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Old 18th Jan 2017, 15:57
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RAF_Techie101
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: RAF Kinloss
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I recall coming out of Dulles late one night, with a full load of pongos. When the Air Engineer checked the fuel, we were over max ramp weight... All because the bone idle GE hadn't been monitoring the refuelling panel to check that the fuel quantity from the bowser was being correctly loaded. Why he signed for more fuel than had been requested, I cannot imagine - I suspect he was hoping that no-one would notice...or care.

What to do now.... Fortunately we weren't over the MOS max ramp weight which had been approved for the South Atlantic around 20 years earlier, but that was a 'war only' clearance. So, 'invite' the GE to arrange for defueling to the correct weight, but keep the pongos on board as there would be less fatigue on the aircraft than if they all trooped out, bouncing the jet on its undercarriage as they went. It would also mean that they would be less grumpy!

Dulles weren't terribly happy at having to find a bowser though...
Had to find a solution to a similar solution in Bermuda a few years ago when a structural fuel leak necessitated fully draining the aircraft. No defuelling facilities available, and definitely none that would take 72 tonnes. We proceeded to increase the island's carbon footprint somewhat by burning the stuff in a corner of the airfield over the course of 2 days. Not in a bonfire either.
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