AF passengers asked to pay fuel bill in cash
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AF passengers asked to pay fuel bill in cash
Any more details available on this little gem:
Damaskus (Syrien): Air France fragt Passagiere nach Bargeld - SPIEGEL ONLINE
According to the above, passengers on an AF flight to OLBA (which was diverted to OJAI due to the natives in OLBA being restless), were asked to find cash in order to pay for fuel picked up at OSDI, where an unscheduled stop was made to take on fuel in order to complete the diversion to OJAI.
At OSDI, the AF credit card was not accepted for the fuel bill, and crew then asked passengers to check their wallets for cash. In the end, the crew seemed to manage on their own, and no passenger funds were actually used in the process. AF called the request for pax cash "a purely precautionary measure".
Damaskus (Syrien): Air France fragt Passagiere nach Bargeld - SPIEGEL ONLINE
According to the above, passengers on an AF flight to OLBA (which was diverted to OJAI due to the natives in OLBA being restless), were asked to find cash in order to pay for fuel picked up at OSDI, where an unscheduled stop was made to take on fuel in order to complete the diversion to OJAI.
At OSDI, the AF credit card was not accepted for the fuel bill, and crew then asked passengers to check their wallets for cash. In the end, the crew seemed to manage on their own, and no passenger funds were actually used in the process. AF called the request for pax cash "a purely precautionary measure".
Last edited by Victor Inox; 17th Aug 2012 at 10:49.
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Divert into the Damascus combat Airspace ?
wow, no risk no fun..
Why did they not landed elsewhere in more peaceful environments like Jordan or Cyprus ?
Insufficient fuel on a four hour flight on an A330 ?
Maybe they were in a longer hold over OLBA until they ran out of options..
If I get it right they intended to fly to Amman which is much farther than Larnaca..
Interesting decision making..even a developing situation.
Would be interesting to the the flightcrews comments.
some engl. links
Telegraph.uk
ABC / AP
wow, no risk no fun..
Why did they not landed elsewhere in more peaceful environments like Jordan or Cyprus ?
Insufficient fuel on a four hour flight on an A330 ?
Maybe they were in a longer hold over OLBA until they ran out of options..
If I get it right they intended to fly to Amman which is much farther than Larnaca..
Interesting decision making..even a developing situation.
Would be interesting to the the flightcrews comments.
some engl. links
Telegraph.uk
ABC / AP
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destination Beirut, divert to Jordan, refuel Damascus....
I am making an assumption that this was an Air France flight from France.... to Beirut....
To divert from Beirut to Jordan, Queen Alia is logical, and perhaps 40 mins on a good day.....BUT
The normal route actually goes thru Syrian airspace, and an overflight permit would be required, as would a laning permit for Jordan.
This route also goes diredtly overhead Damascus.
As previously stated most if not all carriers would find it easier to divert to Cyprus.
Something is wrotten....
To divert from Beirut to Jordan, Queen Alia is logical, and perhaps 40 mins on a good day.....BUT
The normal route actually goes thru Syrian airspace, and an overflight permit would be required, as would a laning permit for Jordan.
This route also goes diredtly overhead Damascus.
As previously stated most if not all carriers would find it easier to divert to Cyprus.
Something is wrotten....
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WX @ LCLK was excellent
SA 15/08/2012 19:30->
METAR LCLK 151930Z 22010KT CAVOK 27/24 Q1005 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 19:00->
METAR LCLK 151900Z 22010KT CAVOK 28/24 Q1005 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 18:30->
METAR LCLK 151830Z 22010KT CAVOK 28/24 Q1005 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 18:00->
METAR LCLK 151800Z 22011KT CAVOK 28/24 Q1005 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 17:30->
METAR LCLK 151730Z 23014KT 9999 FEW015 28/24 Q1005 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 17:00->
METAR LCLK 151700Z 22013KT CAVOK 28/24 Q1005 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 16:30->
METAR LCLK 151630Z 22015KT CAVOK 29/24 Q1004 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 16:00->
METAR LCLK 151600Z 22015KT CAVOK 29/24 Q1004 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 15:30->
METAR LCLK 151530Z 22015KT CAVOK 30/24 Q1004 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 15:00->
METAR LCLK 151500Z 22014KT CAVOK 31/23 Q1004 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 19:30->
METAR LCLK 151930Z 22010KT CAVOK 27/24 Q1005 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 19:00->
METAR LCLK 151900Z 22010KT CAVOK 28/24 Q1005 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 18:30->
METAR LCLK 151830Z 22010KT CAVOK 28/24 Q1005 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 18:00->
METAR LCLK 151800Z 22011KT CAVOK 28/24 Q1005 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 17:30->
METAR LCLK 151730Z 23014KT 9999 FEW015 28/24 Q1005 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 17:00->
METAR LCLK 151700Z 22013KT CAVOK 28/24 Q1005 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 16:30->
METAR LCLK 151630Z 22015KT CAVOK 29/24 Q1004 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 16:00->
METAR LCLK 151600Z 22015KT CAVOK 29/24 Q1004 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 15:30->
METAR LCLK 151530Z 22015KT CAVOK 30/24 Q1004 NOSIG=
SA 15/08/2012 15:00->
METAR LCLK 151500Z 22014KT CAVOK 31/23 Q1004 NOSIG=
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From a french paper website (Libération, left-wing daily):
"The situation [in the vicinity of Beirut Airport, Lebanon] has deteriorated rapidly during the approach phase in Beirut, which led the company to decide on a diversion Amman [Jordan] which then appeared as the best solution," said Air France's director on duty, Pierre Caussade.
