Is it true that passenger aircraft dump excess fuel as they come in to land?
Answers:
The only time airplanes dump fuel is when they are in an emergency situation and they need to reduce their weight because their current weight is greater than their maximum landing weight. Interestingly, on most large airplanes, the maximum landing weight is less than the maximum takeoff weight.
Again, however, they are only going to do this in an emergency situation. During the pre-flight process they plan for normal operations, which means that they are planning on burning off enough fuel during the course of the flight that they will be at or below their maximum landing weight by the time they land. However, if an airplane has an engine fire or some other malfunction before reaching their maximum landing weight, such as during takeoff, then they will dump fuel.
When you dump fuel you should tell ATC if you can. They will mark their radar scope and keep other airplanes away because the airborne fuel creates a hazard for the other airplanes. Some countries require you to submit a written report if you dump fuel there detailing your emergency, reason for dumping fuel, where you dumped the fuel, how much you dumped, etc.
Only in the event of an emergency landing, to minimize the chance of explosion.
It is true, but they try not to to save money.
They dump fuel very high up though and it evaporates.
The reason they do it is that they would be too heavy to land, even gliders dump the water out of their wings so they aren't too heavy.
Some times they get tail winds so they save fuel which they then dump!
Think yourself lucky some people near major airports get frozen toilet waste falling off the aircraft!
This is a myth,just like the "Toilet water myth" aircraft do not discharge fuel except in emergencies,to do so would itself be dangerous if it ignited.Also all toilet waste is kept onboard and disposed of when the plane lands.
Well my windows and my car are under flight path of smallish airport and they have sticky residue on them i take it its aviation fuel from the air as there is nowhere else it can be coming from
Some Airbus planes don't have the ability to dump fuel. There was an emergency landing in Los Angeles not too long ago when an Airbus plane's landing gear didn't fold-up properly. Because they couldn't dump fuel, they had to (I'm not kidding here) fly around Southern California for three hours while they burned off their fuel. The pilot did an excellent job of landing with the front gear still locked with the wheels turned sideways. I'm sure it was a lot of fun flying around for three hours while waiting to make an emergency landing. Nice job Airbus.
They cant do this. Only in emergency cases where they would perform an emergency landing they dump the fuel on board to have a light aircraft during landing. Fuel dumping is usually done over water area.
A commercial aircraft's maximum allowable landing weight is usually less than its maximum take-off weight.
It would only be in the event of an emergency landing shortly after take-off that fuel would be jettisoned, because otherwise the landing itself would be dangerous. The fuel would not be dumped over a built-up area.
Although it is technically possible to dump fuel on some aircraft, this is strictly an emergency procedure. Fuel is NEVER routinely dumped from in-flight aircraft. On the extremely rare occasion that it is dumped, it is only dumped over unpopulated areas, typically over open ocean where the environmental impact is minimal.
Yes.. if you are a pilot that wants to get the sack. Mike (pilot)
No, they don't generally dump fuel unless its an absolute emergency at low level so get higher and at high level to get lower. So no
Hi >
It is a fact of airline operation, but.
Fuel dumping before landing is not done over buit-up areas.
The practice, if say given an impossible approach to a major airport, with possibly a very dodgy landing, then in safety interests is to circle around and dump fuel over the sea or ocean.
Poor marine life, I know, but it will have a small impact, so you have to balance that against a dangerous landing, some problem with the undercarriage, or whatever, with hundreds of folks on board.
A few sparks killing people by burning, or a handful of fish ?
Marine life self-corrects. 200 burnt people do not.
Easy logical decision.
Bob..
(repeat from this same question 2 days ago!)
Quick summary: Yes some larger aircraft have fuel dump valves (and pumps) for emergencies. They do not do this unless it is an emergency.
They have these because most planes take off with more weight than they can land with. Not all planes have the this capability and would need to orbit until enough fuel is burned off to safely land (the A300 for example this is optional). The 105% ratio requirement is very complicated and generally not required due to better engine performance (FAR 25.119-25.121 I think) and the real lack of adherence based on configuration and load dependencies.
people..people.you can search yahoo answers for the same or similar questions before asking. This one pops up about three times a month like the one about parachutes in commercial airliners!
Fuel will only be dumped in case of an emergency. Fuel costs too much to waste!
They only dump fuel in emergencies. On the occasion that an aircraft has a major failure shortly after take-off, the aircraft heads out to sea, dumps the fuel, then comes in for an emergency landing.
The reasons for this are as follows:
1. If the aircraft lands with full fuel tanks, the landing will be unnecessarily heavy, causing airframe damage (especially with external fuel tanks, or "drop tanks")
2. As it's an emergency, if the aircraft were to crash on landing, there is a greater chance of fire and explosion with full tanks. Also, the environment would be damaged more if the aircraft exploded, what with all of the chemicals in aircraft.
They drop the fuel over the sea as it's the safest option. Besides, it doesn't happen very often.
Fuel costs lots of money why dump it ? fuel only gets dumped in "emergency" landings if the aircraft is over its certified landing weight.
0nly in the event of an emergency. Fuel aint cheap nowadays, you know!
this only happens if the plane thinks it's going to have a crash landing and thus dumps as much fuel as possible to reduce the fire hazard. This is not done normally. Dumping usually occurs out at sea or over unpopulated areas. Sometimes however it just can't be helped. However you'll probably be reimbursed by the airline for your trouble.
This RARELY happens. Under normal circumstances the aircraft will arrive at destination under its maximum landing weight. However in an emergency if they need to land sooner than expected SOME (not all) airplanes have the ability to dump fuel. Planes that can't dump, fly around until they are light enough to land. Fuel is EXPENSIVE! The last thing the airlines want to do is waste it by dumping it overboard.
only in emergency
Actually they dump it into the ocean yet the tanks are completely sealed off. Some planes like the boeing 737, Airbus A320, do not have this feature, so they must fly areound to burn off excess fuell
This is done only as a safety precaution if the plane is in trouble,to reduce the explosion factor. The price of kerosene is so expensive that aircraft will never dump fuel unless it,s to do with safety . When they do dump it it evaporates, because it,s so high up.
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