Isolated aerodrome
Thread Starter
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 156
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From: Madrid
Isolated aerodrome
AMC OPS 1.255. fuel Policy.
Isolated aerodrome procedure.
When an aerodrome can be consider as isolated?
Depends on.....
flight time to nearest alternate?
NM to the nearest alternate?
Minimum fuel required to the nearest alternate?
REGARDS.
Isolated aerodrome procedure.
When an aerodrome can be consider as isolated?
Depends on.....
flight time to nearest alternate?
NM to the nearest alternate?
Minimum fuel required to the nearest alternate?
REGARDS.
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
From: in them thar hills
I do not know the European definition, but where I have operated recently an airport is considered isolated when no practical alternate exists. So it would depend on the fuel and ETOPS capability of the airplane in question. Operators should have an isolated airport policy regarding weather and fuel reserves e.g. 120 minutes fuel at the cruise rate instead of fuel to an alternate could be acceptable, but only combined with a good forecast and a PNR by which time a weather update is received to ensure that the flight has a good chance of landing. Then you have to consider the risks if the isolated airport only has a single runway - in itself not a risk if no other airplane is arriving there before you but after your PNR. but one to consider if you have passed PNR and cowboy airways go in ahead of you and do a wheels up landing. All has to be agreed with the certifying authority of course.
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 8,571
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From: Arizona USA
The FAA addressed this many years ago (yes, in the piston airliner years, carried over to jet ops) and it was called 'island reserve', and as mentioned above, 2 hours normal fuel reserves at the normal cruise speed.
Used mostly in the Pacific, at least from my personal experience...on pistons and jets.
The wx forecast and runway layout needs to be considered with absolute caution, least you be caught out short of gravy.
PanAmerican used this procedure with many early B707 ops to some Pacific island destinations, as some of the straight pipe models gulped fuel like a big Hoover, with a lower than optimum assigned altitude.
Used mostly in the Pacific, at least from my personal experience...on pistons and jets.
The wx forecast and runway layout needs to be considered with absolute caution, least you be caught out short of gravy.
PanAmerican used this procedure with many early B707 ops to some Pacific island destinations, as some of the straight pipe models gulped fuel like a big Hoover, with a lower than optimum assigned altitude.
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 1,320
Likes: 9
From: Switzerland, Singapore
An isolated destination doesn't necessarily mean a deserted island lonely somewhere in the ocean. It just means isolated: There is no other alternate available. In this sense certain ICAO countries call it island destination which is completly missleading.
It could happen that you fly to central Europe with isolated destination planning: If all airports are closed except one is open. You are allowed to fly there if certain requirements are met, i.e. airport open for a reasonable time, no danger that the airport will go closed, enough fuel to hold if something should happen.
Dani
It could happen that you fly to central Europe with isolated destination planning: If all airports are closed except one is open. You are allowed to fly there if certain requirements are met, i.e. airport open for a reasonable time, no danger that the airport will go closed, enough fuel to hold if something should happen.
Dani
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 1
From: CYZV
Well, this aerodrome was isolated and also on an island. 
