Originally Posted by
I-WEBA
Hello everyone,
I’d like to ask your opinion if you have a structured method (or just which process) you normally use to decide discretionary fuel. As FO I try to pick up captains method and most of them even asked this question just don’t have one. Tbh I see quite commonly “let’s take 500 extra” which is valid from every kind of situation.
i know some airlines used acronyms or I’d just would love to see your flow in order to take this decision.
I basically have three modes:
A.zero discretionary fuel for days where I do not expect any problems
B.half an hour extra for days I expect manageable difficulties like isolated thunderstorms, LVP’s, windshear go-arounds
C.load her up with an hour extra fuel or whatever it takes when we have no idea what we will encounter on the way, like severe thunderstorm activity etc
This is in no way systematic or structured. It’s just what I’ve grown comfortable with over the years. My airline accepts the risk of a diversion when plan A does not work out so I am happy to take flight plan fuel most of the time. In the end the fuel figure does not really matter,
it’s what you do with it!