04-01-2008, 03:58 PM
This is the situation.
I am flying my A310 from China (Beijing) to a remote location in the Pacific Ocean and took off with nearly full fuel for the 7.5 hour flight (this
may have been a bit too much). Anyway I was cruising at 35,000ft when at 1:00 or so into the cruise the left fuel tank lost all its contents into the sea.
Now usually it would be an immediate emergency situation, however I have calculated that due to good en route tailwinds and just enough fuel in the
center and right fuel tanks, if I climb to 39,000ft it is worth the risk to continue the flight with the remaining fuel (74,000lbs).
Issue is, should I declare an emergency (or pan) or not? I am worried that if I don't it will tell me I should have done and penalise me but likewise
that if I do it will tell me I declared a needless emergency. Does this count as an emergency situation seeing as I can still just about make it
safely to my destination?
I am flying my A310 from China (Beijing) to a remote location in the Pacific Ocean and took off with nearly full fuel for the 7.5 hour flight (this
may have been a bit too much). Anyway I was cruising at 35,000ft when at 1:00 or so into the cruise the left fuel tank lost all its contents into the sea.
Now usually it would be an immediate emergency situation, however I have calculated that due to good en route tailwinds and just enough fuel in the
center and right fuel tanks, if I climb to 39,000ft it is worth the risk to continue the flight with the remaining fuel (74,000lbs).
Issue is, should I declare an emergency (or pan) or not? I am worried that if I don't it will tell me I should have done and penalise me but likewise
that if I do it will tell me I declared a needless emergency. Does this count as an emergency situation seeing as I can still just about make it
safely to my destination?
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http://www.galactic.no/rune/stewens.html
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You would do good to read these links:
http://www.galactic.no/rune/stewens.html
http://www.galactic.no/rune/thaoeng.html