British Airways A Danger, Urge Pilots To Save Fuel

[george]

DANGER AS BA URGE PILOTS TO SAVE FUEL

EXCLUSIVE Passengers 'put at risk'

BANGKOK: -- BRITISH Airways is putting passengers' lives at risk by skimping on fuel, according to concerned pilots.

Pilots say their performance is being monitored by a league table to measurewho can fly with the LEAST amount of fuel on board.

And one BA captain flying from Sydney to Bangkok in Thailand had to divert to Phuket because he was running out.

He managed to land safely but had just two tons of fuel left - enough to fly a mere 88 miles.

One pilot told a respected website: "I fly for BA. We are under constant pressure to carry the legal minimum amount of fuel.

"BA also keeps, and publishes, a 'league table' to highlight to pilots how their excess fuel carriage compares to their colleagues. Of course that is 'excess' departure fuel, not 'excess' arrival fuel!"

The use of the league tables continues despite heavy criticism by UK flight safety regulators six years ago.

Their report found that pilots were known to have carried LESS than the recommended amount of fuel to try to improve their place in the table.

But it warned that airlines might risk losing their certificate to fly if they do carry less. A Boeing 747-400 can carry up to 173 tons of fuel - enough for 7,612 miles.

BA, as well as several other UK airlines, use the controversial league tables. Pilots are not named but they are given a code so they can check their own rank in the table. Pilots, which have used the least amount of fuel come top.

Last night a BA spokeswoman admitted that pilots' fuel consumption is monitored - taking into account factors like the weather and airport congestion.

But she added: "Once this is worked out, additional amounts of fuel are added to cater for potential delays or diversions.

"The safety and security of our operation is always our absolute priority and will not be compromised."

--People.co.uk 2006-05-14

[britmaveric]

Scarey - thought they need to have enough for 1.5x trip?

[Mighty Mouse]

There is a show on television "Air Crash Investigators."

Recently they told the story of a flight that was unable to land because of bad weather conditions. Other planes also wanting to land were put in a holding pattern by air traffic controllers.

Without going into details, one plane run out of fuel and crashed.

Planes need to carry additional fuel in case of a similar situation.

[Phil Conners]

Yikes, boycott BA!

[ilyushin]

Depending on the route, aircraft type and now airlines a fuel reserve of 30-45 minutes or to the nearest airport which is calculated and should be enforced by the crew. Sad news about BA and the fuel burn.

There was an An 12 overloaded out of Bangkok to Sri Lanka it was 5 Betty out when it fell. Crashed due to the reduced fuel to take on more cargo. All died for a few bucks.

[saeb]

Baby Pilot Rules 1 of many:-

1. Fuel required to arrive at destination from point of departure.

2. At destination 45 minutes holding fuel.

3. Fuel required for 45 minute flight to diversion airport.

4. Diversions planned per route for application on route.

5. Hence little need for 3 & 4.

I would doubt very, very much that an airline such as BA would ever be involved in a fuel crisis on a long held route (operated by Quantas) as reported in the People.

Indeed, the route would involve using more fuel to get to Phuket than actually being in the hold at BKK for 20 mins with a diversion to Singapore if it was a weather thing.

(CAT 1- 2-3).

And who ever accused the People of allowing the facts to get in the way of a good story?.

[moonoi]

Baby Pilot Rules 1 of many:-

1. Fuel required to arrive at destination from point of departure.

2. At destination 45 minutes holding fuel.

3. Fuel required for 45 minute flight to diversion airport.

4. Diversions planned per route for application on route.

5. Hence little need for 3 & 4.

I would doubt very, very much that an airline such as BA would ever be involved in a fuel crisis on a long held route (operated by Quantas) as reported in the People.

Indeed, the route would involve using more fuel to get to Phuket than actually being in the hold at BKK for 20 mins with a diversion to Singapore if it was a weather thing.

(CAT 1- 2-3).

And who ever accused the People of allowing the facts to get in the way of a good story?.

The quoted pilot said he was flying from Sydney to Bangkok.....Phuket is closer than BKK when approached from Australia........so that part of the story is not so far fetched as it might seem.

Anyway its easy to research, just search for BA flights that were diverted on that route it could well be that it happened several years ago.......