Slasher,
Excellent posting, but i would like to ask about one point.
You stated that:
* touchdown at that alternate airport with no less than 30 minutes of fuel (called Fixed Reserve, FR) plus a bit more (around 2-10% extra. This is called Variable Reserve, VR).
Our policy as per the FAR's calls for:
1: Fuel from departure to destination.
2: Fuel from destination to chosen alternate.
3: 30 Minutes holding fuel (FR).
3: 10% Contingency (VR).
If you were having a **** poor day and the planned flight level or winds are not as expected, you can burn the contingency fuel prior to reaching your destination.
At the destination you can make one approach before diverting to your alternate.
As i said its a **** poor day, so you have to hold for 30 minutes at your alternate before landing.
You will therefore land quite legally with almost empty tanks.
Just remembered that I’ve posted in the Passenger Forum, the situation that I described above is theoretical, It can happen, but there is an excellent safety value to prevent the situation from getting that bad, its called the pilots. The one thing that I have learned from them is that there is no such thing as having too much fuel!!
Mutt
[This message has been edited by mutt (edited 29 June 2000).]