United Airlines UAL28 circling over The Channel

United Airlines UAL28 circling over The Channel

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Discussion

WelshChris

Original Poster:

1,173 posts

253 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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It appears that a United Airlines flight that took off from LHR at 11.04 this morning is in a holding pattern over the channel - any idea what's occurring anyone?

MrCarPark

528 posts

140 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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Muncher

12,219 posts

248 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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It's a maintenance issue apparently, it's burning fuel then returning.

MrRee145

158 posts

162 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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Muncher said:
It's a maintenance issue apparently, it's burning fuel then returning.
how do you find things like that out?
3+hrs seems like a long time to burn fuel... can't they just dump it these days?

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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Charlie1986

2,016 posts

134 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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lets hope they had there camera's for the lovely sights biggrin

would they have squawked?

WelshChris

Original Poster:

1,173 posts

253 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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Muncher said:
It's a maintenance issue apparently, it's burning fuel then returning.
Can't we invent some sort of conspiracy? - it's a quiet afternoon and I'm bored. is there a 'tinfoil hat' icon? smile

FourWheelDrift

88,375 posts

283 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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WelshChris said:
Can't we invent some sort of conspiracy? - it's a quiet afternoon and I'm bored. is there a 'tinfoil hat' icon? smile
It's found a Russian sub just off Dover and it's the only thing we have in the air at the moment, they are getting all the passenger to use the loo so they can dump a big ice poo block onto it to scare it away.

Previous

1,434 posts

153 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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MrRee145 said:
how do you find things like that out?
3+hrs seems like a long time to burn fuel... can't they just dump it these days?
Some aircraft have fuel jettison capabilities, but some not, some it's an optional extra. For how often it's needed it's not really worth the weight penalty of having it for most operators.

Aircraft have an operational life of about 30 years also, so without looking up that particular plane "these days" could mean a plane dating from the mid 80's on.

Pretty standard to lose fuel before landing, the rated landing weight will be less than max take off weight even for normal operations.

Edit, that aircraft was built in 2000.

WelshChris

Original Poster:

1,173 posts

253 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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Apologies PH - Remiss of me - A little thoughtless to trivialise this given that we don't know what the situation is. Let's hope that this has a good outcome.

stevensdrs

3,208 posts

199 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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Seems to be returning to heathrow now.

Puggit

48,354 posts

247 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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MrCarPark said:
rofl

MrRee145

158 posts

162 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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Previous said:
Some aircraft have fuel jettison capabilities, but some not, some it's an optional extra. For how often it's needed it's not really worth the weight penalty of having it for most operators.

Aircraft have an operational life of about 30 years also, so without looking up that particular plane "these days" could mean a plane dating from the mid 80's on.

Pretty standard to lose fuel before landing, the rated landing weight will be less than max take off weight even for normal operations.

Edit, that aircraft was built in 2000.
Thank you for the insight..

Boris Morris

496 posts

143 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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Scheduled to land at Heathrow at 15:40.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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MrRee145 said:
Muncher said:
It's a maintenance issue apparently, it's burning fuel then returning.
how do you find things like that out?
3+hrs seems like a long time to burn fuel... can't they just dump it these days?
The 767-400 can indeed Jettison fuel. this might be a technical problem meaning that the procedure is unavailable. You only really jettison fuel to get the landing weight down so that you use less runway. Fuel costs a lot though so it's not something you do willy nilly.

You could land above the maximum landing weight but then you need an 'over weight landing' check from engineers, which might be problematic depending on where you intend to land.

Muncher

12,219 posts

248 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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MrRee145 said:
how do you find things like that out?
3+hrs seems like a long time to burn fuel... can't they just dump it these days?
I just Googled it!

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Wednesday 17th December 2014
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MrCarPark said:
Best of PH. Right here.

Charlie1986

2,016 posts

134 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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Looks like a BA plane is sight seeing tonight around Worthing was on route to Paris now going back to Heathrow

Seventy

5,500 posts

137 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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BA 326 to CDG. Now back at LHR.
Squawked 7700 as well apparently.

Edited by Seventy on Thursday 18th December 21:16

Hooli

32,278 posts

199 months

Thursday 18th December 2014
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Puggit said:
MrCarPark said:
rofl
Worth another
roflrofl