Mixed fleet weight units
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: There !
Mixed fleet weight units
A new aircraft recently joined our fleet and its in LBS while all other aircraft are in KGs which is what everyone is used to.
what is the best way to avoid confusion as I feel this is a major safety risk and may lead to a serious incident or even an accident
any specific tips or tricks for dealing with this situation ?
what is the best way to avoid confusion as I feel this is a major safety risk and may lead to a serious incident or even an accident
any specific tips or tricks for dealing with this situation ?
Joined: Sep 2003
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 956
Likes: 68
From: away from home
A new aircraft recently joined our fleet and its in LBS while all other aircraft are in KGs which is what everyone is used to.
what is the best way to avoid confusion as I feel this is a major safety risk and may lead to a serious incident or even an accident
any specific tips or tricks for dealing with this situation ?
what is the best way to avoid confusion as I feel this is a major safety risk and may lead to a serious incident or even an accident
any specific tips or tricks for dealing with this situation ?
Way back we had one type that was all operated in lbs. Easier that way.
But a single oddball will be risky.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: There !
looking for tips to deal with the situation as is
Fleet Manager
Joined: Apr 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,448
Likes: 310
From: various places .....
If systems are in lbs (eg fuel), there would be a cost to consider. but that should be the only significant system concern, I would have thought ? If it is a case that the aircraft systems are in kg but the loading system is in lbs, it is a trivial exercise (ie comparatively minimal cost) to change the loading system to metric.
An orphan aircraft is asking for a human factors foul up somewhere along the way, I suggest.
An orphan aircraft is asking for a human factors foul up somewhere along the way, I suggest.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: There !
If systems are in lbs (eg fuel), there would be a cost to consider. but that should be the only significant system concern, I would have thought ? If it is a case that the aircraft systems are in kg but the loading system is in lbs, it is a trivial exercise (ie comparatively minimal cost) to change the loading system to metric.
Fleet Manager
Joined: Apr 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,448
Likes: 310
From: various places .....
OK, but the concern is with loading so to change the fuel indications to metric should not be overly expensive I wouldn't have thought ? What other concerns do you see as being a problem ?
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 330
Likes: 0
From: There !
Fleet Manager
Joined: Apr 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 7,448
Likes: 310
From: various places .....
I understand that. The preferred arrangement is to have everything in consistent units.
However, provided the crew cockpit indications are metric, then the whole process can be figured in metric. This would leave the only area for likely error to be the physical fuel loading (presuming at tank indications are imperial). Providing the crew indicators are metric, then the crew fuel quantity crosschecks provide a final error trap. Not ideal, but I would have thought workable.
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may also have CofA or AOC requirements which would preclude my suggestion.
However, provided the crew cockpit indications are metric, then the whole process can be figured in metric. This would leave the only area for likely error to be the physical fuel loading (presuming at tank indications are imperial). Providing the crew indicators are metric, then the crew fuel quantity crosschecks provide a final error trap. Not ideal, but I would have thought workable.
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may also have CofA or AOC requirements which would preclude my suggestion.
