What is Release fuel? Where do you find it?
FOM 4-11
FAR REQUIREMENT:
No person may dispatch or TO unless it has enough fuel to:
- Fly to the dispatched airport
- AND, fly to and land at the MOST distant alternate.
- AND STILL, fly for 45min after normal cruising fuel consumption.
What is Contingency fuel?
Contingency fuel is determined by the dispatcher using all information available. In calculating the fuel load, the dispatcher keep all factors in mind that might delay the landing or increase the fuel burn. Contingency fuel may be used anytime by the flight deck crew after concurrence from the dispatcher.
When can a PIC add or remove fuel?
FOM 4-12
PIC is responsible to ensure the fuel load pertaining to the release and know conditions.
- May ADD fuel anytime, but must be coordinated with the dispatcher.
- A fuel DECREASE of 200lbs or 50% of contingency, whichever is MOST restrictive without contacting the dispatcher. Any exceeding decrease most be made in concurrence with dispatcher.
ALWAYS TAKE THE EXTRA FUEL
When should the flight crew notify dispatch pertaining to fuel?
FOM 4-12
- When the estimated time of arrival exceeds 15min beyond the flight planned estimated time of arrival.
- When cruise altitude varies 4,000ft from planned cruise alt.
- When actual routing exceeds 100nm from planned flight route.
- Adding fuel
- Decreasing fuel more than 200lbs or 50%
Can you fuel with passengers on board? What if the MCD is closed?
FOM 4-13
Yes,
MCD OPEN, or if MCD is closed, then crew MUST “ ensure another communication method is established.”
I.e. Open DV window, ramp freq hot mic.
MUST BE CHOCKED and Beacon OFF
What are the requirements for filing an alternate airport?
FOM 4-8
Landing: General Required Rule: 1,2,3 - 1 HR before/after estimated arrival - 2, 000ft ceiling above field elev. - 3 miles+ forecast visibilty
Op Specs:
1. Take-off: when WX minimums for departing airport are below landing minimums (per Op Specs)… Alternate MUST BE listed.
When do you need a TO alternate How is Take-off Alternate fuel determined?
2 engine aircraft:
- Alternate must be with 1hr from the Departure airport.
- normal cruise speed
- still air
- 1 engine inoperative.
Op Specs:
1. Take-off: when WX minimums for departing airport are below landing minimums (per Op Specs)… Alternate MUST BE listed.
define MINTO
Minimum TO Fuel:
- Fuel that MUST be onboard at the start of TO roll. This is calculated by the dispatcher to be the minimum FAR fuel needed to compete that flight leg.
What is exemption 3585?
FOM 4-9 F.
Alternate exemption:
Allows a flight to still depart when the WX at the destination and 1st alternate is forecasted with Conditional language (Tempo/prob) utilizing a 2nd alternate.
- Destination: conditional language indicates WX conditions not less than 1/2 of the lowest VISIBILITY established for the instrument approach procedure expected to be used
- 1st Alternate: conditional language indicated WX conditions not less than 1/2 of the lowest ALTERNATE WX.. CEILING and VISIBILITY for that airport
- 2nd alternate: forecasted conditions in MAIN BODY and CONDITIONAL WX at or above ALTERNATE airport WX minimums for ceiling and visibility.
does not apply to international routes and high min captains
Can new captains depart utilizing exemption 3585?
FOM 4-9
No, must be off High Mins.
What are the requirements for the TOC?
SOPM 4-10.3
- Fuel trend monitoring takes place beginning at the TOC and at least once every hour after.
- Crews are required to monitor flight time and fuel burn at CRUISE with reference to flight plan.
- verify trend against acars and release
- acars: takes a snapshot of performance on TO
How do you determine where the tropopause is utilizing the release? Why is it important?
- 2 digit # next to windshear/turbulence #.
Performance may deteriorate above.. Jet stream winds usually at peak near the tropopause
What are SABRE windshear values?
- 0-2: no turbulence
- 3-4: light turbulence possible
- 5-7: light turbulence likely, moderate possible
- 7+: moderate turbulence likely, severe possible
What’s the difference between (CI) Cost index and Flight release planning?
Smart C/I is realtime based off aircraft performance and objective goal determined by the FMS: A14, SCHED INTEGRITY.
Flight release is a fix speed determined by the dispatcher for performance.
What is the difference between standard, simple and complex departure procedures? Are they mandatory?
Performance Handbook 2.1-2
- Standard: path will be flown whenever an engine failure occurs during TO and NO Special Procedure exists..
- climb: straight ahead to 1000AFE
- route: visually or turn to NAVAID/HDG listed on rwy analysis page. - Simple-Special: similar to standard. However, a turn to NAVAID/HDG is required PRIOR to reaching 1000AFE. Listed on the top of TO analysis page
- Complex-special: MUST be complied with. Issued when engine failure procedure too complex. May be specifically designed for a published departure procedure. Complex departure procedures are depicted through charts on the EFB
How far off can the PQNH or POAT be off before a new release is mandatory?
Performance Handbook 2.9
PQNH - planned altimeter setting:
TO is based on this QNH and valid when actual QNH is no less than .10” BELOW.
Example:
Release 29.82, actual .72 = 👍🏻
If actual .71 = 👎🏻 and need new data/release
POAT - planned outside air temp: Valid when actual no less than POAT - 10°c
Example:
Release 25°C, actual 15°c = 👍🏻
If temp drops to 14°c = 👎🏻 and need new data
When is a runway considered contaminated?
FOM 6-1, Performance Handbook 2.3
> 25% runway surface area to be used covered by more than 1/8in of standing water, slush, or wet/dry snow
When is a drift down alternate required?
Performance Handbook 3.1-2
Dispatch utilizing METHOD 2
Aircraft must be able to return to departing airport or divert to a suitable take-off alternate
Route: straight line distance abeam alternate airport from flight planned route.
What’s the difference between Method 1 and 2 dispatch?
Performance handbook 3.1-2
Method 1: TO weight that ensures obstacle clearance (5nm,1000ft,6000critical, 1500 clmb gradient) anywhere from V1 to destination, if an engine failure occurs. Selected by default if not limiting to FPTOW. Also, generally, selected with a planned TO/LDG ALTERNATE.
Method 2: (Driftdown) TO weight that requires ability to divert to at least 1 suitable airport ensuring obstacle clearance (5nm,2000ft,7000 critical,1500 clmb gradient) if an engine failure occurs. Method 2 provides the HIGHEST enroute TO weight, but requires the MOST dispatch oversight. Regulations require Alternates to be listed and applicable by flight segment on the release.
What items are required contents on a release?
FOM 4.7L,8.6A
- ID of Aircraft
- Trip number
- Type of operation (VFR, IFR)
- Minimum Fuel: destination+alternate+45min still air SE
- departure, all stops, destination, alternate airports
- WX reports/forecasts for all intended airports
- MEL, CDL, NEF and MCI items
When is a new release required?
FOM 4.7L
- Delayed more than 2hrs (P-time)
- Canny depart in accordance with release
- change in WX, MX item, etc - PIC or Dispatch requests a change (121.687 items)
- Aircraft change
- Return to airport of departure
- Crew member change (Skywest)
- Deferral affecting performance
- AMENDMENT: PIC and Dispatch MUST agree
- PIC strike thru old entry and writing new entry adjacent to old one. Dispatch amends their copy
How does a PIC authorize that a flight may be operated safely?
FOM 8.6
- electronic signature on the manifest
- initializing
