Originally Posted by Sharkey
Now if after passing DPA (with no alternate requirements forecast on the TTF), SYD unexpectedly fogs in, the aircraft is committed to a landing at SYD. Would the crew plan to fly that approach on their last drop of fuel?? NO!! They would probably hold for as long as they could, and then fly an approach so that they would land with more than FFR! Therefore, no requirement for a MINIMUM FUEL call, or an EMERGENCY FUEL MAYDAY call! Right?
Wrong. If you can't make a "safe" landing with more than FR, then it's a fuel mayday because
if the aircraft had diverted to an airport where it could make a "safe" ie legal landing it would have done so with less than FR.
A "safe" ie legal landing would not be an autoland in vis less than the published minimum, just as me deciding that I should go to MDA-200ft out in the bush to get in because I was short of fuel would not be "safe".
Fair enough they got caught out by a dud TTF, but it was still a fuel mayday situation.