From the Mail on line.
Ryanair ordered to 'review' fuel policy after making THREE emergency landings because planes almost ran out
By Ray Massey
PUBLISHED:19:55 GMT, 20 September 2012| UPDATED: 06:34 GMT, 21 September 2012
Budget airline Ryanair has been ordered to 'review' the amount of fuel it carries after three of its planes – including one from the UK - were forced to make 'Mayday' emergency landings in Spain when they started to run out .
The airline was operating with a level of fuel that was 'close to the minimum' required in the case of a diversion, they said.
Three Ryanair Boeing 737-800 aircraft heading to Madrid were forced to make emergency landings after being diverted to Valencia because of thunderstorms over the Spanish capital.
Ryanair was operating with a level of fuel that was 'close to the minimum' required in the case of a diversion
One of the three affected planes was heading from Stansted Airport to Madrid when the diversions and emergency landings occurred at Valencia on July 26 this year.
The Irish Aviation Authority Report noted: 'All three aircraft declared an Emergency (Mayday) when the calculated useable fuel on landing at Valencia was less than the final reserve.'
The watchdogs accept that all three Ryanair planes left for Madrid 'with fuel in excess of Flight plan requirements' and also with fuel 'in excess of the minimum diversion fuel' required, so remained strictly within the rules.
However, the IAA also noted: 'Diverting with fuel close to the minimum diversion fuel in the circumstances presented on the evening in question was likely to present challenges for the crew.'
Ryanair Chief executive Michael O'Leary said the airline's safety standards are on a par with the safest airlines in Europe
It has also questioned whether the current fuel limit rules give passenger jets enough latitude land safely in the event of a diversion from Madrid – and asked Spanish aviation chiefs to look at them again.
Spanish pilot union leaders have accused Ryanair of 'operating on the very limits of legality' in the way it fuels its planes. But Ryanair has consistently denied any wrong-doing and says the report vindicates their stance that its planes fly within the rules.
In its recommendations for the future the IAA said: 'Ryanair to review fuel policy and consider issuing guidance to Crew with respect to fuel when operating into busy airports with mixed aircraft operators and types, particularly in poor weather conditions when diversions are likely.'
The watchdogs said the airline should use such scenarios in its pilot training 'with particular emphasis on diversion management.'
It also calls on the authorities to 'review delays into Madrid to consider if additional fuel should be recommended or required to be carried in normal operations.'
The report said the three Ryanair passenger jets were put into an initial holding pattern to the Southwest of Madrid 'which increased the diversion time' before they were diverted to Valencia.
The crews did declare an Emergency in line with oprtational procedures when they became aware that the calculated amount of useable fuel for landing at Valencia 'was less than the final reserve.'
All three aircraft landed at Valencia without further incident, said the IAA watchdogs.
Commenting on the diverted plane from Stansted – flight FR5998 – the report says that as they descended in 'severe weather' to land at Madrid 'the captain decided to discontinue the approach as he noted that two aircraft ahead had performed a go-around' – effectively a landing which is aborted close to the runway.
The Stansted plane was then diverted to Valencia where the air traffic controllers 'seemed overwhelmed with the traffic load.'
Told that they were facing a 10 minute delay at Valencia, 'the crew declared an Emergency (Mayday).'
They followed in two other jets which had also declared an emergency – an Easyjet and a Lan-Chile A340.
In Madrid Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said:'We welcome this official report into the Valencia procedures on the 26th July last which confirms that all three Ryanair aircraft carried extra fuel and that all three complied fully with EU Ops procedures.'
'We also welcome this week's joint statement of the Irish and Spanish Transport Ministries which confirms that Ryanair's safety standards are on a par with the safest airlines in Europe.'
The IAA recommendation came after Irish and Spanish aviation officials met in Dublin this week following comments by Spanish authorities about incidents in their airspace involving Europe's largest budget airline.