The "experts" who introduced the minimum C.F.P policy at Gulf Air told me they accepted and expected up to 5% of flights thus fuelled to divert due to a low fuel state.
They upped their fuel loads when they found it not cost effective in real life. They found they had irate passengers sometimes stuck for hours in all sorts of strange hotels and airports.
They then issued figures to Captains showing the cost of these diversions due fuel and their urgent request that Captains should always seek to avoid a low fuel diversion.
That is how they became... experts.
When asked on a Command interview to describe the Gulf Air fuel policy a F/O
said,... The G.F. fuel policy is very important... I think it is with Norwich Union or possibly Standard Life...he passed.
