RE:RE:RE:below 50?I have to disagree with "THEN they need 90 days to test and prep before the first flight."
I have seen many airlines start (and most eventually fail), and I can assure everyone that once the first airplane arrives, it can and should only take a week before the first revenue flight, or even less....IF all departments have their ducks lined up.
-- Pilots can attend ground school and sim sessions before the first airplane arrives. Once the first airplane arrives, each pilot / crew requires a few hours (4 IIRC) of real air time. That is assuming they hire pilots who have no A320 experience.
-- Flight attends are the same as pilots, ground school, and a few hours of live training in a hangared airplane, then they are all set to go
-- Maintenance I assume will be farmed out....that simplifies things alot for Jetlines. All they need is a PRM (person responsible for maintenance), who overseas the contract company and their procedures.
-- Ground handling etc should be a no brainer, as other than service contracts, no legalities or regulatory procedures are required.
So, to sum it up from my past experience, assuming they do all their homework properly, the first revenue flight should be within a week of aircraft arrival.....otherwise, the lease and salaries will suck the bank account dry really fast.
Just my 10 cents,
Cheers and GLTA