MJ is not yet to be merged with UL. 319 safety and systems chapter has been installed in the UL crew manual because UL uses MJ metal sometimes to operate their sectors such as MCT, BLR, MAA. This doesn't mean UL n MJ has been merged.. even MJ uses UL Metal sometimes, Mostly 320's. 😊

It was 4R-ALJ

SriLankan's third brand new A333 (4R-ALN / MSN1604) flew the first revenue flight to Male' as UL105/6 and also operating as UL503/4 to London Heathrow today (5/4/2015).

Does anybody know answer to this?

Once a new aircraft is received by an Airline how long does it take for it to be put into commercial service? 4R-ALN (A330-300) was received on 27 March 2015 and has its first flight 8 days later on 4 April 2015. Whereas SQ, which also received an A330-300 i.e. 9V-SSF on 1 April 2015 commissioned it for regular commercial service 2-3 days later on 3 April 2015. Why the different lead times in putting new aircrafts into service?

I'll take an educated guess.

The may still be a number of modifications that need to be done on the aircraft. Some companies prefer to do these themselves. This includes things like galley equipment and the loading and programming of the IFE systems.

There may also be a requirement for documentation from the CAA as the aircraft is flown from the factory on a ferry permit. It's possible that temporary documentation is issued for the ferry flight and that they have to wait for the normal documents to be issued. Nothing happens fast at the Sri Lankan CAA!

I've been waiting a long time for this!

I hope it's finally becoming clear to everyone what kind of people are running the Airline.

The Airline is riddled with corruption from top to bottom. It's like a cancer.

@ejanson65 ^^^^ It is becoming clearer...most of us knew something were not right when illogical decisions were made



but what saddened me most is that there are others who defends these actions.

Well, that four engines means higher fuel is just a story, that doesn't fly when you have the right economics

If 4 engines are bad, why is the 747-400/800, A380 and all are going strong ?

And why didn't a lot of A340-300/600 operators, especially those who leased them, dump that promptly ?

4 Engines, for now, doesn't fit the current business model of UL.

And introducing a new type, engine into the current lean operation is not going to help.

The deck qualification is easy, but the tech support has to be ramped up

If Thai leases them cheap, still it may work out better for additional capacity, for UL, provided they can fill the seats

that the previous regime won the war and has the right to fatten their pocket/reward themselves is getting very boring ....

then again, who believed that the Airline will be run for profit, and the big boss' friends are not going to dip into the cash box ??

Yeah agree... that makes a lot of sense!

Last year, when I did a mission with work on board a B737-800, I talked to the pilot about this matter. We calculated that, when a B737 loses 1 engine, the other can still carry the aircraft but at higher engine speed. We calculated the fuel consumption and one engine less was a fuel flow reduction of about 5%.

Indeed, A380 and B748 are still being manufactured, but not with big proud on both sides. Airbus did not receive any order on there 380's last year and Boeing is struggling with the 747 program. Only 2 company's have the B747-8i. The freight version is going a bit better due to the higher payload. But if you compare the numbers with the orders of the A330, A350, B777 and B787, they are doing much better due to the fact that these are 2 engined aircraft, with a high max payload and a lower fuel consumption.
Just to compare the figures, a B747 consumes around 10 tons of fuel per hour while a
B777 consumes around 7 tons.

A company than has to decide what to do. If the things you have more on a 4 engined aircraft benefit, they will have them in there fleet. If not, then they will prefer double engined aircraft. For the moment, B747's are being replaced by B777-300's because the B777 gives companies a better profit. A lot of companies also have multiple services per day to bigger airport and have partners who fly to the same destination. Resulting in a better booking per flight.
Also, to compare the B777-300 with the A340-600. They both can carry the same amount of passengers but with a lower operating cost. That is the reason why Thai retired there A340-600's (age only 10 years!!) and replaced them with B777-300's.
Also China Eastern retired there A340-600's and replaced them with B777-300.

But like you said, if the company can profit from a four engined aircraft, why not?

Hope to have added some info about this matter.

Kind regards,
Yves Engels

Did Sri Lankan or Mihin fly any rescue flights to Yemen for citizens there?

no. china planned send their aircraft n rescue sri lankans but it wasnt succeed because air space problem n now according to news agencies Chinese embassy in Sri Lanka confirms that a Chinese Navy Frigate is carrying 45 Sri Lankan migrant workers from Yemen.

What happen to 4R-ABQ from KL to Colombo, as it being divert to Kuala Lumpur again and delay. Medical or technical issues. And is 4R-ADA terminating service as 4R-ALN replacement has its first flight on 5 April?

Will UL still go ahead with the Airbus direct order for the rest of the three x A330-343E & four x A350-900s? What will happen to three x A359s coming from ILFC next year? Will the order be cancelled? Eventually SriLankan already replaced the ageing three A340-311s with brand new three A330-343Es.

The A333 orders I believe will go ahead, where as the A359 will be cancelled. Looking at UL current route network and requirements I do not see why A359 are needed. A333 and A332 can get the job down. UL should rather focus on standardising the product offering in its current fleet of A332 and A333.

I'm hearing rumours the A350's are not coming due to the dire financial situation at the Airline.

It's not very clear what has been paid and what still needs to be paid.

I have requested a copy of the BOI report into the Airline - probably some more details there.

None of the UL managers are responding to my e-mails regarding clarification of events in early 2013.

Nobody at Flight Operations or HR is signing letters anymore.