Member

Joined: 03 Jan 2008
Posts: 141
Location: Lafayette, IN

I saw the thread today about ATA a/c coming back through Indy, and had a couple questions. If I remember correctly, they recently acquired one or more DC-10's. Do they still have the L-1011's? If they do, are they in revenue service or charter (military or other)? Does the airline operate any scheduled revenue flights anymore? Apologies if this info is hidden elsewhere on the site and I didn't see it. Thanks!

Dan

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

I do believe all the ATA L1011s are gone. They might still have one, pending another DC-10 coming into the fleet. Yup, they still have scheduled routes. Their main concentration is from the West Coast (Oakland) to Hawaii. Check out their route map: http://www.ata.com/traveler_resources/index.html Left hand side on the bottom.

Member

Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Posts: 106
Location: Indianapolis

I thought i heard they had 1 more L1011 in a heavy check now and that it was planned to be in use until 2009, i thought.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

I think you're right. I knew it was either one or none, but didn't know for sure.

Member

Joined: 18 Jan 2008
Posts: 106
Location: Indianapolis

Aren't they going to use the retired ones to keep the one going? About the only way to do it i guess.

Member

Joined: 06 Jan 2007
Posts: 106
Location:

From what I understand, they still have 2 or 3 L-1011's, and 2009 is what I've been hearing as well. By 2010, they should all be gone and replaced with DC-10's. I still don't understand the concept behind replacing old airplanes with more old airplanes. Oh well.

Member

Joined: 03 Jan 2008
Posts: 141
Location: Lafayette, IN

Thanks for all the info, folks.

D.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

The DC-10s have a higher availability of spares. That's what I've been told.

Member

Joined: 03 Jan 2008
Posts: 39
Location:

Currently, ATA's fleet consists of:

12 737-800's
6 757-200's
4 757-300's
3 L-1011-500's
4 DC-10-30's

The L-1011's will in all likely hood be retired by the end of 2008, due to ageing aircraft A.D.'s being pushed by Lockheed which would make it to expensive to keep them going. The biggest problem with L-1011 spares is in engines, which are very difficult, and expensive to come by.

As far as DC10 spare parts availability, while true that there were 450 DC-10's made compared to 250 L-1011's, one would think that parts are generally more available, it has not appeared to be so up to this point. Keep in mind that the vast majority of serviceable spares are held by FedEx to keep their huge DC-10/MD-10 fleet operational. Where ATA operates their DC-10's on military runs over to the desert, and many of the "stan" type countries, there just is not a lot of support avail, in terms of spares, and experience mechanics in those locations. Very frustrating.

AirTran Reporter

Joined: 17 Jun 2005
Posts: 341
Location: Indianapolis

Either way, i don't think they would be flying them if they were not safe.

Member

Joined: 15 May 2006
Posts: 728
Location: West Lafayette, IN

There's no doubt about them being safe, just the ability to keep them safe.