Originally Posted by
Trader
If they can actually fly it. Rumor has it that the LR can't make it without the aux tanks, which were removed. Commercial did not know they were removed!
Like I said--rumor.
Not all of the 10 were even purchased with 1 AUX tank option (Boeing offers up to 3).
The frames that were delivered with it had it removed relatively quickly. Anyone who spreads the rumor that the B777-21HLRs are unable of DXB-PTY non stop does not know the aircraft.
Furthermore, they do not even have the maximum MTOW that Boeing offers (when theres no need to use it, there is no need to pay the associated overflight and landing fees). Those who fly it, know it has a 343,369kg MTOW. Boeing offers up to 347,452kg. Saved money on the purchase cost, and can always be purchased later on.
The westbound sector to Panama City, is blocked at 17h 35m. You are looking at 16h 45m to 17h of actual flight time. Initially they wont have data for STATCON, so they will be using the good old CONT 20.
Using 7.5t/hr (conservative) on the -21HLR even with a unrealistic 18 hour westbound sector you are looking at 135t of TRIP fuel which leaves an additional 10t for: 30 minutes FRSV, CONT, ALTN. As long as the fuels SG acceptable. If fuel volume is ever a factor due to temps (0440z DXB departure) they have the ability to keep it cool and hence lower the SG. They did this regularly for the DXB-SFO sector before they had polar area approval from the DGCA. And you wont be seeing EK251 taxing around for 45minute sin rush hour. They will arrange priority through on the ground through ATC like they always have for the ULR's. Very common back when the -31HER was doing DXB-SFO/LAX/IAH.
Considering the ready to go DOW on the fleet is ~163t, with a full fuel load of 145t that still leaves you a good 35t of payload. Config is 8/42/216 and with a full load of pax + bags you are still looking at ~8t of paying freight with a EZFW in the 198t range.
If they want more payload they can purchase the additional ~4t of MTOW from Boeing and if they really regularly need another 5700kg of fuel then they can re-install the single AUX tank. (No they did not trash them). Boeing actually recognized EK engineering for developing their own tooling in-house, to easily lift the AUX tank in the belly and remove it in short time.
To sum it up...this flight will be MTOW limited (structurally) and not fuel volume limited. Being on the fuel volume limited on the payload/range curve, each tanks gets you a additional ~200nm of range. (fixed ZFW).
