Twice-rerouted flight has fuel emergency
Canadian North flight to Iglulik reroutes twice, returns to Iqaluit on fuel reserves
Beth Brown
Northern News Services
Monday, December 12, 2016
IQALUIT/IGLULIK
A Canadian North flight from Iqaluit to Iglulik almost ran out of fuel, with the crew declaring a fuel emergency after being rerouted twice due to deteriorating weather on Nov. 30.
A Canadian North Bombardier Dash 8 operating a flight from Iqaluit to Iglulik declared a fuel emergency on Nov. 30. - photo courtesy of Canadian North |
After encountering heavy fog in Iglulik, the crew turned to Hall Beach. Unable to land there, the plane was rerouted to Cape Dorset, where freezing rain made landing impossible. The crew decided to return to the capital.
But with all that flying, fuel levels started to get low.
The Transport Canada CADORS Report, which shows aviation information nationally, stated that the plane had one hour and 10 minutes of fuel left for the 50 minutes of flying time needed to return to Iqaluit.
"This was a conservative estimate," said Canadian North spokesperson Kelly Lewis.
When the crew landed and checked their remaining fuel, they had at least 30 minutes of flying time in the tank, he said.
All flights carry enough fuel to get to their destination, as well as to alternate locations and 45 minutes of in-air loitering time should a plane have to wait to land, said Lewis. Then the aircraft carries 50 minutes of fuel on reserve as a buffer, though this flight had extra.
"That plane received even more fuel to avoid having to purchase fuel in Iglulik," said Lewis. "The plane was loaded with fuel."
Calling a fuel emergency is different from a mayday, which would mean the plane was in immediate danger. The fuel emergency was called to avoid getting stuck in line at the airport.
"So they could have immediate landing," said Lewis.
The morning flight was carrying 22 people - 19 passengers plus the captain, first officer and flight attendant. No one was hurt and the aircraft was not damaged.
It was the weather that truly concerned the flight crew, said Lewis.
"It is extremely rare to have weather drop in both alternate destinations."
The crew also encountered inconsistent reporting when they were deciding whether to descend at Cape Dorset.
"The automated weather report was different to conditions reported on the ground," he said.
"It's rare for those to be inconsistent."
"As the flight was proceeding towards (Cape Dorset) the Automated Weather Observation System reported deteriorating conditions as well (as decreased) visibility ... and freezing drizzle," stated the CADORS report. But the report from the ground operator was such that the aircraft could land safely.
The crew determined later that while landing would have been possible, take off later may have been difficult.
Usually a crew would go with the report from the ground, said Lewis, but as none of the passengers were travelling to Cape Dorset, and Iqaluit weather was reported as clear, they made the call to return.
While this required dipping into fuel reserves, the decision was still within regulation.
"Under the Canadian Aviation Regulations, aircraft must generally have a five per cent fuel reserve in addition to the fuel required to fly to the final destination," stated Transport Canada spokesperson Natasha Gauthier.
"Transport Canada followed up with Canadian North and we determined the company was in compliance with the CARs."
