pilotday: Err, reading between the lines, your logic seems little flawed, i.e. diverting does not make the problem go away and neither does having more fuel; indeed it might make matters worse and / or 'encourage' the pilots to have another go when condition aren't appropriate.
In such instances (
of a divert), who's to say that an unforeseen problem doesn't also then occur at ones diversion airport? Having more fuel will not make that problem go away at that location. Ok, it might buy you some more time, but it also might not be enough to take you to another location (
and who's to say one won't find a problem there too) ?!
One has no guarantee that, just because one has chosen to divert, that a problem doesn't then arise (
in the interim), with and / or at the place one is diverting to and / or when one gets there.
Furthermore, having diverted, one is likely to have arrived at ones diversion airfield with Final Reserve fuel - as that's how the fuel is planned an that's how the game is played - and for which we & ATC understand that these are the rules that we are operating to.
Of course, a competent Captain NEVER paints himself / herself into a corner on fuel, and should always be flexible and knowledgable enough to have a plan 'B' (
and 'C') up their sleeve, to deal with the unexpected.
The point is to make a well-judged decision, in advance of having painted oneself into a corner on fuel.
However, if sh!t then happens, one of course needs to make the appropriate call to ATC and request assistance - through a call of either PAN or MAYDAY.
Imho, simply having loads of fuel onboard is not (
always) the answer to the problem. It's the decision making that's important, not the amount of fuel that's onboard.
Sheikh Your Bootie - well said !
