Originally Posted by
Fris B. Fairing
What is the "paperwork" that could so affect a domestic flight?
A Tech log entry indicating EDTO checks have been completed.
Many years ago a Qantas 767 taxied in Brisbane for departure to Honolulu. OGA, B, and C had an increased MTOW for specific sectors with a regulatory requirement to have a placard on the flightdeck door indicating which MTOW was 'in use' and a tech log entry (Hold Item) showing the higher MTOW. Unfortunately the dispatching engineer forgot to flip the MTOW placard to the higher weight. Rather than taxi back from the 19 threshold to the gate the crew requested the info be sent by ACARS with a note that the placard was displaying the lesser weight. (It was post 9/11 so no-one had a screwdriver to loosen the placard screws and they were too tight for a first class knife!). It took about 15 minutes and the flight proceeded.
Arguably both the 767 and the QF887 could have completed their journey without issue, however in each case the operating crew having noted the 'paperwork' oversight, were compelled by regulation to take the action they did.