"But the captain was unable to obtain from sector's air traffic control tha authorisation for a direct flight path to Amman. Ultimately, with the remaining fuel, the only airport in range was Damascus", said a captain and spokesman for Air Operations of the company.
My translation, [notes] and bolding. Apologies for any frenglish left.
ŦLa situation sest dégradée rapidement pendant la phase dapproche ā Beyrouth, ce qui a conduit la compagnie ā décider dun déroutement sur Amman qui apparaissait alors comme la meilleure solutionŧ, a expliqué le directeur de permanence ā Air France, Pierre Caussade.
ŦMais le commandement de bord na pas pu obtenir du contrôle aérien du secteur lautorisation demprunter une trajectoire directe sur Amman. En fin de compte, avec le carburant restant, le seul aéroport ā portée a été Damasŧ, a ajouté un commandant de bord, porte-parole des opérations aériennes de la compagnie.
ŦMais le commandement de bord na pas pu obtenir du contrôle aérien du secteur lautorisation demprunter une trajectoire directe sur Amman. En fin de compte, avec le carburant restant, le seul aéroport ā portée a été Damasŧ, a ajouté un commandant de bord, porte-parole des opérations aériennes de la compagnie.
"But the captain was unable to obtain from sector's air traffic control tha authorisation for a direct flight path to Amman. Ultimately, with the remaining fuel, the only airport in range was Damascus", said a captain and spokesman for Air Operations of the company.
My translation, [notes] and bolding. Apologies for any frenglish left.
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Not an un-heard of situation!
We had to have a whip round a few years ago in in Dakar after they demanded cash for the fuel. It took us about 3 hrs to sort out but at least we got away
We had to have a whip round a few years ago in in Dakar after they demanded cash for the fuel. It took us about 3 hrs to sort out but at least we got away
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Also noteworthy is that the crew apparently initially tried to pay for the fuel with a (company? personal?) credit card, but this card could not be used due to international sanctions on the Syrian regime.
The ultimate solution found to pay for kerosene was not specified.
[edit]
Yes, AF562 (A330-203 F-GZCK).
From AF website:
CDG 15/08 16:34
DAM 15/08 22:12
DAM 16/08 00:20
LCA 16/08 01:29
LCA 16/08 17:01
BEY 16/08 17:38
(Original schedule was 15/08 CDG 16:30 - BEY 21:45)
The ultimate solution found to pay for kerosene was not specified.
[edit]
From AF website:
CDG 15/08 16:34
DAM 15/08 22:12
DAM 16/08 00:20
LCA 16/08 01:29
LCA 16/08 17:01
BEY 16/08 17:38
(Original schedule was 15/08 CDG 16:30 - BEY 21:45)
Last edited by AlphaZuluRomeo; 17th Aug 2012 at 14:35.
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Tel Aviv is farther, at last 2 times the distance (even if it's a short one).
And IIRC, procedures for entering israeli airspace are not that simple (coming straight from Paris). I guess it's worse when diverting from a "political opponent" country?
[edit]
Beirut-Damas : 48Nm
Beirut-Tel Aviv : 114Nm
And IIRC, procedures for entering israeli airspace are not that simple (coming straight from Paris). I guess it's worse when diverting from a "political opponent" country?
[edit]
Beirut-Damas : 48Nm
Beirut-Tel Aviv : 114Nm
Last edited by AlphaZuluRomeo; 18th Aug 2012 at 14:44. Reason: addendum + typo
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Also, you wouldn't want deliver your Beirut-bound passengers to the Israelis.
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Clearly few folk talking here have no experience in the middle east!
