FUEL JETTISON PROCEDURE (also known as FUEL DUMPING)

I saw video and comments of the Ethiopian airline dumping fuel while making an emergency landing back to MMIA, Lagos. Many Nigerians said it is because the pilot concluded they will crash. Lol. Folks, that is not the reason.

For better understanding about fuel dumping, let's briefly talk about basic Airplane Weights.

1. Dry Operating Weight (DOW) - Weight of the airplane without passengers, cargo, and BLOCK (Trip, Contingency, Alternate, Taxi, Final Reserve) Fuel.

2. Payload = Weight of passengers + Cargo

3. Zero Fuel Weight (ZFW) = DOW + Payload.

4. Take Off Weight (TOW) = ZFW + BLOCK FUEL.

To avoid structural damages to the air frame and landing gear, Landing Weight (LW) must always be less than the TOW, and in order to do this, the pilot must either use his "Trip fuel" or dump the fuel. (Every airplane has Maximum TOW and Maximum LW).

So, when pilots declare an emergency, as is the case of the Ethiopian airline, it means they have to land at the nearest airport to their current position. It also means they will not be using the "TRIP FUEL" again, meaning they MUST dump fuel to reduce the weight of the airplane before landing. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ETHIOPIAN AIRLINE.

More Landing Weight means more landing speed, increase in the stop margin which may lead to potential runway overrun, and more airport charges. Pilots try to avoid these things.

NOTE: There are calculations to all these, to determine how long the nozzles will be opened and quantity of fuel to be dumped, because you have to put the airplane's Fuel Burn Rate into consideration too.

Planes like Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 are not fitted with the fuel dump nozzle, so in their case, they fly what is known as "HOLDING PATTERN" so that they burn some of the fuel before landing.
(If you are a frequent flyer, you must have noticed a situation where the plane is just circling the airport for minutes before landing. Yes, that is a Holding pattern). Other factors can make a plane to be in "Hold" too (I may talk on this if this post hits front page).

Also there are exceptional cases where pilots land the plane with MLW (not the essence of this post).

So, next time you see those "white stuffs" from a plane's wing tips, it means the pilot is dumping fuel. When it is from the rear of the engines, it is definitely a CONTRAIL (a whole new topic).

So Nigerians, the Ethiopian airline pilot didn't conclude the plane will crash and started dumping fuel

NOTE: This explanation here is very basic, there is more to it.

IS THERE ANY AVIATION SECTION ON NAIRALAND?

Disguy
justwise

I'm trying to upload that video but I am getting an error message. I don't know why.

Very informative post.

I used to be confused and wonder when I see those white stuffs left behind by airplanes.

Please talk about contrail and chemtrails.

It could also be done at emergency take offs , to lighten the climb , though not to completely empty the tank but to calculate enough Aviation fuel for the flight distance and dump excess , this protocol is extremely rare and deadly , a near 90 degrees climb which seems so but about 70 degrees if not carefully done could slide the plane back to a backwards drop to the ground and crash , mostly used by military pilots whereby the life of the president or precious cargo is at stake , what the pilot of the kaduna airport attack could have done this if there was no cargo or passengers on board

Ohh so that's what those cloudy streaks planes emit are.. learnt something new today

Highly informative thread lonelydora.

godofuck231:
It could also be done at emergency take offs , to lighten the climb , though not to completely empty the tank but to calculate enough Aviation fuel for the flight distance and dump excess , this protocol is extremely rare and deadly , a near 90 degrees climb which seems so but about 70 degrees if not carefully done could slide the plane back to a backwards drop to the ground and crash , mostly used by military pilots whereby the life of the president or precious cargo is at stake , what the pilot of the kaduna airport attack could have done this if there was no cargo or passengers on board

Not really as you said it. But them, civil aviation is somehow different from military aviation

mariovito:
Very informative post.

I used to be confused and wonder when I see those white stuffs left behind by airplanes.

Please talk about contrail and chemtrails.

You know I intentionally avoided that "Chemtrail" word. There is a reason I did that.

kingreign:
Highly informative thread lonelydora.

Thanks.

I will do more if they can create an aviation section

lonelydora:


Thanks.

I will do more if they can create an aviation section

I also will do more too cos I’m a huge fan of aviation stuffs. I am a researcher in aviation related issues, I love reading aviation news and articles.

spinna:
Ohh so that's what those cloudy streaks planes emit are.. learnt something new today

Yes.
If you see it at the wings tips, the pilot is dump fuel.

If you see it at the rear of the engines, it is CONTRAIL. (As kids, we often say a "rockets" just passed by).

lonelydora:


Not really as you said it. But them, civil aviation is somehow different from military aviation

ok sir

Lol. I get it.

Oya, we're waiting for the contrail follow up.

lonelydora:


You know I intentionally avoided that "Chemtrail" word. There is a reason I did that.

lonelydora:
FUEL JETTISON PROCEDURE (also known as FUEL DUMPING)

I saw video and comments of the Ethiopian airline dumping fuel while making an emergency landing back to MMIA, Lagos. Many Nigerians said it is because the pilot concluded they will crash. Lol. Folks, that is not the reason.

For better understanding about fuel dumping, let's briefly talk about basic Airplane Weights.

1. Dry Operating Weight (DOW) - Weight of the airplane without passengers, cargo, and BLOCK (Trip, Contingency, Alternate, Taxi, Final Reserve) Fuel.

2. Payload = Weight of passengers + Cargo

3. Zero Fuel Weight (ZFW) = DOW + Payload.

4. Take Off Weight (TOW) = ZFW + BLOCK FUEL.

To avoid structural damages to the air frame and landing gear, Landing Weight (LW) must always be less than the TOW, and in order to do this, the pilot must either use his "Trip fuel" or dump the fuel. (Every airplane has Maximum TOW and Maximum LW).

So, when pilots declare an emergency, as is the case of the Ethiopian airline, it means they have to land at the nearest airport to their current position. It also means they will not be using the "TRIP FUEL" again, meaning they MUST dump fuel to reduce the weight of the airplane before landing. THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO THE ETHIOPIAN AIRLINE.

More Landing Weight means more landing speed, increase in the stop margin which may lead to potential runway overrun, and more airport charges. Pilots try to avoid these things.

NOTE: There are calculations to all these, to determine how long the nozzles will be opened and quantity of fuel to be dumped, because you have to put the airplane's Fuel Burn Rate into consideration too.

Planes like Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 are not fitted with the fuel dump nozzle, so in their case, they fly what is known as "HOLDING PATTERN" so that they burn some of the fuel before landing.
(If you are a frequent flyer, you must have noticed a situation where the plane is just circling the airport for minutes before landing. Yes, that is a Holding pattern). Other factors can make a plane to be in "Hold" too (I may talk on this if this post hits front page).

Also there are exceptional cases where pilots land the plane with MLW (not the essence of this post).

So, next time you see those "white stuffs" from a plane's wing tips, it means the pilot is dumping fuel. When it is from the rear of the engines, it is definitely a CONTRAIL (a whole new topic).

So Nigerians, the Ethiopian airline pilot didn't conclude the plane will crash and started dumping fuel

NOTE: This explanation here is very basic, there is more to it.

IS THERE ANY AVIATION SECTION ON NAIRALAND?

True that.