foxtrot charlie
2nd Sep 2008, 10:11
here's the story from the weekend's Telegraph:
Pilots have denounced the plan, however, posting their feelings on the forums of the Ryanair European Pilot's Association website.
One said: "It is insane to push pilots to fly with the minimum fuel and take the risk of ending with a low fuel situation and maybe no place to go because the only diversion airport within reach will be mobbed by other aeroplanes.
A Ryanair spokesman rejected the claims as "anonymous, unverified and inaccurate."
He said: "No pilot is allowed to fly with minimum fuel as these clowns claim."
He added, however, that the pilots were allowed extra fuel only in "exceptional cases", and added Ryanair had suffered only one Mayday - where airports had to get fire engines on to the runway - in the past three years.
Civil Aviation Authority figures show the number of emergencies declared in British airspace because of fuel shortages has doubled in five years.
Pilots have denounced the plan, however, posting their feelings on the forums of the Ryanair European Pilot's Association website.
One said: "It is insane to push pilots to fly with the minimum fuel and take the risk of ending with a low fuel situation and maybe no place to go because the only diversion airport within reach will be mobbed by other aeroplanes.
A Ryanair spokesman rejected the claims as "anonymous, unverified and inaccurate."
He said: "No pilot is allowed to fly with minimum fuel as these clowns claim."
He added, however, that the pilots were allowed extra fuel only in "exceptional cases", and added Ryanair had suffered only one Mayday - where airports had to get fire engines on to the runway - in the past three years.
Civil Aviation Authority figures show the number of emergencies declared in British airspace because of fuel shortages has doubled in five years.