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This kind of makes me wonder just how much reserve fuel the things have. I was led to believe that they use more fuel taking off and reaching cruising altitude than the entire rest of the flight. I also imagine that once at altitude, they're constantly throttling back as the fuel burns off, but I'm not sure about that one. Where's the resident Bruce Dickenson wannabee, Emp when you need him?
http://mashable.com/2015/01/09/boeing-757-flight-diversions/
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*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
Don't forget the fuel and power effects of head and tail winds - pilots crave the jet stream behind the plane!
*An Official Foo-Approved guitarist since Sept 2023.
The airlines have carried out careful economic research and it has repeatedly shown that a crashed plane burns the least fuel and evokes virtually zero refund claims for the obvious delay.
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
As I understand it they are required to have enough in reserve for two attempted landings at their destination, divert to the nearest airdrome and two more landing/take off runs. Shorthaul it's calculated to be quite close as fuel is one of the biggest business costs. Though now fuel prices will have dropped and that will shortly translate into cheaper ticket prices.
Which airlines/aircraft types do you consider less safe in the winter?
Apologies to everyone, the link didn't appear the first time around, and all will become clear now. Hopefully.
Offset "(Emp) - a little heavy on the hyperbole."
It's only relatively recently (inside the last 20 years) that 2-engined aircraft have been permitted for passengers over the Atlantic.
Before it was 4.
Ringleader of the Cambridge cartel, pedal champ and king of the dirt boxes (down to 21)
Single engine failures on four-engine planes are actually more likely, simply because there are twice the number of engines so twice the chance of *a* failure. Although as far as I know any four-engine plane can fly on two, so they are still safer overall since they can still fly after two failures, whereas a two-engined one can only glide...
As far as I know, the only two-engine failure over water so far in a two-engine plane was the one that had to glide to the Azores, and did land safely - and that was due to a fuel leak followed by misdiagnosis and crew error, in pumping fuel from the good side to the leaking side, not engine failure.
If the type of aircraft seems to make a difference as to whether a fuel divert is necessary or not applies it may be down to airline policy rather than the plane, since it's perfectly possible to operate larger aircraft without full fuel load - in fact normal, since it's more efficient.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
This. Cheaper to half fill two twin engine planes than a quarter full 4 engine.
I wouldn't be flying to the East coast at the moment, likely to run out of fuel with that headwind.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2903168/British-Airways-flight-hits-powerhouse-jet-stream-New-York-London-reaching-near-supersonic-speeds-745mph.html
I thought they generally have around 800km of spare fuel, but that is eliminated completely with headwinds of 77mph. 80mph as an average and you won't make the Heathrow Chicago direct flight and will have to divert.
Offset "(Emp) - a little heavy on the hyperbole."
Offset "(Emp) - a little heavy on the hyperbole."
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.