Originally Posted by onanairbus
I fly for BA.
We are under constant pressure to carry the legal minimum ammount of fuel fuel.
I speak as a BA Captain and presently on the 747-400. My perception is of no pressure whatsoever.
What BA are doing is preparing, using all the latest technological processes available, an accurate fuel plan taking into account the dynamics.
What is wrong with that?
As to the fuel decision, I never feel any pressure to take Flight Plan Fuel. I see it as a baseline number from which I vary the required fuel load upwards based on sensible crew decisions following a review of the data. In Shorthaul, I regularly came up with reasons to take an extra 10 minutes fuel. In Longhaul, 10 minutes extra fuel is rarely worth it, as you will have burnt about half of it on arrival in carrying it. In LH, your ability to uplift extra fuel can occasionally be limited, but that's a separate issue.
Who do you feel pressurised by? Surely not the management, all they are doing is pointing out the obvious and asking us to make sensible decisions. If someone always takes 'an extra x for mum' when the wx is CAVOK, then the office are right to ask him to explain, imho.
As to league tables, I know there is a folder in ftd, is it ever updated? How do I find out my code? And the answer is don't know and don't care. Adopt the same approach and you'll find there is no pressure.
[edited to add : crossed with the previous 2 posts]