Originally Posted by
bvcu
Aux tank....... bit of a problem, not certified so never used due to lack of nitrogen inerting allegedly , so doesn't have the advertised range as the longest range airliner
Rubbish
The very same AUX tank design has been in continuous service with QF since 2003. Fitted in each of their 6 B747-400ER's.
Nitrogen inerting systems are only required when the fuel tank is sitting over a heat source. Hence on most Boeing aircraft including the B777, the center tank must now be fitted with a nitrogen inerting system as the pack system beneath the center tank represents the heat source.
Removing the AUX tank was a good decision as it eats up pallet space. And considering no EK -200LR flight to date required the AUX tank, removing it made perfect sense. Only 4 or 5 of the 10 aircraft were purchased with 1 AUX tank option and the the relevant plumbing and fixtures to accommodate the tank. (Boeing offers 1 and 3 AUX tank options on the -200LR).
There is absolutely nothing preventing engineering from re-fitting said AUX tanks. When fuel volume limited, said AUX tank increases the range by ~200nm, at a constant ZFW.
The 10 -200LR are still at 343,369kgs MTOW. With a quick phone call and wire transfer to Boeing, this can become 347,451kgs. The freighters were purchased with the highest MTOW option.
PTY was delayed due to the the late approval of the codeshare agreement with Copa. This route would never have launched without it.