IFR fuel reserve
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IFR fuel reserve
Imagine 2 separate airports in one single TMA: one civil, one military. Do the normal rule for IFR fuel reserve, i.e flight to alternate plus 40 minute holding apply also for the military traffic (let's say F-16)?
All traffic is handled by civilian ATC staff, both airports are controlled.
All traffic is handled by civilian ATC staff, both airports are controlled.
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I wouldn't have thought ATC would have anything to with it. Surely that's a matter for the Operating Authority (particularly in the case of a Military a/c)
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Well, ATC wouldl be more than concerned if the jets were returning with extremely low fuel with no reserve every single day breaking down all planned sequence (the airports are close together)
Per Ardua ad Astraeus
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40 mins hold fuel for a Mil FJ and div fuel, no way, far too impracticable for day to day ops
At Leuchars in days of old we carried an IFR diversion fuel (normally Lossie), one approach and go, and we used Edinburgh as a 'crash' alternate ie someone has blocked the runway at Leuchars when you are in the circuit.
Crash diversion fuel for the Lightning was 800lbs and involved shutting down one engine to get there on a Mayday. I suspect yer modern jet is a bit better, but I'd be surprise if they had 40 mins holding!
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"I suspect yer modern jet is a bit better, but I'd be surprise if they had 40 mins holding!"
They don't. 40 mins is 1/4 of my fuel load on a good day. I get home with 5 to 10 mins fuel above divert.
They don't. 40 mins is 1/4 of my fuel load on a good day. I get home with 5 to 10 mins fuel above divert.
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My airport is dual-use, with heavy civil traffic and F-15s based on the field, along with visiting F-16s, F-18s, etc. The fighters have some magic number of pounds they are supposed to have in the tanks when they land, but don't have much margin above that. Typically when they recover they are somewhere between dry and dryer, judging by the number of minimum fuel calls I get. It doesn't hurt that we are CAVU about 350 days a year, and have 4 runways to play with if one gets shut for some reason.
