SQ B777 withdrawal thread

[jul247]

I’d be interested to hear the thoughts of someone involved in aviation economics as to the cost of rehabilitating SWM after it’s recent incident. Are interior fittings and checks associated with them a much smaller cost than the real costs of cycles and takeoffs etc? Is an insurer going to write off the damage or do they need to repair it all because ultimately if SQ doesn’t want to keep using it, they need to find a buyer?

Quite tough finding a buyer for an old B77W now. SWM is 16 years old, the much younger EY ones are finding it hard to find a new buyer, some have been sent to scrapping. What more of 16 years old bird??

Ultimately, if SQ wants to earn some residual value of the airframe, SQ will still need to fix the aircraft and sell it since SQ owns the airframe. Unless SQ decides to sell it to scrappers after the insurance payout, then there is no point in fixing it thoroughly. Maybe just cosmetic interior fix and off to the desert it goes. SQ sits on 11 billion cash, the insurance payout will add few millions for them. I have a hunch SQ will get rid of it for good. Just like 9V-SSI, the A330 which was involved in tail strike incident in RGN. It was flown to TEV for scrapping. Flew for only four years before its storage and end-of-life fate.

Poor SWM, she just returned to service for only a short period after a long period of storage.

The four B777Ws in storage now, coincidentally K, L, M and N....the poor four:

1. 9V-SWK 34576 / 644 Boeing 777-312ER F4C48W28Y184 29 Jun 2007 Parked / Maintenance 17 Years
2. 9V-SWL 34577 / 673 Boeing 777-312ER F4C48W28Y184 29 Oct 2007 Parked / Maintenance 16.6 Years
3. 9V-SWM 34578 / 701 Boeing 777-312ER F4C48W28Y184 29 Feb 2008 Parked at SIN, (White) Star Alliance cs 16.3 Years
4. 9V-SWN 34579 / 703 Boeing 777-312ER Preighter 14 Mar 2008 Parked at SIN 16.2 Years

[SQ228]

That was my general feeling. The oxygen mask system would have to be damaged to a degree. Overhead lockers, lighting, ceilings, looked like the galleys would need major repairs. Why would you do all that work when a different 77W could be brought out of storage instead.

[boing]

That was my general feeling. The oxygen mask system would have to be damaged to a degree. Overhead lockers, lighting, ceilings, looked like the galleys would need major repairs. Why would you do all that work when a different 77W could be brought out of storage instead.

I think the cabin issues would be the least of worries. Depending on the G force encountered during the turbulence, an extensive inspection would be carried out on the airframe for damages. The plane would be out of action for a few weeks.

[SQ228]

I expected it could be grounded for some time too, but it’s already flown back to SIN.

[ell3]

SWM was flown back to SIN in normal flight conditions so I don’t think there’s any issue with its air worthiness. The interior of the cabin shouldn’t be too difficult to fix… they have spares for most parts from the other retired 77Ws sitting in storage.

I’m sure there was a reason for leaving SWM parked that long…must be something to do with the asset books. And given that it should now have 2 years’ worth less cycles, this airframe must surely have been intended to remain as one of the last 77Ws to go in future. So I’m pretty sure they will repair it and send it back in the air within a month.

there have been quite a few delayed 77W flights over the past week which seems to have been a result of aircraft shortage (ie “waiting for next available aircraft”) not sure if this is anything to do with SWM’s unplanned grounding.

[jul247]

Questions:

Planespotters.net is displaying 23 B77Ws in fleet, but SQ's FY23/24 Results displayed 22 B77Ws with no planned retirement until YE. Which is wrong and which airframe is retired?

B77Ws fleet peaked at 27, with four retirement SWA, SWD, SWE and SWF, now it should have 23??

[ell3]

Questions:

Planespotters.net is displaying 23 B77Ws in fleet, but SQ's FY23/24 Results displayed 22 B77Ws with no planned retirement until YE. Which is wrong and which airframe is retired?

B77Ws fleet peaked at 27, with four retirement SWA, SWD, SWE and SWF, now it should have 23??

Hmm, that could mean SWN isn't going to be returned to service. If i recall, it doesn't have the WIFI hump.

SWN remains the only un-reactivated 77W (not forgetting it was reconfigured as a preighter). I'll be flying out of changi again in a few days' time, i'll see if i spot it somewhere.

[SQfanatic]

Hmm, that could mean SWN isn't going to be returned to service. If i recall, it doesn't have the WIFI hump.

SWN remains the only un-reactivated 77W (not forgetting it was reconfigured as a preighter). I'll be flying out of changi again in a few days' time, i'll see if i spot it somewhere.

SWN a couple of months ago from time to time had some pinging on FR24. Same with SWM a few times before its actual air test. So I imagine it’s possible it may have it.

Good point because all 77W that have returned to service have the new Wifi (except the Panasonic based existing 77W SWU-SNC) and those that do/don’t are likely being removed from the fleet.

I expect SWM to be out of action for a few weeks & SWN to return to service at some point.

[jul247]

Planespotters.net has updated its SQ fleet page with 9V-SWN under "Historical" category. CAAS Singapore website update as of June 7, 2024 still list 9V-SWN under SQ. https://www.caas.gov.sg/operations-s...f-registration

Will need to wait for a while to confirm if the airframe is up for sale/ disposal.

[a340-313x]

9V-SWM is out on an air test this afternoon. I'm guessing it will return to service imminently.

[ell3]

I suspect travellers in the know will feel a little creeped out when they see SWM at their boarding gate ready to fetch them.
it’s not everyday that an aircraft survives after so much bloodshed and death on board.

Speaking of which, anyone knows the seat in which the poor chap passed away?

[boing]

Saw a B773ER in Star Alliance colours at C20 this morning. Lo and behold, it is SWM on what seemed to be a commercial flight with passenger containers being loaded in its cargo hold. Seems to be flying to PVG in what could be its first commercial flight after it made headlines. Surprised they didn't change its livery while it was in the hangar.

[SQ218]

Just saw it is doing the MEL flight today SQ237 and back as SQ228.

[MainlyMiles]

SWD, SWE, SWF - I’ll bet they’re going to AI soon

Doesn't look like it for SWE. Currently being parted out at Changi near the cargo area close to T1.

SWE.jpg

[jul247]

Given the global shortage of aircraft and parts, pretty sad to see those B77Ws are now heading for scrappers, before even hitting 20th years mark. It seems it was just yesterday SQ's first B777-300ER delivery back in 2006. Even an used airframe by a premium airline Singapore Airlines couldn't save it from scrappers. If Russia is not under sanctions, their charter airlines would have picked up a few.

Out of 27 B77Ws used to operate:

1. 9V-SWA 34568 / 586 Scrapped in VCV
2. 9V-SWD 34569 / 600 Stored in SIN
3. 9V-SWE 34570 / 602 Scrapped in SIN
4. 9V-SWF 34571 / 603 Stored in SIN
5. 9V-SWN 34579 / 703 Stored in SIN (hasn't return to commercial pax service since COVID stint as pfreighter)
6. 9V-SWO 34580 / 708 Parked in SIN
7. 9V-SWP 34581 / 710 Parked in SIN

SWD and SWF most probably will end up being scrapped too. Saw some images on IG, doesn't look good.