Ops-Normal.org

Boac wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 18, 2022 6:36 am

Most probably a 'tanking' sector. No-one would in normal circumstances take that much extra fuel.

Boac wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 18, 2022 7:46 am

Don't forget the 'decision process' will be different where you may have an 'excess' of fuel.

Yes I guess the relevant weights, runway condition, LDA and TORA etc. would come into that decision process.

TheGreenAnger wrote: ↑

Tue Oct 18, 2022 7:20 am

.....For once we might really need the METARS at the relevant airfields.

talmacapt wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 19, 2022 8:35 am

Tango15.

Welcome back.

PHXPhlyer wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 19, 2022 4:04 pm

talmacapt wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 19, 2022 8:35 am

Tango15.

Welcome back.

Same from me!
Your "radio silence" was concerning.

PP

talmacapt wrote: ↑

Wed Oct 19, 2022 8:35 am

Tango15.

Welcome back.

Your postings are, to me, always interesting to read.

Wish that could be said for some of the more frequent posters, some of whom seem to have the internet equivalent of verbal diarrhoea.

Viva A320neo low-fuel probe indicates less than 300kg in tanks on landing

Colombian investigators have disclosed that an Airbus A320neo landed with less than 300kg of fuel on board following two diversions on a service from Cali.

The aircraft, operated by Viva Air, had departed Cali for the northern city of Riohacha on 17 October.

This sector is some 530nm in length and typically covered in 1h 20min.

But owing to poor weather at the destination, the aircraft diverted instead to Medellin, which lies some 350nm from Riohacha, meaning the jet travelled some two-thirds of the way back to Cali.

Upon arriving in Medellin terminal airspace, the crew heard over the radio that other aircraft were executing missed approaches to the airport as a result of the meteorological conditions, according to French investigation authority BEA, citing Colombian counterparts.

After carrying out “a couple of circuits in holding”, says BEA, the crew decided to divert again, this time to Monteria’s Los Garzones airport about 150nm north.

While en route to Los Garzones, the crew declared a fuel emergency. The aircraft landed nearly 30min after the emergency call.

BEA says preliminary information from the Colombian inquiry indicates the A320neo landed with 282kg of fuel, with 236kg remaining once the engines were shut down.

It was airborne for some 3h 20min following departure from Cali.

The aircraft (HK-5378) is a CFM International Leap-1A-powered jet, delivered to the carrier new just a little over a year ago, in September 2021.

Colombian investigators have described the incident as “serious”. The airline has stressed that flight safety is a priority.

A VivaColombia Airbus A320-200N, registration HK-5378 performing flight VH-8332 from Cali to Riohacha (Colombia), was descending towards Riohacha Airport when the crew aborted the approach at about FL180 and entered a hold for about 30 minutes. The aircraft subsequently climbed to FL370 and was enroute to divert to Medellin when the crew again needed to abort the approach to Medellin at about 15,000 feet. The aircraft climbed back to FL210, the crew declared emergency, and diverted to Monteira (Colombia) where the aircraft finally landed on runway 32 about 2:15 hours after aborting the approach to Riohacha and about 3:20 hours after departure from Cali. The aircraft had about 100kg in its left fuel tank and about 110 kg of fuel in its right hand tank, the totalizer showed 200kg of fuel remaining.

The airline reported the aircraft needed to abort the approach to Riohacha due to bad weather and diverted to Medellin (Rio Negro). While the aircraft was approaching Medellin weather also impacted the aircraft and made a landing impossible. The crew therefore diverted to Monteira where the aircraft landed safely. The aircraft had more than 180 minutes of fuel available for the 80 minutes flight.

On Oct 27th 2022 Colombia's DIACC reported: "During the arrival to MDE terminal area, the flight crew listened to other aircraft on the frequency reporting missed approaches at MDE due to meteorological conditions; after a couple of circuits in holding, the flight crew decided to proceed to Los Garzones Airport (MTR) in Monteria (SKMR) as alternate. While enroute to MTR, at approximately 18:40 UTC, the flight crew declared MAYDAY FUEL EMERGENCY - SQUAWKING 7700. The flight landed at approximately 19:07 UTC in MTR and it taxied to the assigned parking position without further incident. According to information retrieved from FDA, the flight landed with 282 kg of fuel and it had 236 kg remaining when engines were shut-down." The occurrence was rated a serious incident and is being investigated by Colombia's DIACC.

llondel wrote: ↑

Tue Nov 01, 2022 4:11 pm

Surely the point of carrying contingency fuel is for this sort of situation, where it all goes pear-shaped. Arriving with that much left on a routine flight would be cause for concern, but unless the recommendation is to carry even more, there's not much else they could do.