Plane's Emergency Landing and Fuel Dumping Procedure
Spilled Fuel from Thai Airways Aircraft Poses No Hazard to Gulf of Thailand
In an unusual incident, a Boeing 777-300ER of Thai Airways International had to make an emergency landing after part of its undercarriage failed to close properly post takeoff. The captain decided to dump the excess fuel to lighten the plane, following standard emergency protocol. The fuel was released into the sea as a fine mist, creating no harm to the environment, according to Surachai Nuprom, acting president of Aeronautical Radio of Thailand (Aerothai).
Let's delve into the standard procedure for such a fuel dumping event:
- Evaluation and Calculation: The pilots assess the situation and compute the exact fuel quantity needed for a safe landing.
- Air Traffic Control Contact: The crew contacts air traffic control to seek permission and receive clearance for the fuel dump, along with the designated airspace for the procedure.
- Clearance and Activation: Once clearance is obtained, the fuel jettison system is activated.
- Monitoring: The crew keeps a clock on the fuel quantity indicators to ensure the correct weight reduction.
- Deactivation: The system is deactivated once the target weight is reached.
Although fuel dumping minimizes environmental contamination by releasing the fuel at high altitudes over unpopulated areas, it still contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and has potential impacts on local air quality if not carefully managed[4]. However, in emergency situations, passenger and crew safety takes top priority.
It's important to note that not all aircraft are outfitted with fuel jettison systems. While larger aircraft, such as some Boeing and Airbus models, are designed to handle emergency landings with these systems[3], most commercial planes, like Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s, lack this capability.
As a result of Thailand aviation safety being upgraded to category 1 by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), increased air traffic and foreign airline flights to Thailand are anticipated[2]. This move is expected to bolster foreign airlines' confidence in resuming or increasing their flights to Thailand, as well as stimulate other aviation-related business[5].
Previously, the FAA had relegated Thailand's aviation safety to the second tier in 2015 due to concerns about the country's ability to enforce aviation safety regulations[5]. But following the implementation of appropriate measures, the FAA recently upgraded Thailand's safety rating, clearing the way for Thai airlines to resume direct flights to US destinations[2].
- In emergency situations, as demonstrated by the Thai Airways International Boeing 777-300ER, planes may need to dump excess fuel to lighten the load, following established protocol.
- However, while fuel dumping minimizes environmental contamination, it still contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and can impact local air quality if not managed carefully.
- Unlike some larger aircraft like Boeing and Airbus models, many commercial planes such as Boeing 737s and Airbus A320s lack fuel jettison systems.
- With Thailand's aviation safety being upgraded to category 1 by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the anticipation of increased air traffic and foreign airline flights to Thailand is on the rise, potentially boosting aviation-related businesses.
