#16
Post
by ExSp33db1rd » Thu Jan 16, 2020 8:01 am
My only experience is that we could dump as much or as little as we wished. But then we had a Flt. Eng. with a slide rule, it wasn't dependant upon a digital device, i.e open the taps for the pre-determined amount of time and monitor the fuel flow, then close the taps. Easy, more or less.
Once lost an engine shortly after take off ex-Muscat for Rome, bang, crash, wallop,visible flame. Stewardess screaming. Fire drill carried out, engine shut down and secured as per checklist, what to do next ? Dump fuel and return to land at Muscat ? Knew that Muscat would not let pax. leave the airport, very restrictive in who could "land" in those days, maybe still is ? No spare engine, so possible two or three day layover sleeping on the airport floor awaiting replacement and fitting. Aircraft flying OK, spare engine at Bahrain so let's carry on, stop climb at 5,000 ft to achieve higher fuel burn and help weight loss, and not far to go, start dumping to landing weight. Suddenly many oil rig flares ! Christ ! we're going to set the Gulf on fire, turn away, stop dumping (OK, at that height unlikely that vaporised fuel would reach sea level in a flammable state, but it gave food for thought ! ) Eventually flew past the flares, continued dumping, landed at Bahrain, pax. accommodated and some re-booked to continue as flights available, engineers flown out to fit the spare engine in store, 24 hr. delay. Job done. Return to Muscat not a credible option, unless there had been imminent danger.