, PDX
Programs: UA 1 MM, AA, DL
Posts: 928
Even if they place the order now, no new widebodies can be built and deliver immediately, it would be at least a year or longer down the road, and UA doesn't seem like they are in a hurry to replace them neither or they would have bought those 10+ NH 77W that are scrapping right now, all those NH 77W are less than 20 years old
#304
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,241
No, but I believe someone mentioned prior they got a special permit for a ferry flight, this is not a new thing, as UA just recently had ferried those 77M and 77G that were left at HNL for months, flew to VCV for better storage, no inspection was done at HNL before they flew
#305
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,138
It would be on a ferry permit from the FAA which could include any number of conditions, mitigating procedures, and/or pre-flight inspections. Whatever the FAA deemed appropriate for the situation. It would be flown by a crew made up of engineering pilots who do nothing but maintenance test flights, maintenance ferries, etc. These are the same pilots who moved 737 MAX aircraft around, as required, during that grounding.
#306
Join Date: May 2001
Posts: 4,767
No, but I believe someone mentioned prior they got a special permit for a ferry flight, this is not a new thing, as UA just recently had ferried those 77M and 77G that were left at HNL for months, flew to VCV for better storage, no inspection was done at HNL before they flew
#307
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2003
Programs: UA*Lifetime GS, Hyatt* Lifetime Globalist
Posts: 12,277
Happy to hear these Polaris configured 772s will be going for heavy maintenance and return to scheduled services once international traffic goes back to normal.
Nothing against the 787s, but still prefer the roomier feelings of the 777s in the Premium Economy and Polaris cabins.
Hope they will be in service enough until A350s come join the fleet .
Love flying the A350. As far as traveling experience goes, it is a much better replacement for the 772/3 than 789/10.
Nothing against the 787s, but still prefer the roomier feelings of the 777s in the Premium Economy and Polaris cabins.
Hope they will be in service enough until A350s come join the fleet .
Love flying the A350. As far as traveling experience goes, it is a much better replacement for the 772/3 than 789/10.
#308
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: ORD, HKG
Programs: UA*G, AA Emerald, HHonors Diamond, Hyatt globalist
Posts: 10,241
there are no definitely plans to return to service, someone is mistaken the 77N/U/G/M had been there for months as storage rather than doing anything, the only ones that are actually there for maintenance are the 77E, which are the GE birds
Last edited by WineCountryUA; Jun 27, 2021 at 9:18 pm Reason: merging consecutive posts by same member
#309
Join Date: Nov 2014
Programs: UA 2MM
Posts: 1,676
#310
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: HNL
Programs: UA GS4MM, MR LT Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,447
I'm a bit surprised the FAA would grant a waiver to fly a grounded plane permission to fly to China - even for maintenance (isn't the engine part of heavy maintenance?). It is one thing to get them from - lets say Hawaii - to San Francisco - to be readied for inspection.
#311
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: BNA
Programs: HH Gold. (Former) UA PP, DL PM, PC Plat
Posts: 8,138
I don't know any specifics about these ferry permits but I'm sure there are maintenance procedures and requirements to mitigate the risk of fan blade failure. Perhaps they have to install relatively low-time blades? Maybe there's some time of inspection that they must do? I don't know.
#312
I'm a bit surprised the FAA would grant a waiver to fly a grounded plane permission to fly to China - even for maintenance (isn't the engine part of heavy maintenance?). It is one thing to get them from - lets say Hawaii - to San Francisco - to be readied for inspection.
#313
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2015
Posts: 11,352
I'm a bit surprised the FAA would grant a waiver to fly a grounded plane permission to fly to China - even for maintenance (isn't the engine part of heavy maintenance?). It is one thing to get them from - lets say Hawaii - to San Francisco - to be readied for inspection.
#315
Join Date: Mar 2014
Programs: Mileage Plus Global Services 2MM
Posts: 1,198
I had booked a December 13 trip from KOA-ORD. It looks like they are resuming the non-stop Summer service for the December holiday period, which is great news if it sticks! That said, when we booked it it was 772HD service. A few days later it became 788 service like the Summer service. It looks like the retrofit on the PW 772 is going to take a long time and/or UA is retiring some of these birds.