D’ya know – in almost 50 years of flying – for real – I’ve never, ever heard of such a thing as the story above. I really, truthfully, have some problem actually believing it, particularly as the ATSB say it is so. There is a deep flaw in the logic from both industry and CASA on display here. Nothing in the rules – so pilots don’t do it – THINK about it.
Then let’s have a look at a normal, everyday situation; in terms of ‘logic’.
Bloggs is slated to fly today. A four hour ‘mission’ – charter, survey, medi-vac – whatever. Point is the total journey involves at least four hours ‘airborne’. The procedure is simplicity itself. Bloggs sits down, with pencil and paper and ‘nut’s-it-out’. Taxi, take-off, climb, cruise descent, approach, landing and taxi in. ALL totally calculable (ish). Armed with weather details, load and ‘other’ information – the flight and FUEL plan is structured.
Step 2 – Bloggs ambles out and CHECKS – the residual fuel of board – RFOB.
Step 3 – Bloggs decides that to stay legal – the maximum amount of fuel he can carry is X the job requires X +/- that amount. So the ‘flight plan’ is developed to suit the task. No problemo – unless fuel is not available; then a re-think is required…
Step 4 – Bloggs; as pilot in command (PIC) orders the fuel uplift.
Step 5 – Tanker turns up – fuel is loaded and A DOCKET IS ISSUED. This is SIGNED by the PIC. Bloggs wanted 500 litres – docket says 500 delivered; this plus the residual FOB should amount to the fuel required.
Step 6 – Bloggs (being conscientious) adds the fuel delivered to the RFOB and then – the big one – declares that he is ‘happy’. As in, he accepts command responsibility for the task.
This is a routine, daily occurrence. A cross check that there is sufficient fuel + reserves to complete the task – not only legally (which don’t signify) but SAFELY, which does.
The truly scary part is that because the regulations don’t say this must done – it’s not? Aw, FDS.
Well, bugger me. It would be a cold day in “K’s” workplace before I failed – dismally – to make sure required FOB equaled that already on board + uplift = flight fuel required (+ reserves). WTD are they teaching these children?
The truly bad part is CASA are now required to ‘respond’. They will be obliged to spell out, in legal terms of strict liability – the things that every thinking airman should never need to be told about. Those that taught the pilot mentioned need to be tarred, feathered and run out of Dodge on a rail…………….FDS.
Are we now so completely dependent on; and, terrified of ‘the rules’ that we cannot, dare not think for ourselves? It seems to be so to me. Indeed it does.
“Yes, yes, a Jameson will chase that pint down very nicely; thank you."
What else can you do when lunacy rules. Cheers.
Then let’s have a look at a normal, everyday situation; in terms of ‘logic’.
Bloggs is slated to fly today. A four hour ‘mission’ – charter, survey, medi-vac – whatever. Point is the total journey involves at least four hours ‘airborne’. The procedure is simplicity itself. Bloggs sits down, with pencil and paper and ‘nut’s-it-out’. Taxi, take-off, climb, cruise descent, approach, landing and taxi in. ALL totally calculable (ish). Armed with weather details, load and ‘other’ information – the flight and FUEL plan is structured.
Step 2 – Bloggs ambles out and CHECKS – the residual fuel of board – RFOB.
Step 3 – Bloggs decides that to stay legal – the maximum amount of fuel he can carry is X the job requires X +/- that amount. So the ‘flight plan’ is developed to suit the task. No problemo – unless fuel is not available; then a re-think is required…
Step 4 – Bloggs; as pilot in command (PIC) orders the fuel uplift.
Step 5 – Tanker turns up – fuel is loaded and A DOCKET IS ISSUED. This is SIGNED by the PIC. Bloggs wanted 500 litres – docket says 500 delivered; this plus the residual FOB should amount to the fuel required.
Step 6 – Bloggs (being conscientious) adds the fuel delivered to the RFOB and then – the big one – declares that he is ‘happy’. As in, he accepts command responsibility for the task.
This is a routine, daily occurrence. A cross check that there is sufficient fuel + reserves to complete the task – not only legally (which don’t signify) but SAFELY, which does.
The truly scary part is that because the regulations don’t say this must done – it’s not? Aw, FDS.
Well, bugger me. It would be a cold day in “K’s” workplace before I failed – dismally – to make sure required FOB equaled that already on board + uplift = flight fuel required (+ reserves). WTD are they teaching these children?
The truly bad part is CASA are now required to ‘respond’. They will be obliged to spell out, in legal terms of strict liability – the things that every thinking airman should never need to be told about. Those that taught the pilot mentioned need to be tarred, feathered and run out of Dodge on a rail…………….FDS.
Are we now so completely dependent on; and, terrified of ‘the rules’ that we cannot, dare not think for ourselves? It seems to be so to me. Indeed it does.
“Yes, yes, a Jameson will chase that pint down very nicely; thank you."
What else can you do when lunacy rules. Cheers.