Stranger/fireflybob: The paper work is exactly that.....pre flight planning and dividing the work means one prints the paper work, one looks at any other pertinent information and then together pre flight planning is discussed and then on to the crew brief. Nothing strange about this procedure and in generally is accomplished within the 45 mins. It would seem that some of you suggest that this fuel problem was due to a lack of pre flight planning and airmanship on behalf of these FR crews which I am sure is not the case. So, are we to believe that a 4 engined A/C flames out an engine taxing in after a long range flight, or that the numerous accounts of similar minimum fuel and other so called emergency's are due to a lack of pre flight preparation and briefings. I find that a bit far fetched and a lack of respect for our colleagues at FR!