Running out of Fuel

[poadeleted20]

What issues would a 709 ride focus on in this case?

It would depend on how this came to pass, but probably on fuel planning, fuel systems knowledge, and aeronautical decision making. It might even just be an oral exam.

 

[Old Geek]

It would depend on how this came to pass, but probably on fuel planning, fuel systems knowledge, and aeronautical decision making. It might even just be an oral exam.

That was what I was thinking. It comes down to a judgment issue and I suspect that more training and an oral exam would be the more likely outcome.

 

[Tom-D]

Anything they feel like.

Which is more less based upon what you say during the interview.

 

[Henning]

I flew DC9's for five years, and don't remember climbing on the wing to visually check my fuel. I used the guages and the fuel ticket. There was a stick you could use if the guages were inop. But I don't remember any visual inspection. But that was a long time ago, they may do things different now. Hell, maybe my FO was climbing on the wings. I always wondered what he was doing out there for so long.

You never looked for his stash of porn?

 

[LJS1993]

So guys basically you can go out, spend 40,000 dollars on a plane with all the proper avionics yet not have a properly functioning fuel gauge? So it's just accepted that fuel gauges in GA aircraft are not dependable? Wow!!!!!

 

[comanchepilot]

Ron, really - we ALWAYS seem to read the NTSB or some other report later on that shows the pilot just ran out of gas without any intervening cause.

I know you like to not fault the pilot but its kind of assuming in any response that running out of gas with an excuse is not going to get you a 709 ride assuming it was not your fault in the first place that sets the chain in motion. Not verifying fuel on board, not looking in the tanks, not paying attention to flow vs time, all that is ultimately the pilots problem - also the pilots problem in a single or a twin piston is having a destination airport with problem preventing landing and not having enough gas to get to another GA airport- outside parts of the mountain and intermountain west there are probably airports every 30-50 miles if not every 20. If your destination airport is closed you should get your rear someplace else pronto if you are low on fuel. While I consider that a reserve is there to be used in case you need it - if you run out of gas using the reserve you have some problems with planning because you should have stopped someplace else for gas - its not an airliner operation.

Ron - we disagree on some pretty basic elements of operating airplanes. Thats ok - but running a single or twin out of gas is pi$$ poor ADM. If I'm on the ground under these people I WANT them to have a review to make sure their airplane does not land behind me on the freeway and take out my vehicle. . .

 

[poadeleted20]

Ron, really - we ALWAYS seem to read the NTSB or some other report later on that shows the pilot just ran out of gas without any intervening cause.

I guess I've done more reading than you.

I know you like to not fault the pilot

I guess you haven't been reading what I write.

but its kind of assuming in any response that running out of gas with an excuse is not going to get you a 709 ride assuming it was not your fault in the first place that sets the chain in motion.

I've read that, and I'm lost.

In any event, all I said is that one cannot reasonably make the blanket statement that "Anyone who runs out of gas deserves a 709 ride," and I'll stick with that. And I would also add that sometimes a 709 ride isn't sufficient even if it was the pilot's doing -- sometimes it deserves more, like an enforcement action.