Low fuel emergency in DFW

You're correct about the tone of my post. In my view, if I say
'emergency' that's it. If the controller offers something like this
one did, -- I think he said "Unable 17,C circle to land 31 R", it
might have been reasonable (?) for the pilot to assume there were real
reasons, not convenience, that did not allow him to use 17 L, C, or
R.

Still, the PIC should have, and I think by the lessons learned, he and
future pilots in similiar circumstances, will be, mor assertive. I
also think it will be a long time before another controller makes the
same mistake.

This ATC problem has a happy ending -- no one got hurt, and lessons
were learned.





On Feb 22, 2:44 am, "d&tm" wrote:
"Tony" wrote in message

ps.com... Did anyone see the news about an AA (maybe 777) airplane declaring a
fuel emergency in DFW, requesting a downwind landing to I think 17
Center, and being told no, had to circle to land on 31 R?

I'm not exactly sure of those details, but it's close enough. It's
that old deal, when a pilot makes a mistake, the pilot dies, and when
a controller makes a mistake, the pilot dies. Turns out the airplane
had enough fuel to circle and land, butr damn it, heads should roll,
or at least jobs lost.

from reading the tone of your post , I presume you think this is all the
controllers fault?
I suspect the PIC has a damn lot of explaining to do to keep his job..
terry

On Thu, 22 Feb 2007 05:19:05 -0800, Tony wrote:

Still, the PIC should have, and I think by the lessons learned, he and
future pilots in similiar circumstances, will be, mor assertive.

It's a tough call for the pilot. He or she has no way to know that using
17 isn't a serious safety hazard for some reason. At least, that would be
my first thought upon hearing "unable" from the controller in this
circumstance.

Now, I cannot imagine what that would leave *all* runways 17
hazardous, but I expect that it's possible.

Given time, I'd "negotiate" to determine what presented the least hazard:
landing on a runway with a problem or circling and spending more fuel.
That requires asking about the hazards of the runway. Given the distance,
it appears the pilot had the wall time to ask, but - not knowing anything
about landing a Heavy - I don't know how much free time he or she would
have.

- Andrew