Globe Cargo

"Well I was hoping my first post in these forums would not be a question, but alas, here it goes. I just selected an open board flight (PO989 - YSSY - OMDB - PHNL) Upon planning this flight, I found that for whatever reason, the fuel load calculator said it was out of range even with the ZFW set to 361,000 lbs (= no cargo) The distance is 6594nm, the ONLY configuration that results in enough fuel is the following: Trip Length: 6594 (from official flight plan) Cruise Alt: FL300 Taxi Time: 15 min Distance to Alternate: 0 <!--emo&:blink:-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> Route Contingency: 14 min <!--emo&:huh:-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> ZFW: 361,000lbs (Shouldn't this be able to go down to 342,000 lbs?) Head / Tail Wind: 0 kts (wouldn't that be nice) <!--emo&:wacko:-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wacko.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> Well if anyone could give me some insight I'd be forever grateful. Until then this flight is grounded, I am not flying an empty bird with no contingency over water! The only explanation I can come up with is that it is assumed I'll make a fuel stop enroute to OMDB. By the way, my name is Nathan Harwood and it is a pleasure to find such a realistic VA! F/O Nathan Harwood Pilot: 1171"

"Ok, after talking to Bert on Team Speak (talk about a brain dump! Thanks Bert!!!) he recommended I plan on a lower cruise speed in the .81 range as opposed to the normal .84. This will get me there and allow some room for Cargo. Someone give Bert a raise, maybe double his salary, or add another zero. <!--emo&:D-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->"

"<!--QuoteBegin-nharwood+Dec 9 2004, 03:10 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nharwood @ Dec 9 2004, 03:10 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Well I was hoping my first post in these forums would not be a question, but alas, here it goes. I just selected an open board flight (PO989 - YSSY - OMDB - PHNL) F/O Nathan Harwood Pilot: 1171 [right][snapback]2459[/snapback][/right] <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> After a quick look isn't the second leg even worse? - 7500 miles (+-) - will it even get there empty of payload at mach .81 and full fuel?- I thought that the absolute max range was 6,700 (+-) Seems an unrealistic route or am I missing something? (rare but not unknown <!--emo&;)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> )"

"I consider everything over 6000 miles odd, as that would allow us to carry very little payload, if any. If you can't make it in one go make a tech stop to take on fuel... IRL these sort of things are captain's discretion and happen all the time. YSSY - WSSS/WIII - OMDB - VTBD/VHHH - PHNL would be a good example <!--emo&:)-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif[/img]<!--endemo-->"

"Hm - maybe this routing is wrong ? Seems quite odd to me .... As Yannic said it wouldn't allow any payload and furthermore why would anybody want to make a stop in DXB on the way from SYD to HNL ? <!--emo&:blink:-->[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]<!--endemo--> Regarding the tech stops on pilots discretion: Sure this happens, but usually only when a failure occurs or the weather turns out worse than initially forecasted and the fuel consumption is much higher than planned. Regular tech stops like necessary in this example are normally part of the scheduled route."

"<!--QuoteBegin-amartin+Dec 9 2004, 07:12 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(amartin @ Dec 9 2004, 07:12 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Regarding the tech stops on pilots discretion: Sure this happens, but usually only when a failure occurs or the weather turns out worse than initially forecasted and the fuel consumption is much higher than planned. Regular tech stops like necessary in this example are normally part of the scheduled route. [right][snapback]2466[/snapback][/right] <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> That's what I was thinking."

I can not speak for the Atlas Charters but any Polar routes are real world. They do make fuel stops when required and we leave that to pilot discretion as to where and when. Of course Bert is a resident expert on these matters and a great source of information. Bert is a retired 742 captain.