Originally Posted by
CW247
Uhh we don't fly by gauges. In transport aviation, there's something called a flight plan which has a computed flight time endurance which equates to a fuel quantity required. Before the flight, we refuel and write the fuel uploaded down into the tech log and perform a sense check to determine we have indeed uploaded the expected fuel. Along the way way, we perform fuel checks to ensure there are no leaks or unexpected burn due to faulty engine parts. Equally, too much (excess) fuel is a sign something (maybe the gauge?) is wrong too. If we are nearing 30 mins flight time remaining (again according to the fuel checks, not the gauges), we issue a Mayday! There really isn't any excuse. This is going to turn out to be South American machismo on display again.
Most airlines do that but it's not fool proof. A Shorts 360 I flew many years ago was found to have over reading fuel gauges. Every time fuel was uplifted they increased by the correct amount as calculated by the litres x sg. Luckily it never flew below final reserve so we got away with it!