Good to Keep Some Extra Fuel

[pelmet]

C-GGOF, a De Havilland Aircraft of Canada DHC-8-400 (Dash 8 Q400) aircraft, operated by Jazz
Aviation LP, was conducting flight AC8284 from Vancouver International (CYVR), BC, to Kelowna
International (CYLW), BC, with 4 crew members and 66 passengers on board. As the aircraft
neared CYLW, the crew received a revised weather forecast which was below their required
landing minimums. The aircraft was placed in a holding pattern by air traffic control (ATC). When
the fuel load on board the aircraft reached 150 pounds over the planned minimum diversion fuel,
the crew elected to return to CYVR. During the return flight, at approximately 100 nautical miles
northeast of CYVR, the flight encountered strong headwinds: 40 knots stronger than had been
used for the flight's fuel calculations. The crew requested and were granted an altitude change to
19 000 feet above sea level in order to reduce the headwind. After revised fuel calculations were
made, the crew determined that they had sufficient fuel to reach CYVR but, for added safety,
declared a minimum fuel advisory and requested priority handling with ATC. The aircraft landed
safely with a fuel load that was more than 200 pounds above the minimum reserve fuel required.
There were no injuries.

[NotDirty!]

There were no injuries.

Thank goodness! I worry about the potential for injury with such a low landing weight, and a likely fatigued flight crew.

[Schlomo Overpeck]

C-GGOF, a De Havilland Aircraft of Canada DHC-8-400 (Dash 8 Q400) aircraft, operated by Jazz
Aviation LP, was conducting flight AC8284 from Vancouver International (CYVR), BC, to Kelowna
International (CYLW), BC, with 4 crew members and 66 passengers on board. As the aircraft
neared CYLW, the crew received a revised weather forecast which was below their required
landing minimums. The aircraft was placed in a holding pattern by air traffic control (ATC). When
the fuel load on board the aircraft reached 150 pounds over the planned minimum diversion fuel,
the crew elected to return to CYVR. During the return flight, at approximately 100 nautical miles
northeast of CYVR, the flight encountered strong headwinds: 40 knots stronger than had been
used for the flight's fuel calculations. The crew requested and were granted an altitude change to
19 000 feet above sea level in order to reduce the headwind. After revised fuel calculations were
made, the crew determined that they had sufficient fuel to reach CYVR but, for added safety,
declared a minimum fuel advisory and requested priority handling with ATC. The aircraft landed
safely with a fuel load that was more than 200 pounds above the minimum reserve fuel required.
There were no injuries.

Absolutely safe and the correct course of action. Nothing to see here.

[pelmet]

C-GGOF, a De Havilland Aircraft of Canada DHC-8-400 (Dash 8 Q400) aircraft, operated by Jazz
Aviation LP, was conducting flight AC8284 from Vancouver International (CYVR), BC, to Kelowna
International (CYLW), BC, with 4 crew members and 66 passengers on board. As the aircraft
neared CYLW, the crew received a revised weather forecast which was below their required
landing minimums. The aircraft was placed in a holding pattern by air traffic control (ATC). When
the fuel load on board the aircraft reached 150 pounds over the planned minimum diversion fuel,
the crew elected to return to CYVR. During the return flight, at approximately 100 nautical miles
northeast of CYVR, the flight encountered strong headwinds: 40 knots stronger than had been
used for the flight's fuel calculations. The crew requested and were granted an altitude change to
19 000 feet above sea level in order to reduce the headwind. After revised fuel calculations were
made, the crew determined that they had sufficient fuel to reach CYVR but, for added safety,
declared a minimum fuel advisory and requested priority handling with ATC. The aircraft landed
safely with a fuel load that was more than 200 pounds above the minimum reserve fuel required.
There were no injuries.

Absolutely safe and the correct course of action. Nothing to see here.

Exactly. They diverted early and that extra fuel buffer paid off in the end.

That is why it is good to keep some extra fuel, which they did.....and made things less uncomfortable.