D check survivability

[KevinIshRomero]

Good evening, My question is geared more to when I jump ship from beginners world and head to a "normal" game. D checks can take up to 80 days for aircraft like the 777. If you ordered these new they are delivered around 2 per month. that means you would have 2/3 weeks of separation when the D check comes up. If you have 7 773's delivered at that rate (as I do now) when D check came around, at one point all of your aircraft would be in D check. Meaning that fleet is generating no revenue but rather eating away crew/maintenance cost. I understand that in real game worlds you don't make it big over night, so is the answer to lease them until they are just shy of D check? I have done this but feel that finding a suitable replacement can be difficult, old planes or ones that others have done the same with. And what if you own your planes? I guess I would just like some guidance as to how to handle this in a game world where money doesn't grow on trees overnight. Thanks guys!

[Cardinal]

If you buy them new then you have 8 years before D-checks come due, so that's 8 years to build up enough cash to get an extra plane or two. And the likelihood of you only flying 7 of them after 8 years is low. Now, if you have only seven 773s but a larger fleet of 772s, you can substitute the smaller planes for the duration of the D-checks. Alternatively, if you have only 7 of the  "ER/LR" version and your shorter-range 777s can't handle the ER flights, you could lease one or two planes short-term to cover the D-checks and start them early. You don't have to wait for the D-check to expire, you can do it early. My rule of thumb is that if the check expires within the duration of the check (i.e. within 60 days for a 737/A320) then I will do a check early if necessary to avoid a maintenance crisis later.

[KevinIshRomero]

Thanks, that makes sense. Another thing I learned the hard way is that even C checks can stack up pretty quick. Definitely something to keep in mind when running tight schedules with few planes. Thanks.

[ChristianParkes]

My little airline was running somewhat smoothly until about half of my fleet of 13 was in C-check at the same time.

[sergiormg]

It would not be good to have a way to buy some planes and set them only to replace planes at D checks? I now have 122 planes and do it mannually will be a nightmare.