JetBlue Flight Approaches For Emergency Landing At LAX

Why doesn't the Airbus A-320 have the ability to dump fuel?




JetBlue Flight Approaches For Emergency Landing
Crews Prepare At Two Airports

POSTED: 4:20 pm PDT September 21, 2005
UPDATED: 5:28 pm PDT September 21, 2005

LOS ANGELES -- The crew of a JetBlue airliner is preparing to make an
emergency landing Wednesday afternoon at a Southland airport.


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The crew reported problems with the plane's nose gear. The nose gear
of the Airbus 320 is turned at a 90-degree angle.

"I've never seen a situation like that," said Donn Walker of the
Federal Aviation Administration.

The plane left Burbank Airport for New York's JFK Airport. It was
diverted when the crew reported the problem.

The plane is circling over the Long Beach area at between 4,000 and
5,000 feet. JetBlue officials confirmed at 5:20 p.m. that the plane
would be in the air for at least another 90 minutes.

Jon Dudley, a commercial airline pilot, said the crew will probably
attempt to use as much fuel as possible before landing.

"Eventually, the loss of airspeed causes the nose to drop," he said.
"The pilot will hold it off, then guide the nose down. He'll come in
as slow as possible."

Airport personnel are standing by, awaiting the arrival of Flight 292.
Emergency crews have been disptached at LAX and Long Beach Airport.

JetBlue Officials said the plane has 139 passengers and a six-member
crew.

Jeff Reeb, of the Long Beach Fire Department, told NBC4 that his
department has 35 units and 65 people deployed at the airport. The
Long Beach airport runways, the longest of which is 10,000 feet long,
have been cleared of commercial aviation traffic, Reeb said.

Watch NBC4 and refresh this page for updates.

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message
...

Why doesn't the Airbus A-320 have the ability to dump fuel?
refresh this page for updates.

Dumping fuel is an insane idea to commercial airlines. They normally plan
to save every pound they can. Just not normally an option.

Larry Dighera wrote:
Why doesn't the Airbus A-320 have the ability to dump fuel?

It doesn't have to.

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

Probably be much safer to dump baggage

"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:KCoYe.11751$e_4.1981@trndny08...
Larry Dighera wrote:
Why doesn't the Airbus A-320 have the ability to dump fuel?

It doesn't have to.

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

A plane flying over the vast Pacific was slowly losing altitude. The
pilot told the passengers the plane was too heavy and would soon land in
the water. The passengers started throwing everything they could out the
door to lighten the load. After the plane was stripped, the pilot said
we still need to lose a little more weight.

A Frenchmen stepped to the door said "Viva la France" and jumped out.

A Englishman stepped to the door said "God save the queen" and jumped
out.

A Texan stepped to the door said "Remember the Alamo" and threw two
Mexicans out the door.

"Mike" wrote in message
...
Probably be much safer to dump baggage

"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:KCoYe.11751$e_4.1981@trndny08...
Larry Dighera wrote:
Why doesn't the Airbus A-320 have the ability to dump fuel?

It doesn't have to.

George Patterson
Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a person
to
use the Internet and he won't bother you for weeks.

"Larry Dighera" wrote in message Why doesn't the Airbus A-320 have the
ability to dump fuel?

Fuel dumping is for the purpose of lowering the landing weight to a level
acceptable to the airframe's strength. It's also used in newer planes for
meeting climb gradient requirements. The A-320's airframe will withstand a
normal landing at max take-off weight. The manual states that vertical
descent rate should be 300fpm or less at touchdown. Maintenance then
performs a quick check of the airframe and returns it to service.
Fuel-dumping isn't needed. The same thing goes for the DC-9 & MD-80 series.
An exemption for fuel-dumping certification is printed on the front of the
airworthiness certificate.

Circling to burn fuel for 3 hours will lower the landing speed only about 9
knots. However, in that time, the crew can talk with maintenance to perform
some alternate landing gear procedures. They can talk to dispatch as to a
suitable diversion airport. They can talk to ATC about the best runway to
use for least risk and least inconvenience to other users. They can brief
with the cabin crew and then brief with the passengers about what to expect.
They can talk to Crash/Fire Rescue for good coordination. I'm thinking that
a ground evacuation wasn't ordered because CFR notified the crew that there
was no fire. That has to happen quickly through good communication before
some yahoo passenger yanks the overwing exit and breaks his ankle going down
the slide. Notice that the time spent circling allowed LAX authorities to
have stairs and busses in place as soon as the plane stopped.

D.