This ethatcan, fly

Those that can't either instruct or go into management

 

Jetliner's Low-Fuel Landing Draws U.S. FAA Reprimand to Airline

full story:
Jetliner's Low-Fuel Landing Draws U.S. FAA Reprimand to Airline - Bloomberg Business

excerpt:
The Federal Aviation Administration has reprimanded Allegiant Airlines because of a July incident in which two of its pilots declared they were so low on fuel they needed to make an emergency landing in Fargo, North Dakota.

The airline was issued a formal letter of correction -- something short of an enforcement action, in which the agency could assess a civil fine.

Allegiant Flight 426 to Fargo on July 23 left Las Vegas more than an hour late, arriving while the airport was closed to commercial traffic for an air show rehearsal, according to the FAA. The airline had been notified of the closing and it is the responsibility of pilots to read all such notices.

While Allegiant’s flight operations center initially told Fargo controllers the plane carried enough fuel, the FAA concluded the flight “did not appear to have adequate fuel,” according to a statement from the agency released this week. It didn’t specify whether they were in danger of actually running out.

When controllers radioed the flight crew that they would have to wait 20 minutes before landing, one pilot responded, “Yeah, I don’t have 20 minutes.” The crew rejected a suggestion they divert about 70 miles (113 kilometers) away to Grand Forks.

Bingo Fuel
The pilot then said the plane was nearing “bingo fuel,” military slang for flying on empty. U.S. rules require airliners to carry enough fuel to reach their destination, divert to another location and still have about 45 minutes of reserve.

 

And to think, even after FAR, Greg Baden has the chutzpah to write and release a memo that states:

"However, willful violation of standards or regulatory guidance, disregard for safety, and the inabilities to accept opportunities for improvement is unacceptable in our profession and cannot be tolerated."

Leadership through arrogance, humility be damned, eh, Greg? Way to go, buddy...

 

As did the other 7 captains that have been fired from IWA? Isn't that about 1/3 of the base seniority list for captains? Begs some serious questions. Imagine the equivalent at an SWA base of, say 600 captains: 200 fired. Are we doing THAT bad hiring people? Are they being set up with garbage training? Maintenance? Is support lacking? All the above?

Is the company quick to terminate for what other airlines would avoid with good management or retrain, forgive?

Career questions for anyone looking to come here or stay.

 

What's the story behind that? PM me if you don't want to post on an open forum.

 

In bold is it more than anything it seems.

 

Jetliner's Low-Fuel Landing Draws U.S. FAA Reprimand to Airline - Bloomberg Business

“Allegiant also drew scrutiny from the FAA for an Aug. 17 incident in Las Vegas in which a flight-control device on the tail broke loose, forcing pilots to abort their takeoff after reaching 138 miles (222 kilometers) an hour. Inspections afterward found another three aircraft with improperly attached flight-control bolts, which the airline said it repaired according to normal procedure..


What I want to know is who is going to jail? Allegiant management, Mav in particular making false statements to the public and federal regulators. Falsification of maintenance records, recreating the “ValuJet” corporate culture and its propensity to cut corners. I'm no $1000/Hr FH attorney, but there has to be a felony in there somewhere? Why does the the FAA and our POI not act? The longer they do nothing of substance, the more complicit they look. Airlines have been shut down for less.

 

Are G4 pilots not allowed to check and add more fuel if required?
I'd like to go work there but this sort of stuff raises flags. Thanks


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They are. It takes a call to dispatch and they will add the fuel. If it's above a certain amount, it requires a new dispatch release or amendment. Might cause a delay as the fueler might need to be called back. It's a hassle for sure and sad that it always falls on the pilots to do so many other departments job. As Ops management says, pilots are the last line of defense.

 

Thanks for the insight. Well, I'm coming from the 135 world. There, you are expected to be the CA, FO, FA, baggage handler, dispatcher, WX man, fueler, etc. and the list goes on, so for me that's not a deal breaker but I definitely see what you mean and why it's a big deal.
Are there any improvements on the pipeline to mitigate the issue (I.e. Training their Distpach center). Thanks!!


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