Flying to HEATHROW: 20' extra FUEL REQUIRED?
 

Hi!

A question from a foreign captain, if I might.

Years ago there was some sort of notam which required to add a fuel quantity of 20 minutes EXTRA, on top of the usual minimum requirements, just because Heathrow is Heathrow.

Is it still a requirement?

I routinely fly to EGLL without such extra fuel, knowing beforehand that when the weather is fair I will not need to divert because of that, and I already know that my planned alternate fuel will be used if necessary to hold and commit to Heathrow.

Thank you.

I can't find the reference but I suspect it will be in the UK AIP if it still exists.

This information was originally published many years ago because there were quite a lot of cases of crews being surprised by the need to hold. I was told a few times "we can only hold for 10 minutes and then we will have to divert." As you will know, holding routinely occurs at Heathrow and it would seem prudent to plan on being in the pattern for some time.

In the past delays of less than 20 minutes were classed as "no delay", however illogical that might seem. These days you will be informed by London ATC of the expected delay in terms of <10 minutes, 10-15, 15-20 or given an EAT.

I operated from Heathrow for thirty years and carriage of extra fuel for Heathrow was always discretionary.

I do recall there was an AIC (I think)many years ago which advised that extra fuel should be loaded to take account of holding delays. This was general advice not specific to LHR, though clearly LHR could be seen as an example. It may be that individual operators adopted extra fuel for LHR as a company policy, and this is what LEM is referring to.

20 mins extra fuel
 

Anything to do with the "20 mins Taxy Time"?

UK AIP ENR 1.9-4

9 Inbound Flow Management

9.1 In congested terminal areas serving busy airports, holding can often occur at short notice through the need for the tactical integration of arrival traffic flows to achieve optimum airspace and runway utilisation.

9.2 In the United Kingdom, Area Control Centres (ACC) will not issue Expected Approach Times (EAT) to aircraft when the terminal area delay is likely to be less than 20 minutes.

9.3 Where radar sequencing of traffic from the appropriate terminal holding facility is in operation, Approach Control will not normally calculate or issue EATs to aircraft when the delay is expected to be less than 20 minutes.

9.4 If a pilot requests information on the expected delay they will be given a general indication of the delay, eg 'Delay less than 20 minutes', based on the best information available to the controller at that time.

9.5 Additionally, for London Gatwick, London Heathrow and London Stansted arrivals, when London TMA inbound delays are likely to exceed 20 minutes, inbound aircraft will be given a general statement concerning the anticipated delay based on the best information available to the controller at the time. Subsequently, when the aircraft is within 20 minutes of its original ETA for the appropriate terminal holding facility, an EAT will be issued. London Area Control (Swanwick) will endeavour to frequently update this data to ensure that the information provided to pilots is as accurate as possible. These procedures will remain applicable when ground equipment unserviceability or traffic demand requires the use of an alternative to the main holding facility.

9.6 Operators should consider the carriage of an extra fuel allowance when the flight includes operation in a congested traffic area or where ATC delays are likely.

Its up to you dude! I'd carry 20mins extra...:ok::

Some of my scariest days of work have been when we run out of runway capacity with multiple fuel emergencies, which make matters worse for everyone else, and not enough diversion availability to go round. And this is from the comfort of the ground!