Should QANTAS change their fuel policy?
 

Defeats the purpose, as too many diversions will quickly negate any fuel savings.

With an Alternate forecast on the TAF a Qantas aircraft would have the alternate fuel or would divert at or before PNR/DPA.

This whole debate hinges on the timing of the alternate declaration and its usually only an issue when an alternate condition arises apparently 'out of thin air'. That the TTF conditions can apparently go from no reasonable chance of alternate conditions (usually fog), to visibility below the alternate minima in a matter of minutes to me indicates a failure of considered weather observation and forecasting, not a failure of the airline's fuel policy.

Sometimes I suspect forecasters rely too heavily on their computer models, rather than taking a walk outside to have a look or listening to the bloke in the tower who's telling him the fog is "just over there" as evidenced in one of the aforementioned ATSB reports.

Sometimes I suspect pilots rely too heavily on forecasters.

Who is ultimately responsible for conducting an emergency auto-land and endangering the lives of hundreds of people?

Interesting concept.

If you rely too much on the forecaster, you will endanger hundreds of lives!

No more forecasts for me then! Just to be safe.

TAF vs TTF
 

C441 said:

Isn't the real problem when the TTF does not reflect the "bad news" TAF and is relied on to continue past LPSD? :uhoh:

Which, of course, is to hide the myth that the TTF is "good for 3 hours", when in reality it is only 'good' until the next one is issued - on the METAR cycle or if a SPECI is needed! :eek:

SYDNEY (YSSY)
TAF AMD YSSY 101136Z 1012/1118
29008KT CAVOK
FM110500 03008KT 9999 FEW045
FM111200 29008KT CAVOK
PROB30 1012/1016 4000 MIST
PROB30 1016/1023 0500 FOG
PROB30 1023/1101 4000 MIST BKN005
RMK
T 14 12 11 11 Q 1019 1018 1017 1018

A touch of déjà vu all over again...

ATIS YSSY S 101325
APCH:
EXP ILS APCH
RWY:
34L FOR ARRS. RWY 16R FOR DEPS
OPR INFO:
CURFEW RWY NOMINATION,
CURFEW IN OPERATION UNTIL TIME 2 0 0 0.
LOW VIS PROCS IN FORCE
ALL VEHICLES MUST CTC AN APPROPRIATE ATC FREQ
FOR TWY ENTRY CLR
WIND:
310/5
RVR:
RWY 34L: 300M, 150M, 300M.
RWY 16R: 300M, 150M, 300M
TMP:
13
QNH:
1019

LVP prior to midnight has to be some sort of record for KSA...

TAF AMD YSSY 111109Z 1112/1218
29008KT CAVOK
FM120200 36008KT 9999 LIGHT RAIN SCT025 BKN050
FM121000 32008KT CAVOK
INTER 1203/1209 5000 MODERATE RAIN BKN010
PROB30 1118/1121 0500 FOG
RMK
T 14 13 12 12 Q 1017 1016 1015 1015

A touch of déjà vu all over again (and again)...

Sunny.

We all have access to forecasts. What is your point in posting them here?

There is fog somewhere in the world every hour of the day. Sydney is not unique!

Should QANTAS change their fuel policy?

Yes, they should uplift more fuel at Townsville. ;):E

Should QANTAS change their fuel policy?
 

Here's the rub... No alternate required at time of takeoff = legal. Airborne, destination Wx declines, originally not forecasted, and no tempo. No brainer. Just select an alternate short of your destination, or use contingency fuel. You do have "Contingency Fuel" uplifted, yes?

The answer to your question is mentioned multiple times within this thread.

Every QF flights departs with multiple arrival airports available to them at a number of places en route. If the weather at that last designated point before their arrival at destination says the weather at destination is suitable then they commit to destination. If the weather deteriorates en route and at that designated point requires an alternate or a fuel requirement that they don't have on board (an INTER or TEMPO for example) then they divert.

And therein lies the "problem" at hand. :ugh:

That seems a bit extreme. They should at least try for destination :}

What's with the JQ fuel policy? A BNE-SYD flight diverted to ADL and a AVV-SYD diverted to LST with both overnighting. Cheaper hotel rooms?

I agree scrubba. Hence my candid TAF vs TTF comment back in post #77. I have seen TTFs go from no fog to TTF SPECI fog here NOW - no FM period or BCMG!

Fog is a wily foe and I don't know if we are always capable of knowing what it will do in three hours...

Bloody iPad auto correct. :ugh: :eek:

Yea, I enjoyed it too :D

This thread isn't short.

Should Qantas change its fuel policy?
 

And how about enroute alts?

[quote=JPJP;7882677]You definitely misunderstood the context of what was said. If you want good info, you're not going to get it here. This is a rumour board. Rumour has it, SWA is FAA certified as a Flag airline. ©