744 Fuel Usage and Config.

rossspargo · Post by **rossspargo** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 3:21 pm

"Hey All, Im in slight difficulty at the mo! I have the 744+744F now, completed one flight for GC with it and I am now in a sticky situation! My flight was 5975NM long and was from KLAX-ZSPD. I read through the 'Cruise and Fuel Planning' document for the 744F and worked out the fuel that I should use. I think it was around 275,000lbs! I programmed the FMC for the flight and continued getting the same message, "Insufficient Fuel". I continued to add more fuel until I finally reached the amount were the message disappeared. It was approximately 340,000lbs. When I landed, I actually used 336,583lbs and I thought that this wasnt right seems I should have only used 275,000lbs + Additional Fuel! Can someone help me with the fuel planning please

Also, I am not 100% accurate when it gets to Fuel Configuartion! If someone could help me with this aswell, I will be very grateful

Comparing to the 742, I used 281,427lbs of fuel on a 5667MN flight, and as i understand, the 744 should be more economical! Thanks, Ross S"

Post by **nwadc10** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 4:19 pm

"Hi Ross, Congratulations on becoming the proud owner of a brand new 747-400F!

You are getting the "Insufficient Fuel" message because the estimated fuel on arrival at your destination is less than what you had entered for reserves on the PERF INIT page. The calculations in the manual for fuel required doesn't take wind into consideration. Looking at your flight I bet you had a good headwind requiring more fuel. All that comes down to details though and without knowing the info you got during your preflight planning I can't say if the fuel planning should have been accurate or not. An accurate fuel planner will be built into the new GC flight planner when that becomes available. Read the steps to the fuel planning chart carefully. It's easy to miss that all the numbers are based on a landing weight of 475000 lbs. Most flights I land well over that and need to take the adjustments on the chart into consideration. Justin"

rossspargo · Post by **rossspargo** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:09 pm

"Hey Justin, Thanks for the reply! That will be why I got the message all the time, my reserves were set at 15,000lbs and i landed with 4,000! Will the new flight planner give a fuel idea for the 744 aswell as the 742? I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Javier! Thanks to you Javier, I now know what the approximate Engine Consumption on the 744 is, which will help me work out my fuel

(This may not sound professional but I knew nothing about this) and I take flying lessons so it will come in handy if i talk about the 744 to the training captain! I will never forget the data you gave me, it is very important especially if I dont want to fall out the sky! Thanks again Javier and Justin

Ross S"

Post by **thansson** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:16 pm

"If you have some $$ spare, take a quick look at FSBuild (http://www.fsbuild.com). After many years of flightsimming, I finally got tired of looking all over the place for routes and fuel info and re-typing everything back into FSNav and the FMS. Or a free fuel calculator for the PMDG can be found on the AVSIM website. You just need to do a bit of conversion from kg to lb. Don't forget to add the 45 minute reserve and you should be fine for fuel... http://library.avsim.net/download.php?DLID=76593"

rossspargo · Post by **rossspargo** » Mon Oct 16, 2006 5:31 pm

"Hey Tomas, Thanks for that, I downloaded the free fuel planner just then so will check that out soon! I only have $3 left from America so will have to use £! LOL. I tried to buy FSBuild before but it denied my card, it is a Mastercard! Ill keep trying! Thanks, Ross S"

Post by **esurfman** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 12:21 am

Try B747FuelPlanner_v2.01US.exe works for me

Rick Rios · Post by **Rick Rios** » Tue Oct 17, 2006 7:47 pm

"Using the fuel planning pages in the PMDG manual, along with a spreadsheet I made up for this purpose, I get a fuel loading of 303,600 lbs and this is not adjusted for prevailing winds or alternate landing field. I have not flown this route, but I have flown RKSI-KLAX, which was 5,690 miles. My block fuel used on this flight was 276,415 lbs. and my calculations put my fuel loading at 282,600 lbs. Using the manual, and rounding up, I have never had a major fuel issue in the PMDG. I do, on occasion, revise my reserve fuel down once close to the arrival airport if I am getting the "Insufficient Fuel" warning. I start with a reserve of 19,000 lbs. for planning on most flights. I do not believe I have ever had to reset this lower than 12,000 lbs. in the FMC prior to arrival to clear the warning."

rossspargo · Post by **rossspargo** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 12:19 pm

"Hey Louis + Rick, I tried to locate the file that you were referring to on AVSIM, but couldnt find it Louis, so if you have a reference i would be much appriciative. I used the PMDG 744F Cruise and Fuel Planning facility to work out my fuel, but I got it totally wrong! I had the reservers set to 15,000lbs. Can I ask what spreadsheet you made for the fuel planning Rick? If you have it, would it be possible to send it to me

Thanks, Ross S"

Rick Rios · Post by **Rick Rios** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 7:31 pm

"Ross, My spreadsheet is on its way to you hotmail address. It is nothing special, just something to make my life easier. Definitely a work in progress, but I am happy with how it works. Rick"

Post by **esurfman** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 10:22 pm

For those interested check: http://www.farmboyzimsflightsims.com/Utilities.html It should be the second one and you have to choose depending on how your Windows is configured.

Rick Rios · Post by **Rick Rios** » Wed Oct 18, 2006 11:12 pm

That's a nice utility Louis. Am I missing it or does it not have an option for the 400F? Other than that I like it very much!

rossspargo · Post by **rossspargo** » Thu Oct 19, 2006 2:12 pm

"Hey Guys, Cheers Louis that is a great piece of kit you found! I have one question about it though, I entered some data and got a fuel result of 1872871. Will this be 187,287lbs of fuel? The data I entered was for EHAM-KORD with a PAYLD of 65000lbs and a Min Landing Fuel of 19000lbs! Rick, I checked out your spreadsheet and it looks great too! I dont know where to start! You have nearly every flight on there Thanks All, Ross S"