What are your thoughts regarding the incessant desire to slow the airline down in an attempt to either "fit in" with daylight flyers or save gas?

Is this going to negatively impact our customer service, and are there more viable ways to save gas rather than slowing down to a snails pace?

Curious to the views out there on this.

 

Well, it seems to me that we have always been told that we can (and should) go fast if we are running behind. So, if you are early why go fast? Hot layover date, catch a j/s, etc. not withstanding.

Also, with my C-130 mentality it's just a "We'll get there when we get there" kind if thing.

 

Huh? JL put out an FCIF a while ago saying fly your flight planned airspeed (not especially slow on my airplane) unless you are late, then go faster.

With the exception of the 290kt arrival that was directed a few years ago in "order to save some gas" I haven't seen anything that resembles "the incessant desire to slow the airline down"? Please fill us in. Enquiring minds want to know.

Mark

 

The last SafeSkies was full of speed related fuel conservation techniques (boeing). For you guys in the electric jets that PROF on the way down, it's pretty easy, but for the boeing guys we are supposed to:

Plan a 290kt descent, late or not. Hub-city or not.

If your directed to start down before optimum descent point, do .80/310, 1000fpm till intercepting your 290Kt path. Then slow to 290Kt.

Throw in winds, anti-ice, valsan vs. -200 and you get alot of folks doing alot of brain gymnastics to try to save fuel.

Also, any airplane filed or asked to level below FL290 is supposed to fly 310KIAS. Why when for years we flew .80 after FL26.5 (roughly)?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't the MD in PROF decide to start slowing to 250kts almost 40 miles from the airport?

Remember when everyone did .84/340? It seemed like the system was smoother then, rather than now.

My point is, we should not attempt to save gas at the expense of an "on time" arrival. In our business, minutes really do matter, even if it's only 3 or 4. We don't deliver 160 pax to a hub that have 1+40 till thier connecting flight. In that case, slowing down and adding 5-10 minutes to block-times don't matter..those pax will still make the connection. We are many times delivering packages to other feeder aircraft, CTV's, or Postal trucks that then have to deliver those packages to sort facilities to then head out on the road. It's not inconceivable to have a 3 min. arrival delay turn into 20-30 minutes downline.

We, however sell "on time arrivals". If we're late, the domino effect ripples all over the system.

Gas is saved thru judicious use of APU's, Delaying engine start on long-taxi outs, strategically tankering fuel, and refiguring a new optimum altitude when lighter than planned ZFW...just to name a few.

 

My the way Mark, there is no such FCIF currently out there. Either the suspense date has come and gone, or it's been purged for another reason.

 

ATC still directs "normal speed" into Memphis - which I understand still is 290 FCIF or not.

Doesn't really matter - they tend to speed you up or slow you down 50% of the time!

Beers!

 

I had a captain do .85 all the way across the Pacific - on a redispatch!

Cut our extra at the RDP by half. He told me he gets bravo zulus for this kind of thing.....

 

EGGSALENT avatar

 

Sandman: I like the old one better.

 

Mawk90,

I guess I'm just not following you in this discussion. Until I'm directed otherwise, it's my responsibility as a CAPTAIN to get the jet to the destination ON TIME for all the reasons that you describe. To the best of my knowledge that is what the company expects and pays me me to do. If I'm early and can save some gas, I'll try to do that. If I'm late, I'll fly faster, ask for direct legs, 355kt decent vs 290 kts, etc ...

Maybe you are confusing the company's efforts to save some gas (in case yoy haven't noticed it's pretty expensive these days, especially in your Jurrasic Jet) with their absolutely, positively get the freight there no matter what it takes. The two concepts are not mutually exclusive.

Maybe you boys in the "Slave Ship" have been drinking too much coffee and sleeping too much during the day?

Mark