High petrol price, planes flying into New York on dangerously low fuel

[Billcoke]

Due to the increase in fuel prices, even airlines now tighten their belts on fuel usage.

 

source: http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNew...0423-61315.html

 

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Authorities expressed concern that some of the incidents may be prompted by fuel-saving measures. -AFP

 

Wed, Apr 23, 2008

AFP

 

WASHINGTON, US - A REVIEW by federal authorities has revealed a sharp increase in planes, particularly from Continental Airlines, flying into the New York area with so little fuel that they demand an emergency landing.

 

In a report on minimum and emergency fuel declarations into Newark airport last year, the US Department of Transportation (DOT) expressed concern that some of the incidents may be prompted by fuel-saving measures.

 

'We are concerned that fuel-saving measures may have contributed to the low fuel declarations because of two pilot bulletins issued by Continental Airlines in 2007,' the report said.

 

In the notes to pilots, in February and October 2007, Continental expressed concern with the number of fuel stops pilots were making on flights from Europe into Newark, which is based in New Jersey, and urged a reduction.

 

According to the DOT report, the airline's second bulletin 'further stated that adding fuel indiscriminately without critical thinking ultimately reduces profit sharing and possible pension funding.' The DOT expressed concern that 'these types of bulletins might put pressure on pilots to either not stop for fuel when needed or to carry insufficient amounts of fuel.' Emergency fuel declarations alert controllers on the ground that flight crews need priority in landing because their fuel levels are dangerously low.

 

The majority of the minimum or emergency fuel declarations made into Newark last year - some 66 per cent - were on transatlantic flights, and Continental accounted for 64 per cent, or 96 of the 151 total incidents, the report said.

 

By comparison, 72 such incidents were recorded at Newark's airport in 2006 and 44 in 2005.

 

No similar trends have been noted at other US airports.

 

The report cited the case of a Continental flight from Barcelona in which pilots made minimum fuel declarations to Newark 23 times in 2007.

 

Continental Airlines issued a statement assuring that Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules were not violated, and that 'safety was not compromised in any of the situations' evaluated by DOT.

 

'Neither the DOT nor anyone else has suggested that Continental Airlines has contravened any regulations in its aircraft fuelling procedures,' company spokesman Dave Messing said in a statement.

 

'Continental uses FAA-approved flight planning programs to ensure that every flight has more than enough fuel to reach its destination,' he said, adding that 'none of the flights studied had less than a 45-minute reserve on board when they landed.'

 

The review, which was prompted by Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey, found the majority of flights making the emergency declarations came from Europe and involved twin-engine Boeing 757s, which were not originally planned for transatlantic services.

 

'We found that minimum and emergency fuel declarations had increased on flights into the Newark area,' DOT inspector general Calvin Scovell wrote in a letter to Lautenberg.

 

'However, there were no instances where aircraft landed with fuel levels below those required by the FAA.'

 

Mr Messing said all of Continental's Boeing 757s have been fitted with 'winglets, which increase their fuel efficiency by approximately five percent,' and that the airline was the first to make such modifications to that aircraft type. -- AFP

[Typhoonz]

Declaring minimum or emergency fuel when you are doing the approach into an airport will give you priority over other aircraft to land instead of being told to hold at a designated holding point... So if you don't hold and just come in to land, you save fuel...

Edited April 23, 2008 by Typhoonz

[Garlic]

Imagine if all the planes radio ATC,

 

 

"ka kin ar!! puay ki boh yui liao!!!!!"

[Qpik]

i wld find it risky especially if they hv to fly through bad weather. that makes me wonder, does airline sees passenger as a statistics that can be easily replaced/compensated vs stocking up enough fuel?? btw, some budget airline are increase their luaggage handling fees.

[Typhoonz]

That's ll be funny... The ATC will go mad sia...

[Typhoonz]

A bit hard for them to decide as the main rule of business also applies here "Minimum overheads, maximise profits"... Some companies have sort of compromise the safety of their passengers due to rising costs...

[Garlic]

Such an incident happened at JFK in 1990.

 

The plane was put in a holding pattern as weather conditions were unsuitable for landing, captain opted not to divert to Boston as he would be answerable for the massive costs incurred.

 

In the end, the pilots had not choice but to attempt an emergency landing. The first attempt was a missed approach, all four engines flamed out due to fuel starvation during the second attempt and the plane crashed into a hill.

[Garlic]

Most pilots will not fly into that big red blob on their doppler radar, opting instead of fly around it.

 

Then again, how are they going to do that if they are already flying on fumes.

[Qpik]

yes i know where u r coming fm. however, we r tokg abt some factors that will be not controllable by Human i.e. Mother Nature.

 

that is why those companies who depend heavily on petrol hv passed on the buck to their customers.

[Typhoonz]

Now the captain of the aircraft has to make decisions the may get him fired or compromise the safety of his / her passengers...

[Billcoke]

May be fuel consumption is one of pilot's K.P.I, so higher bonuses may lead them to compromise on safety??

Edited April 23, 2008 by Billcoke

[Typhoonz]

No choice mah... The companies won't absorb these rising cost one... Most of the airlines are doing this so why shouldn't they do it too? Not many would think to have more passengers which means more income to cover the rising costs...

[Qpik]

"May Day May Day Make Way I'm coming in 2F2F" ??

 

Jokes aside, I feel this way of cost savings is taking a bit too far. But, I wonder whether our national carriers does it??

[Qpik]

If these geniune costs are really passed on without additional "inflated elements" add to it, then it makes sense. But, which company never passed on these bogus elements?

[Typhoonz]

Of course sure got some additional profits elements inside... Since raising prices so why not just add a dollar here and there to earn more?

[Friendstar]

ITS ALL THE CARTEL"S FAULT

[Qpik]

I know add satu ringgit but if it is only satu ringgit once okay but who knows how many levels of satu ringgit it goes through.

[Qpik]

Yes and we do not hv a choice. Our only way to protest is through supporting Jb petrol companies while the subsidised rate is still there.