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Author Topic: Delta 98 fuel low at KJFK  (Read 23355 times)

Offline Аэрофлот Jr.

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Delta 98 fuel low at KJFK
« on: June 09, 2009, 08:07:48 PM »
Delta 98 pilot notifies controllers about their fuel situation, as your hear, they didn't declare emergency.

In my guess, the reason for low fuel was they flew longer way to avoid weather. (Attached)

Enjoy.



Offline philip

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Re: Delta 98 fuel low at KJFK
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2009, 10:00:38 AM »
wow that is a way out of their path... :) Glad they did that rather than fly through bad weather :)

Offline DaytonaAirport

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Re: Delta 98 fuel low at KJFK
« Reply #2 on: June 17, 2009, 02:54:35 AM »
Really? Were they really avoiding bad weather? I am not sure, it could be a clear day with no clouds at all. Possibly due to excessive weight? Did they execute a fuel dump?

Offline atcman23

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Re: Delta 98 fuel low at KJFK
« Reply #3 on: June 17, 2009, 09:43:39 AM »
Why would they execute a fuel dump.  If you look at the graphic you see a massive line of thunderstorms over the Carolinas and Mid Atlantic.  You have to figure in that those storms were a bit further West than the graphic shows, but since they did not want to fly near them, it was probably their best route of flight.  You also need to figure in how many other aircraft diverted around those storms.  Perhaps, this was their best route of flight given traffic in the area, too.  I highly doubt they flew West to fly East because of excessive weight and they're not going to just randomly do a fuel dump; they would be better off throwing money out the window in that case.  Also, they more than likely had to execute a diversion to the West since the aircraft was probably not equipped to fly over the ocean since that path would have taken them beyond the gliding distance to shore.

Other than that, I think it's rather obvious they were avoiding bad weather.  Radar doesn't show thunderstorms when it's a clear, sunny day.

Offline joeyb747

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Re: Delta 98 fuel low at KJFK
« Reply #4 on: June 17, 2009, 09:00:43 PM »
You can see on the graphic where they began to deviate. Looks like near Savanna GA, they were heading due north, and turned north-west. The distance traveled on this flight was at least half again what a direct flight would have been. No wonder they were low on fuel!

And what's up with the little jaunt to the north at the end of the flight? Why wouldn't they have been vectored right in? They are on the north side of the airport, and fly south of the airport, and around, taking the long way in!
« Last Edit: June 17, 2009, 09:04:53 PM by joeyb747 »

Offline atcman23

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Re: Delta 98 fuel low at KJFK
« Reply #5 on: June 17, 2009, 09:36:29 PM »
Probably a vector for traffic.

Offline Аэрофлот Jr.

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Re: Delta 98 fuel low at KJFK
« Reply #6 on: June 17, 2009, 10:48:17 PM »
Probably a vector for traffic.

That is correct.

Offline joeyb747

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Re: Delta 98 fuel low at KJFK
« Reply #7 on: June 18, 2009, 08:25:17 PM »

Offline toeknee25

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Re: Delta 98 fuel low at KJFK
« Reply #8 on: June 19, 2009, 05:21:43 AM »
Also flightaware.com shows its a MD-88.. Those aircraft aren't able to dump fuel right? Similar to the B737s?

Offline joeyb747

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Re: Delta 98 fuel low at KJFK
« Reply #9 on: June 19, 2009, 08:12:35 AM »
Also flightaware.com shows its a MD-88.. Those aircraft aren't able to dump fuel right? Similar to the B737s?

Correct. The MD-80 series cannot dump fuel. With the airplane full of fuel, pax, and cargo, the total weight of the airplane is under max landing weight. So dumping fuel would not be necessary on smaller airplanes. DC-9/MD-80/90, B727 series, B737 series, and A320 series do not posses fuel dump capabilities.

Offline atcman23

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Re: Delta 98 fuel low at KJFK
« Reply #10 on: June 19, 2009, 08:40:50 AM »
Answers that question.