Johnman
21st Jul 2008, 10:13
with the fuel prices and the reaction of all companies to reduce fuel uplifts and the reserve fuel accompanied with the challenges and the stresses that the ATC and the pilots are faced with resulting in long taxi delays and holdings prior Take offs and approaches and all other factors enroute of getting your requested level and other encounters,Do you expect an aviation disaster due to fuel shortage in a day of unfavorite conditions?. Do you think that the pilots are having to deal with unreasonable kind of stress leading to focus on one aspect of the flight more than other important factor?. Is economy coming before saftey without some aviation experts realizing that?.
Deep and fast
21st Jul 2008, 10:26
:8Hmmmm
It's very simple.
Do you need extra?
Answer yes - take more fuel.
Answer no go - with min block.
Extra fuel for granny or your mum is the real problem. How many say the weather and notams are fine, not expecting any delays we will take an extra 30 mins fuel. This is what the company bosses are trying to cut back on.
D and F :8
Johnman
23rd Jul 2008, 00:10
KOAA.com - U.S. Airways pilots battle company over fuel (http://www.koaa.com/aaaaaa_down_to_earth/x1526667202/U-S-Airways-pilots-battle-company-over-fuel)
7online.com: US Airways Pilots claim pressure to reduce fuel 7/16/08 (http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/investigators&id=6268771)
boredcounter
23rd Jul 2008, 01:15
Very well indeed.
In my UK outfit, the nuts and bolts are:
Ops pre load to certain met conditions at destination and alternates, between 15-60 mins of gas.
Congestion fuel added at known hotspots, yep pilot feedback welcome and leads to said fuel if NOTAM not in force.
Crew 'allowed' 1000kg 'gratis' or sensible call most welcome if above.
Reserves, set in stone, Cont, alt and hold fuel. No attempt to reduce at all.
If all that goes wrong..........well yes commercial disaster, not an aviation one. Aircraft lands at any suitable airfield, of which there will be many en-route to most alternates or indeed deatination.
As a by product of 'reducing fuel, well within safe parameters' we also welcome the 'should I not tanker' call from crew, sometimes met with a good call respond, needs 9k in the tanks for the next one, missed that one, thanks.
Rule of thumb, PIC needs it, PIC takes it, no argument, period. Just don't 'state', as I had not long ago, when pre-loaded with 2k of dest hold, alternate 1:30 away and tanker (short turn) for the next sector ( all within Europe)
c.18K required, going to load 24K....................... 90 min sector B757.
That will trigger an 'on your own thier Sir' type remark, or a direct why? from Ops.
c.6K loaded, prob30 tempo TS, pre loaded 2k for that forecast as per company policy, total load 8k.
You guys have a train of thought when loading extra, explain it to companies, don't feel you are 'justifying' it.
Bored
In short, no. Many, many threads on this site discussing this. Captains are paid to run the show, take the necessary fuel and manage the 'remaining' in flight correctly. F/Os are there to learn sensible fuel loads and monitor/shout if things go awry. It is very rare that there is not an option to divert if fuel becomes insufficient for safe flight. Anyone who feels the need to 'press on' in that situation and run the passengers/crew into a dangerous position should quit flying. If 'pressured' by their employer to operate in that area they should take the appropriate action.