Virgin 'low fuel' MAYDAY
Heard an interesting one inbound to LGW this morning (0700Z)... Virgin 747 told to expect 10 mins holding at WILLO. Replied that he didn't have any holding fuel.
ATC asked "Do you want to divert or declare an emergency?"
VS: "Well, we could go to LHR but they won't want us."
ATC: "I need a decision by the time you pass Goodwood."
VS: "in that case... we'll declare a MAYDAY."
VS then continued to Gatwick.
Now it seemed to us that the guy was cheating - he had the fuel to divert and so should have done. The fact that his alternate may not want him is niether here nor there - that's the risk you have when carrying LHR as an alternate for LGW. Perhaps, if Heathrow had 20 mins holding, that would put it beyong his endurance, but ATC made no mention of LHR delays. (And can a 747 land, and take off again, at Bournemouth? If so, that should have been an option)
And SOP in our company is that this situation - MAY land was less than reserves - is a PAN. Is this universal? A MAYDAY seemed a little extreme.
Any thoughts?
<I presume he hadn't already committed to LGW, as he stated he had the fuel to reach LHR.>
Last edited by Cobbler; 8th Oct 2006 at 11:30.