Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler - Will assignment be approved if fuel runs low and requires alternate airport

Delta Virtual Airlines Water Cooler | Airline Operations | Will assignment be approved if fuel runs low and requires alternate airport

DVA4863
First Officer, B727-200

Joined on August 12 2007

Mesa, AZ USA

36 legs, 74.4 hours
11 legs, 22.3 hours online
35 legs, 72.6 hours ACARS
6 legs, 13.9 hours event

Posted onPost created on August 22 2011 16:49 ET by Chris Shepard

I had one flight assignment where I used the fuel calculator in ACARS to calculate what I needed to fly in a CRJ-900 from KOND to KSLC. It gave me "excessive weight", so I trimmed down the fuel to compensate as much as I could. As I was getting closer to KSLC, it was apparent that I wasn't going to make it.

My question is, would a flight assignment be approved if I needed to make an emergency landing at another airport to refuel. Then take off and continue my flight to my destination?

I'm assuming that doing any type of "refueling" in the air will result in a rejected assignment.

Chris Shepard

First Officer, B727-200

DVA8752
Captain, B767-300

Joined on January 01 2010
50 State Club
Triple Century Club

Sedalia, CO

338 legs, 1,236.8 hours
31 legs, 181.3 hours online
37 legs, 232.7 hours ACARS
2 legs, 8.4 hours event

Posted onPost created on August 22 2011 16:58 ET by Brandon Howell

NOTAM #33:

From time to time, flights may divert due to mechanical or weather problems. Diversions need to be made at least halfway through the flight to airports served by Delta Virtual Airlines or its codeshare partners. If landing at the alternate airport results in an invalid flight leg, this leg will be held. You should continue from the alternate airport to the original intended destination. When completed both legs can be reviewed for approval.

NOTE: Delta Virtual Airlines will not approve flights when the Departing and Arriving airports are the same. If you have a reason to return to the departing airport, the flight will not be approved.

Approval of any diversions is within the discretion of the Vice-President of Operations, and Delta Virtual may reject any diversion as seen fit.

George Lewis
VP of Operations

It's not clear on fuel questions, but I would place a bet on the PIREP being rejected as it's always up to the PIC regarding fuel amounts.

Brandon Howell (DVA8752)

DVA8622
First Officer, B777-200

Joined on April 14 2010
Century Club

"We're off, like a heard of turtles."
Commack, NY USA

189 legs, 783.0 hours
182 legs, 751.4 hours ACARS

Posted onPost created on August 22 2011 18:06 ET by Ethan Olshever

If you landed at some other airport served by KOND, it would probably count, but otherwise, probably not.

Ethan Olshever

First Officer, B777-200

DVA5274
Senior Captain, B747-400
OLP

Joined on December 11 2007
50 State Club
Globetrotter
Everett 500 Club
Millennium Club
Million Mile Club
US Capital Club
White Knuckles Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary

"Pushin' sixty-six and flying at 500 knots!"
Mooresville, NC

1,407 legs, 3,370.0 hours
18 legs, 35.6 hours online
1,242 legs, 3,087.3 hours ACARS
16 legs, 39.9 hours event

Posted onPost created on August 22 2011 19:17 ET by Skip Simpson

Chris, just a suggestion. Eliminate some cargo/baggage weight, or toss off a few passengers. NEVER try and save weight by discarding fuel. wink

DVA4863
First Officer, B727-200

Joined on August 12 2007

Mesa, AZ USA

36 legs, 74.4 hours
11 legs, 22.3 hours online
35 legs, 72.6 hours ACARS
6 legs, 13.9 hours event

Posted onPost created on August 22 2011 19:27 ET by Chris Shepard

Well, I trimmed the fuel because I have had flights where the fuel calculator in Acars gave me more than enough fuel. But then, those were short flights. I've been reading up on the DVA Encyclopedia and studying how to calculate fuel manually, so I may start doing that instead.

Chris Shepard

First Officer, B727-200

Posted onPost created on August 22 2011 21:53 ET by Skip Simpson

Chris, good move! I'm glad you're reading up and learning from all of this! Good job! biggrin

DVA8865
Captain, B737-800
OLP
E-MAIL

Joined on December 16 2002
50 State Club
Online Millennium Club
Three Million Mile Club
Bi-Millennium Club
Everett Bi-Millennium Club
DVA Twenty-Year Anniversary
Event Half Century Club

Midwestern United States

2,154 legs, 8,090.6 hours
1,465 legs, 5,144.3 hours online
1,578 legs, 5,722.6 hours ACARS
78 legs, 212.1 hours event

Posted onPost created on November 11 2011 19:48 ET by Kyle Reese

I wish we would change the policy on diversions. The part about required to be halfway to the destination for a diversion is unrealistic. Quite simply, if a flight diverts, for whatever reason, as long as it is completed from the diversion airport to the original destination airport it should be counted. Easy and simple.

DVA5929
Senior Captain, B747-400
OLP

Joined on May 10 2008
Million Mile Club
Online Quadruple Century Club
Everett 500 Club
Globetrotter
Six Century Club
50 State Club
DVA Ten-Year Anniversary

"It's buried under a big W!"
TX USA

651 legs, 3,806.1 hours
472 legs, 2,922.9 hours online
565 legs, 3,319.5 hours ACARS
8 legs, 18.9 hours event

Posted onPost created on November 11 2011 22:32 ET by Nicholas Carpenter

Chris, if you had to divert to an airport that still made the flight a valid leg it would be approved. If you had to divert to another airport that invalided the leg then it would be held until you continued to your destination after which both would be approved. However, the ops VP can still choose to reject or approve reports as he sees fit.

Nicholas Carpenter

Senior Captain, B747-400

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