Concord Incident

[Brian Abraham]

From time to time I've seen mention by posters on Pprune of a Concord declaring a Mayday due low fuel at LHR. What little info I've been able to glean from the web is a Concorde flight from New York on 3 Jan 98 had attempted one approach that was hampered by high winds. On the second approach the Captain issued a PAN alert, reporting a fuel emergency. This was followed five minutes later by a full Mayday alert 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometres) from the airport. The pilot was subsequently dismissed.

I've been unable to find any mention on the AAIB site so anyone able to help out? Official rather than scuttlebut if able.
Many thanks - Brian

[chevvron]

I thought Concordes were always short of fuel when arriving eastbound.

[BOAC]

Brian - here's a little clue (taken from a previous post on PPRune)

Perhaps the captain should ring up brian walpole OBE
(over bovingdon empty) to fill in the ASR!

[Rainboe]

Having been stopped by you from using your ID in a posting without permission, can I take it you have obtained such permission from said gentleman to use his name?

[Brian Abraham]

Rainboe, what is said is in the public domain.

[BOAC]

- its ok, Brian - I think he missed "taken from a previous post on PPRune"

[Rainboe]

Ah I see, so quoting his name when you copy someonelses post makes it alright then? When you said your handle was not to be used in a post without permission? I understand......I think. I don't happen to think it is alright to quote his name, even if it is in the public domain- is it really anybody's business to have names? But as my posts are getting deleted willy-nilly by someone with nary a mention, I suppose this one will 'vanish' too, so it doesn't really matter!

[BOAC]

Rainboe - you are getting terribly confused aren't you?

Let me explain, hopefully simply? It is 'not cricket' to link a 'handle' with an actual name on any 'anonymous' internet forum unless approved by the holder. What this has to do with using someone's name in a post I cannot see. Where do you see the PPRune username for Mr Walpole?

Why not reserve moderating for moderators? That way perhaps your posts will not be deleted so often by the head office.

[caitlin]

Here are the facts. Brian Walpole landed at LHR with 10-20 mins fuel remaining. He , quite correctly realised he was CofG compromised and had the a/c towed ( so it wouldn't "bounce" and sit on it's ass ) to stand.He then falsified the fuel tech log entry ( real reason he was suspended) and had the a/c refuelled !! Any other pilot would have been charged with reckless endangerment.I have never known a subject that attracts so much sanitisation , I have not written about this for twenty years .

[megan]

Any other pilot would have been charged with reckless endangerment

Are you able to elaborate on how he became low on fuel? Circumstances beyond his control, such as having to overshoot due wind as the OP mentions?

[wiggy]

Can't recall why the shortfall happened, maybe just one of those days with winds and temperatures aloft not being helpful, but as it was described to me (by someone who was very "close" to the incident) the fuel predictions were becoming shall we say "interesting" well before the aircraft got anywhere near LHR.

[Tagron]

This thread seems to be confusing two separate events. The high profile incident that lead to the dismissal of the Concorde flight manager was much earlier than 1998, more like 1988. There was no go around involved. As I understand it was a straight in approach and there was even doubt as to whether there would have been sufficient fuel remaining for a second approach. The cause of the fuel shortage may have been technical, such as subsonic cruise at lower altitude leading to higher than planned fuel burn. En route diversion opportunities such as Shannon and Cardiff had been passed up.

I don't recollect hearing of the 1998 incident. But I do have a faint memory of a low fuel event in the early 1990s in which strong winds played a part. RW05 in use at LHR and a diversion to LGW ensued.

I am sure there are others closer to these events and with a clearer memory who could provide a more accurate account.

[Musket90]

From memory I understand it was 1 x engine shutdown which should have required div to Shannon, but it continued to Heathrow.