Where did the 'Mayday fuel' statement come from?
If tree falls in a forest and no one saw it, did it really fall? If you are flying a small aeroplane to place that no one knows about, and you land with 29mins of fuel. Do you declare a Mayday fuel, on an area freq that gives you no help . Or do you land, learn, and plan better next time .
if you are flying high capacity RPT and know you are now going to land with less than Final reserve, you must declare Mayday fuel .
In the old days it was called airmanship . These days it's called magic I think .
if you are flying high capacity RPT and know you are now going to land with less than Final reserve, you must declare Mayday fuel .
In the old days it was called airmanship . These days it's called magic I think .
use the word "Mayday" when the plane may be going to land with 29 minutes of fuel.
Final reserve is 30 minutes, in the holding configuaration at 1500' AGL. .... but put the flaps and wheels down and maneuvre for an approach, and that amount of fuel is no longer anywhere near 30 minutes. Pour on the power for a go-around and it is more like 10 minutes...
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Dick Smith
Where did 'mayday fuel' come from?
Like so much of our regulatory burden it is written in other peoples' blood. The seminal Avianca accident linked to already being the answer.
...your point being that because 25 minutes of fuel is enough for a puddle jumper to complete a normal circuit to land, an airliner that has been instructed to enter the hold with 30 minutes of fuel is equally assured of a safe landing and does not need to bother ATC with a request for priority? Good grief.
Where did 'mayday fuel' come from?
Like so much of our regulatory burden it is written in other peoples' blood. The seminal Avianca accident linked to already being the answer.
If a pilot of a small private aircraft is in the circuit area of a country airport and finds that the landing will be completed with less than 30 minutes of fuel does this require the “ mayday fuel “ call to ATC?
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To answer the original question, I would hazard a guess to say that the statement came as a direct result from a number of accidents where aircraft have crashed due to poor fuel planning and a rising number of incidents where aircraft have dipped into their final reserve fuel due to poor fuel planning (again) and tight controls set in place by cost cutting airlines.
May I please ask commanders from all around the world, no matter which airline you work for, exercise proper fuel planning and never be afraid to take extra fuel with you. Of course first officers can also add pressure in the decision making process for taking more fuel!
At the end of the day, you are the person responsible for getting to the destination safely and if you crash because of lack of fuel, you will be the first person to be blamed by the investigation and airline management.
May I please ask commanders from all around the world, no matter which airline you work for, exercise proper fuel planning and never be afraid to take extra fuel with you. Of course first officers can also add pressure in the decision making process for taking more fuel!
At the end of the day, you are the person responsible for getting to the destination safely and if you crash because of lack of fuel, you will be the first person to be blamed by the investigation and airline management.
Folks,
Most of you seem unable to grasp the idea that, at such low levels of fuel (see previous posts on "order of accuracy") you do not know how much you have, and the intent of 30 min. FFR, is so that all engines are running at touchdown --- it is not a difficult concept.
All the "mayday" bit does, is get across, in a blunt fashion, what you have to do, including getting the message across to ATC who will not recognise anything less than a "mayday" to upset the approach sequence, except in FAAland.
A320ECAM, the idea of 30 FFR has been around about as long as Airbus, it is not a new concept.
The history is all there for anybody who wants to look it up, start in the early/mid 1970s.
Tootle pip!!
Most of you seem unable to grasp the idea that, at such low levels of fuel (see previous posts on "order of accuracy") you do not know how much you have, and the intent of 30 min. FFR, is so that all engines are running at touchdown --- it is not a difficult concept.
All the "mayday" bit does, is get across, in a blunt fashion, what you have to do, including getting the message across to ATC who will not recognise anything less than a "mayday" to upset the approach sequence, except in FAAland.
A320ECAM, the idea of 30 FFR has been around about as long as Airbus, it is not a new concept.
The history is all there for anybody who wants to look it up, start in the early/mid 1970s.
Tootle pip!!
Thread Starter
Ok. I have changed my view. It’s not a dopey word.
Its clear that that it’s only to be used in a very serious situation and I am sure it will get the attention of ATC. Which is the intention.
Happy new new year everyone !
Its clear that that it’s only to be used in a very serious situation and I am sure it will get the attention of ATC. Which is the intention.
Happy new new year everyone !
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Dick the word 'happy' doesn't apply when it's used in the context of aviation, I prefer you use the words 'good luck'!:-)
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Exactly. Commanders, especially at that particular LCC, please carry whatever fuel you deem necessary for the safe operation of the flight. Do not be bullied by management (especially if they call you into the office to explain why you carried more fuel)! If you crash because the tanks run dry, you will be the first to be blamed by the airline!
