PIA to Auction Structure of Two Retired Airbus A310-300 Aircraft

[Abbas Ali]

Notice in today's (November 15) newspaper for open public auction of two PIA Airbus A310-308 aircraft (AP-BEG and AP-BEU) structures without engines, seats, cockpit instruments/avionics etc.

The two A310s are parked at Karachi Airport and their auction will be held on December 29, 2016.



Abbas

[Abbas Ali]

AP-BEG built in 1992 was delivered to PIA on September 23, 1992.

AP-BEU built in 1994 was delivered to PIA on May 11, 1994, and was the youngest & the last of six brand new A310s purchased by PIA from Airbus in early 1990s.


Memorable pre-delivery photo of AP-BEU with pre-delivery French registration F-WWCD taken at Airbus facility in Toulouse in 1994.

Abbas

[arshad.altaf]

So who buys the just the "structure" of an aircraft? What it is worth and what are its uses? Will they be Pakistani buyers or from anywhere? How would they transport the items?

There was a news item on ITV once that showed some company in UK which had a huge warehouse and it had from landing gears to wings to tails and what not but again transporting these item-how?

Arshad

[Abbas Ali]

^ Such structures of retired PIA aircraft are usually bought by Pakistani scrap metal dealers. The aircraft gets broken up at Karachi Airport, pieces loaded into trucks for transportation from airport to premises of scrap metal dealer most likely for recycling purpose.

Abbas

[arshad.altaf]

Thank you Abbas!

[Abbas Ali]

^ You're welcome Arshad.

Following photo shows arrival of brand new AP-BEU at Karachi Airport on May 13, 1994, from Toulouse. The A310 on her delivery flight was flown by Capt. Zabih and First Officer Farrukh Cheema. The aircraft completed delivery flight from Toulouse to Karachi in 7 hours and 45 minutes.



Abbas

[yyzflyer]

these workhorses served PIA for long time. Livery was very nice on those planes back in the days.
Good memories when PIA bought brand new planes, which these days, is very difficult.