Originally Posted by
fire
Can somebody explain calculating holding times, and when you must divert? I ask captains often, but keep getting there answers mixed up. If it's in writing, it'll be easier for me to understand.
thanks in advance.
it's a judgement call, thats why the 4 stripers get paid the "big" bucks. some companies may have hard rules written in their operating procedures though. usually fuel is looked at every 10-15 minutes in the hold.
each CA has their own different personal minimums when it comes to fuel, while the FAA minimums are strictly a dispatching function.
in general, you get to your reserve of 45 minutes of fuel in a light ifr or vfr day, then you divert. add the furthest alternate fuel to that if it is hard ifr in the surrounding area. ie, build margins into it. coordinate with dispatch as they sometimes have a better bigger picture when it comes to weather.