Discretionary fuel uplift
Thread Starter
Hi all,
I'm wondering if you could help. I'm doing an assignment on control systems. I've landed on fuel and how we have minimum fuel uplifts as stipulated in an operator's manual. Any fuel above that as we know is considered discretionary. I'm curious as to how operators around the world control this. More specifically, does your airline have a formal mechanism by which discretionary fuel uplift must be approved, eg) dispatch and/or management approval, and is this stipulated in your operating manuals.
I have heard anecdotally that some LCC's are very stringent wrt taking extra fuel but to add veracity to my submission, would I be able to get proof? Could be as simple as a screenshot without disclosing which airline's manual it is.
Thanks for your help.
I'm wondering if you could help. I'm doing an assignment on control systems. I've landed on fuel and how we have minimum fuel uplifts as stipulated in an operator's manual. Any fuel above that as we know is considered discretionary. I'm curious as to how operators around the world control this. More specifically, does your airline have a formal mechanism by which discretionary fuel uplift must be approved, eg) dispatch and/or management approval, and is this stipulated in your operating manuals.
I have heard anecdotally that some LCC's are very stringent wrt taking extra fuel but to add veracity to my submission, would I be able to get proof? Could be as simple as a screenshot without disclosing which airline's manual it is.
Thanks for your help.
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Hi. I'm with my 3rd A320 operator (all LCC-s) at the moment and so far the magic mark was always 300kgs. Anything above it should be well reasoned by a quick call to OPS. Having said that i have never seen it written in any of the manuals or other controlled documents. It was continuously mentioned however in newsletters, fuel savings emails, crew infos, etc. Smart way of bypassing the regulator but still trickeling the restriction down to the individual PIC. Cheers
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Hey Turb. You shoulda been around when I was a boy flight planner. Those days it was often "2 for me, 2 for the kids, 2 for the missus and 3 for the pension." I'm talking tonnes here Ah, Capt God. Those were the days.
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In my current operator we just have a list of checkboxes to state the reasons for the extra fuel (destination weather, enroute weather, expected atc delays, expected lower level etc)
In my previous operator you just ordered whatever fuel you wanted, no questions asked.
Neither operator ever called to query a fuel decision. The carriers that pressure crews to take less fuel than they think is wise make me uncomfortable.
Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss more.
In my previous operator you just ordered whatever fuel you wanted, no questions asked.
Neither operator ever called to query a fuel decision. The carriers that pressure crews to take less fuel than they think is wise make me uncomfortable.
Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss more.
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To the point
Fuel is regulated by regulations.
Discretionary fuel is at the discretion of the Captain.
More fuel=more options (mostly...)
If company wants you to carry more fuel.... welcome.
I usually put 1.5h more than legally needed. It depends of where you are. if with regulation plus 30 minutes you have 20 places to land may be for you is ok then go for it.
If you are looking for a rule for everything TANK as much as you can to land at just below MLW (make sure you can takeoff is cumbersome to defuel). At the end of the day that is why is DISCRETIONARY and you are the Captain.
Discretionary fuel is at the discretion of the Captain.
More fuel=more options (mostly...)
If company wants you to carry more fuel.... welcome.
I usually put 1.5h more than legally needed. It depends of where you are. if with regulation plus 30 minutes you have 20 places to land may be for you is ok then go for it.
If you are looking for a rule for everything TANK as much as you can to land at just below MLW (make sure you can takeoff is cumbersome to defuel). At the end of the day that is why is DISCRETIONARY and you are the Captain.