Taking fuel for an escape is a good plan. Diverting from BEY to DAM at the moment is a BAD idea and in my view view this Air France Captain put his passengers in great danger. At any time the Syrian rebels could storm the airport in DAM. Taking Lebanese pax to TLV is NOT a good idea- Larnaca fuel is.
Who cares what is on the flight plan- LCA fuel is always worth it imho.
Taking fuel for an escape is a good plan. Diverting from BEY to DAM at the moment is a BAD idea and in my view view this Air France Captain put his passengers in great danger. At any time the Syrian rebels could storm the airport in DAM. Taking Lebanese pax to TLV is NOT a good idea- Larnaca fuel is.
Who cares what is on the flight plan- LCA fuel is always worth it imho.
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But why they didnīt considered Larnaca ? Because of fuel 
They should have enough in the tanks for the short trip.
OLBA - OSDI = 56,9 NM
OLBA - LCLK = 112,0 NM
OLBA - OJAI = 128,1 NM (+ XX NM to circumfly Syrian airspace)
OLBA = LLBG = 112,6 NM
BTW: AF suspended ops to OSDI in March because of a worrying security situation...and this at a time without the dayly risk of being shot down either by the Assad Air Force or the Rebels which are also equipped with RPGs and SAMs...
OSDI therefore should be deleted as an alternate option anyway.
Canīt believe the pilots did not catch the news the recent months.
Something more must have happened on this flight which were unaware of.
They should have enough in the tanks for the short trip.
OLBA - OSDI = 56,9 NM
OLBA - LCLK = 112,0 NM
OLBA - OJAI = 128,1 NM (+ XX NM to circumfly Syrian airspace)
OLBA = LLBG = 112,6 NM
BTW: AF suspended ops to OSDI in March because of a worrying security situation...and this at a time without the dayly risk of being shot down either by the Assad Air Force or the Rebels which are also equipped with RPGs and SAMs...
OSDI therefore should be deleted as an alternate option anyway.
Canīt believe the pilots did not catch the news the recent months.
Something more must have happened on this flight which were unaware of.
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Damascus should not have been an alternate on the flight plan.
It would be interesting to know the alternates listed with fuel figures and than work out the decision making.
Was mayday / pan ever declared?
It all looks so insane that to consider it a 'planned' action to smuggle someone or something out of Damascus can actually be the most realistic scenario.
It would be interesting to know the alternates listed with fuel figures and than work out the decision making.
Was mayday / pan ever declared?
It all looks so insane that to consider it a 'planned' action to smuggle someone or something out of Damascus can actually be the most realistic scenario.
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It all looks so insane that to consider it a 'planned' action to smuggle someone or something out of Damascus can actually be the most realistic scenario.
Would be interesting to know what other arriving crews did that evening..maybe AF was not alone..
And why was it out of consideration to land at Beirut as planned ?
I can be wrong but there were no reports the airport itself was unsecure at the time.
I donīt believe they did not have enough fuel for Larnaca..
a pity the FLightradar tracking of AF 562 ends half way between Turkey and Cyprus..
Flightradar24.com - Live flight tracker!
Last edited by readywhenreaching; 17th Aug 2012 at 21:12.
On picking Damascus as the alternate:
France, of course, has a colonial history with Syria (A French mandate territory 1919-1946), and also currently flies direct to Damascus (or at least they list it as a direct destination - the war may have changed actual volume of flights).
Air France does not list Cyprus or Larnaca as a regular destination.
So there may have been a cultural/corporate "mindset" favoring the nearest airport with some Air France history and presence.
Of course, that doesn't mean it was the right choice....
As to requesting cash from passengers - I guess you do what you have to do. Glad things eventually worked out.
France, of course, has a colonial history with Syria (A French mandate territory 1919-1946), and also currently flies direct to Damascus (or at least they list it as a direct destination - the war may have changed actual volume of flights).
Air France does not list Cyprus or Larnaca as a regular destination.
So there may have been a cultural/corporate "mindset" favoring the nearest airport with some Air France history and presence.
Of course, that doesn't mean it was the right choice....
As to requesting cash from passengers - I guess you do what you have to do. Glad things eventually worked out.
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Well, according to this one here, they finally landed at Larnaca in the night:
Air France jet to Beirut diverted to Larnaca Airport
In case the time is correct, AF 562 has quite a short stay at Syria.
So they then flew LFPG-OSDI-LCLK-OLBA..busy shift indeed without much time to rest.
Air France jet to Beirut diverted to Larnaca Airport
In case the time is correct, AF 562 has quite a short stay at Syria.
So they then flew LFPG-OSDI-LCLK-OLBA..busy shift indeed without much time to rest.