Freight Fuel requirements

[Weekendwarrior]

This feels like a silly question, but I am curious to know. Do dispatch have all your fuel requirements figured out prior to you taking off or is that apart of the weight and balance process? I would think you guys would figure out fuel requirements for each leg because each load would be different.

If you do calculate your own fuel, do you guys get in trouble when you take on extra fuel at the companies expense?

[Bandit_Driver]

Originally Posted by Weekendwarrior

This feels like a silly question, but I am curious to know. Do dispatch have all your fuel requirements figured out prior to you taking off or is that apart of the weight and balance process? I would think you guys would figure out fuel requirements for each leg because each load would be different.

If you do calculate your own fuel, do you guys get in trouble when you take on extra fuel at the companies expense?

At my company dispatch plans our fuel based on the expected cargo load and tries to see if we can go non-stop to the destination. We always wait to fuel until the cargo is verified to avoid having to defuel or leave cargo.

Our captains have the final word on fuel load to an extent. They usually can add a few thousand pounds more for weather, and comfort. Disptach usually plans on us landing with about an 1 hour fuel. Most Capt's want 1.5 hrs remaining at destination.

Tankering fuel is only done if it makes sense. On the 727 every 1000 lbs of tanker fuel results in the following extra burn

• 1st hour extra 53 lbs/hr
• 2nd hour extra 117 lbs/hr
• 3rd hour extra 187 lbs/ hr
• 4th hour extra 241 lbs/hr

[mtsu_av8er]

Not a stupid question at all!At my company (since we don't do "on-demand" flying", most of our fuel requirements are pre-determined. Your individual route procedure will tell you when and where you should get fuel. There's also a note that as the PIC, you should determine if/when you need fuel.The aim, at my company, is to get fuel at the cheapest pice possible, without compromising safety at all. We have fuel contracts at many of our stops, and it's almost automatic.For example, I fly every day from BNA-MKL-MEM-MKL-BNA. I leave BNA full, and the fuel truck is almos waiting for me at MEM. we top-off, and that's that.When I flew MKC-CPS-MKC, we would only leave MKC with enough fuel to get to CPS with reserves, becase it was cheaper to top off in CPS. However, if weather dictated adding fuel in MKC, nothing was ever said to me. It was my own decision.On some runs, it got complicated. When I did 421 out of FXE, we went FXE-ORL-TPA-FXE-OPF-TPA-FXE. I would leave FXE full, then fly to ORL and then TPA. Top off there, then fly to FXE and OPF. There, I'd make a determination on whether or not I needed more fuel. If the weather was crappy, I might add some. the price was high there, though, so we kept the purchases at a minimum. Then, it was on to TPA. Now, although fuel was dirt-cheap at TPA, we tried to get as little as possible there - just enough to get back to FXE. Why? Because the FBO let us park there for free (outstation). So, we tried to hook them up with as much gas cash as we could! So, I'd dip the tanks before that last leg, and then add only as much fuel in TPA a I needed to be safe and legal - no more!Make sense?

[Weekendwarrior]

Thanks for the response, those were the answers I was looking for. I really do enjoy the posts on this forum. It is very informative on what it is like to fly freight.

I am really considering this career course to build experience. I am also partial to corporate aviation as well, but I think I gravitate more towards cargo. The thought of not having people complaining about service is very appealing.

I have one more question. have any of you guys made the decision to push on, and when you were airbourne had second thoughts on that decision? Have you ever encountered a situation where you felt it would be best to turn around? Stay safe.

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by Weekendwarrior

have any of you guys made the decision to push on, and when you were airbourne had second thoughts on that decision?

I certainly have. However, for obvious reasons, I won't give too many details . . .

Have you ever encountered a situation where you felt it would be best to turn around? Stay safe

I did turn around once, after realizing that there was NO way I was getting through a line of weather. I could have gone around it, but it would have made a 250 mile trip an 800 mile trip. Not cool . . ;.

[mikecweb]

We aren't really given any information on fuel except for fuel prices.
I'll tanker fuel if its cheap which they incourage but no one would ever yell at me if I didn't. One thing alot of our guys had to get used to is not topping off an aircraft everytime you go flying.

[falconvalley]

Nice AVaTar, JERK

[mtsu_av8er]

Originally Posted by mikecweb

One thing alot of our guys had to get used to is not topping off an aircraft everytime you go flying.

Yeah, that drives me mad . . .

[Weekendwarrior]

Thanks for the responses. This site is so informative, that I feel like I am in the cockpit with you guys. It's a good thing I read this post with my sick bag.

[FlySmiley]

Originally Posted by mikecweb

We aren't really given any information on fuel except for fuel prices.
I'll tanker fuel if its cheap which they incourage but no one would ever yell at me if I didn't. One thing alot of our guys had to get used to is not topping off an aircraft everytime you go flying.

Unless you have my run.. then you need to get reaquainted with being topped off at the beginning. I am usually watching the fuel lights blink on and off when descending on my final leg depending on how much fuel the airplane is burning that day.

[FlyOrDie]

Dispatch does all of our initial fuel planning. When I walk into work I see what the release says is our min. IFR fuel (121 International Rules). Then I'll calculate what is the max fuel we can carry to land at max landing weight and if we can carry round trip fuel. The fuel planning on the DC6 tends to give you extra padding and the company does not mind you tankering fuel because its always cheaper for them to buy fuel in Anchorage or Fairbanks than anywhere else.

[t-cart]

Not a freight guy , about 25 years ago i decide to "press on" . Got worried and turned around. Should have turned about a mile and a half sooner As Forrest Gump said "Thats all i will say about that"