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.
Flying for a B737NG operator, we plan a landing fuel of 5000 lbs plus our alternate airport fuel, usually around 1500 lbs give or take. We burn about 5000 lbs per hour, so when our FMC reserves page tells us we are going to land at our alt. with 5000 lbs we (I) boggie. It just depends how much fuel you have when you start to hold. 1250 lbs is about 15 minutes and so on. As the previous post said it depends on the Capt as well. What I'm comfortable with might not make another Capt as comfortable.