Originally Posted by
LavStink
I wonder if the 166 folks in back and crew that held total faith in ole Greg's decision making realized, by his own admission, that they "didn't have twenty minutes".
I wonder if they realize that they wouldn't even have made it to Grand Forks if there had been something preventing them from clearing the runway in FAR.
I wonder if Greg thinks about all the lives he put in harm's way as he tried desperately over the radio to make his own failings the ATC guy's, just like he does everyday back at the office.
If that flight had departed KLAS on time at 7:05am instead of the actual late departure of 08:25am they would have arrived into KFAR before the airport closed for airshow restrictions. Maybe AAY headquarters knew about the Fargo airport restrictions but figured flight 426 would arrive before the noon shutdown, didn't allow for the possibility of a late departure? But that may be giving them too much credit, plus an on-time departure is an exception to the norm.
FlightAware shows they landed into Fargo at 1:02pm
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/AAY426
Somewhat surprised that management didn't find a way to charge the passengers a fee for "Viewing a Blue Angels Rehearsal".
Also, are the following FAA fuel rules no longer in effect?
http://lessonslearned.faa.gov/Avianca52/INFO_08004.pdf
(see page 2, paragraph c.)
Reserve Fuel
FAA fuel requirements for flight in IFR conditions state that:
"No person may operate a civil aircraft in IFR conditions unless it carries enough fuel (considering weather reports and forecasts and weather conditions) to-
Complete the flight to the first airport of intended landing;
Fly from that airport to the alternate airport [if one is required]; and
Fly after that for 45 minutes at normal cruising speed or, for helicopters, fly after that for 30 minutes at normal cruising speed."