Dumping Fuel ???
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Dumping Fuel ???
Through my letter box last night came a brochure, produced by Luton Airport in support of their expansion plans. In it was a FAQ section which included the following Q&A (I do not have it in front of me so the words will be different).
Q. What about the fact that aircraft sometimes dump unburned fuel on the communities ?
A. Modern aircraft cannot dump fuel although sometimes it can go through an engine unburned.
Now, I know that the question is dumb - nobody is going to dump expensive fuel unless they have to, but I have a feeling that the answer is also a bit silly which brings me to my questions. Do modern aircraft have the ability to dump fuel and also is it possible for fuel to go through an engine unburned? I know that on proon, one occasionally reads of aircraft heading off over the sea to lose fuel so as to avoid having to make an overweight landing - I guess the question is does the fuel go by dumping or just by being burned in the extended flight ?
Oh BTW, I have no axe to grind either way about the proposed expansion - it would be nice to think they would still accept the odd PA28/TB10 though
Q. What about the fact that aircraft sometimes dump unburned fuel on the communities ?
A. Modern aircraft cannot dump fuel although sometimes it can go through an engine unburned.
Now, I know that the question is dumb - nobody is going to dump expensive fuel unless they have to, but I have a feeling that the answer is also a bit silly which brings me to my questions. Do modern aircraft have the ability to dump fuel and also is it possible for fuel to go through an engine unburned? I know that on proon, one occasionally reads of aircraft heading off over the sea to lose fuel so as to avoid having to make an overweight landing - I guess the question is does the fuel go by dumping or just by being burned in the extended flight ?
Oh BTW, I have no axe to grind either way about the proposed expansion - it would be nice to think they would still accept the odd PA28/TB10 though
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Re: Dumping Fuel ???
Modern heavy longhaul aeroplanes can dump fuel. The ones that go through Luton would be most unlikely to have a fuel jettison system fitted. Engines are designed for efficiency and unburnt hydrocarbons passing through the engine would be minimal. Even if dumping were to take place over London, no unburnt fuel or hydrocarbons would be detectable on the grouond, they evaporate rapidly and fumes would be blown away. There is a minimum height above ground for dumping which will not be less than 6-8,000' to allow adequate dispersal. Luton is not suddenly going to go up in smoke! Expansion would be good for Luton and good for the economy. We have to look to our resources in the UK and keep what works ticking over rather than strangle industry because the Far East economies are going to take some keeping up with if we want to maintain our standards of life, and TV sets, stereos, DVD recorders, fridges....
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Re: Dumping Fuel ???
I would say that it beneficial to have more than less fuel at any stage in flight. Should an aircraft arrive at an airfields controll zone above the maximum landing mass authorised (MLMA), then it would make more sense to hold and burn off more fuel, not forgetting that jet aircraft burn a significant greater quantity of fuel at lower levels.
Therefore dumping fuel would only be an extreme scenario, and the regulation in doing so is in place to protect the public anyway.
As regards unburned fuel, this would come down to the efficiency of the aircraft. However the adapted less efficient engines still in service will inherently give off unburned fuel, though this will be dispersed, and the amount of there aircraft still in service are few and far between.
Hope this is of some help,
Antony
Therefore dumping fuel would only be an extreme scenario, and the regulation in doing so is in place to protect the public anyway.
As regards unburned fuel, this would come down to the efficiency of the aircraft. However the adapted less efficient engines still in service will inherently give off unburned fuel, though this will be dispersed, and the amount of there aircraft still in service are few and far between.
Hope this is of some help,
Antony
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Re: Dumping Fuel ???
Again appreciated
Actually, I have been pondering and I do now have a view on the expansion which is in favour of it - providing they are not trying to do it on the existing Road/Rail infrastructure.We would be mad to turn away that investment and a spare runway for we little planes would be useful (wake turbulence excepted)
Actually, I have been pondering and I do now have a view on the expansion which is in favour of it - providing they are not trying to do it on the existing Road/Rail infrastructure.We would be mad to turn away that investment and a spare runway for we little planes would be useful (wake turbulence excepted)
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Re: Dumping Fuel ???
Military fast jet aircraft can generally dump fuel
There are usually local procedures and often a specific fuel dump area
Airmanship certainly applies and there have been cases where dumping has been mistakenly continued until (almost) tanks dry!!
Also, because of the route of the fuel dump lines, some emergencies would dictate that you do not dump fuel as this may involve routing the fuel through a hot/dangerous/damaged area. The RAF have lost at least 1 F3 in the early days by fuel dumping following a rear fuselage fire and the fuel catching fire in the 'hot' area
There are usually local procedures and often a specific fuel dump area
Airmanship certainly applies and there have been cases where dumping has been mistakenly continued until (almost) tanks dry!!
Also, because of the route of the fuel dump lines, some emergencies would dictate that you do not dump fuel as this may involve routing the fuel through a hot/dangerous/damaged area. The RAF have lost at least 1 F3 in the early days by fuel dumping following a rear fuselage fire and the fuel catching fire in the 'hot' area
