Lufthansa A380 Diverted to YEG

[wee_in_yyc]

Lufthansa 454 diverted to YEG for a medical.

http://flightaware.com/live/flight/DLH4 ... /EDDF/CYEG

[burhead1]

Captain forgot his had expired?

[ahramin]

Saw them peel off, descend a couple thousand feet and then dump 10t of fuel. Suddenly the little bright speck was a big white blur. They jettisoned over ymm, most appropriate place on the planet really.

Edmonton offered them 20 and the option of having the runway to park on but they didn't like the crosswind so they took 30. I guess they found a taxiway for them? Anyone have pictures?

Note to YEG center: The 380 has all their charts on a couple screens in the cockpit. When they ask for runway conditions, they want to hear "bare and dry" not how long it is .

[jetsetfly]

Was totally surprised to see it here in YEG they didn't even have a gate where they could park it so they ended up staying there fuelled up there and with in no time left for SFO saw it takeoff and it kinda swerved side to side after takeoff but what a beauty ...the westjet in the background is a 600 series looks like a midget

[ahramin]

It's not the gate, it's the lack of tow bar. No way to push it back.

[evilgravy]

not medical, smoke in rear galley.

and he didn't sway side to side - he rocked the wings. a nice gesture for all of the onlookers!







also, it was my day off, but as soon as I heard that an A380 had diverted, I grabbed my camera and rolled out!

[ahramin]

evilgravy, the call to atc was for a medical emergency with a passenger, so I doubt it was smoke.

[evilgravy]

ahhh I wasn't aware. I heard through an EIA duty manager that it was smoke... either way, an impressive machine.

[boeingboy]

Smoke would have required a maintenance release.........and there is no way they could get anyone to sign it off that quickly.

[ntom]

I was on board and we had no smoke but had a medical emergency. I hope the passenger is doing well now.

[kilpicki]

Yes if it was smoke in the lav it would still be sitting there. I was on a Luthansa code share from Calgary to Frankfurt and one oleo went low. I took almost 3 hrs to get instructions from their maint people on how to service, read inflate the oleo and the AC guys have the same equipment and the same service procedures I'm sure.

[LHRSSCYYZ]

Can anyone comment on ways to get notified of diversions? Apart from monitoring this forum and flightaware discussions, is there any way I can get an email when a flight is diverted to a particular airport? Thanks in advance!

[cgartly]

I'm surprised that that far along in the flight they still needed to dump fuel to land at YEG.

I'm also surprised they are allowed to simply dump fuel. If you spill 5 gallons of fuel at a gas station you're in big ka ka but an airliner can dump 1000 gallons into the air no problem.

[ahramin]

We aren't. You need a clearance from ATC to dump fuel, which they got.

As for needing to, they were over 2 hours away from SFO, which is over 20 tons of fuel burned. They dumped 10 tons which I guess puts them at a planned landing weight in SFO of at least 10 tons below max land. Don't know how common that is but they had over 500 people in that big bird .

[Beefitarian]

Uuuuuuuuhh, it like, evaporates or something.

[tbaylx]

I'm surprised that that far along in the flight they still needed to dump fuel to land at YEG.

I'm also surprised they are allowed to simply dump fuel. If you spill 5 gallons of fuel at a gas station you're in big ka ka but an airliner can dump 1000 gallons into the air no problem.

Anything above 4000' or so and it evaporates before hitting the ground.

[Edo]

The dumped fuel over Northern AB, it will just get recycled and sold to us again.

[kevenv]

We aren't. You need a clearance from ATC to dump fuel, which they got.

As for needing to, they were over 2 hours away from SFO, which is over 20 tons of fuel burned. They dumped 10 tons which I guess puts them at a planned landing weight in SFO of at least 10 tons below max land. Don't know how common that is but they had over 500 people in that big bird .

You don't need an ATC clx to dump fuel. You just have to notify us that you intend to do so.

From the AIM (which pretty much mirrors our own rule book):
6.3.4 Fuel Dumping

Whenever it is necessary to jettison fuel, the pilot should immediately notify ATC and provide information such as the course to be flown, the period of time and weather conditions. To allow for adequate vaporization, fuel dumping should be carried out at least 2 000 feet above the highest obstacle within 5 NM of the track to be flown. ATC may suggest an alternate area where fuel should be dumped; aircraft will be encouraged to dump fuel on a constant heading over unpopulated areas and clear of heavy traffic. When necessary information has been obtained, ATC will broadcast on appropriate frequencies a “fuel dumping” advisory. Pilots should advise ATC immediately when fuel dumping has been completed.

[bcflyer]

Impressively big airplane? Absolutely.

Beautiful airplane? Not even close.

Just my opinion of course but next to a 747-400 the 380 is definitely an ugly duckling.

[Panama Jack]

Impressively big airplane? Absolutely.

Beautiful airplane? Not even close.

Just my opinion of course but next to a 747-400 the 380 is definitely an ugly duckling.

+1. Next to, pretty much anything the A380 is ugly (not unlike Citroens and Renaults).