Synops|s Cn Lhe 26 Lh !uly 2012 Lhree 8yanalr alrcrafL (8737-800) lnbound Lo Madrld dlverLed Lo valencla due Lo 1hundersLorms ln Lhe Madrld area. All Lhree alrcrafL declared an Lmergency (Mayday) when Lhe calculaLed usable fuel on landlng aL valencla was less Lhan flnal reserve.
All Lhree alrcrafL landed ln valencla wlLhouL furLher lncldenL.
8ackground
As parL of Lhe lnvesLlgaLlon Lwo lllghL CperaLlons lnspecLors were dlrecLed by Lhe ulrecLor SafeLy 8egulaLlon of Lhe lAA Lo Lravel Lo Madrld Lo lnLervlew Lhe CapLalns of Lhe Lhree 8yanalr alrcrafL. ln addlLlon Lwo lnspecLors from ALSA also requesLed Lo meeL Lhe lAA lnspecLors ln Madrld Lo revlew Lhe evenLs surroundlng Lhe dlverslons. 1he 8ase CapLaln for 8yanalr ln Madrld was also lnLervlewed as was Lhe Chlef lloL 8yanalr.
All lllghL uocumenLaLlon relevanL Lo Lhe Lhree fllghLs was made avallable Lo Lhe lnspecLors by 8yanalr.
Iactua| Informat|on
1he laLesL forecasL for Madrld lssued on Lhe 26 Lh !uly aL 1700Z lndlcaLed a 40 probablllLy of 1hundersLorms beLween Lhe perlod 1800z and 2300z. 1hls Llme colnclded wlLh Lhe scheduled arrlval Llmes of all Lhree fllghLs.
1he Lhree fllghLs were operaLlng from LLA (alma), LCSS (SLansLed) and LSkn (SkavsLa).
Ik20S4, a|ma - Madr|d
1he crew on Lhls fllghL had operaLed earller fllghLs from Madrld Lo Charlerol and Lhen back Lo LLMu followed by a Madrld Lo alma. 1he dlverslon occurred on Lhe fourLh secLor from alma back Lo Madrld.
1he LoLal lllghL lan luel requlred for Lhe secLor from alma Lo Madrld was 3887kgs wlLh a planned dlverslon alLernaLe of valencla. 1he crew elecLed Lo Lake 6300kgs due Lo Lhe SouLherly 8unway conflguraLlon and Lhe llkellhood of cloud bulld-up 20-30 mlles norLh of
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Lhe alrfleld aL Madrld. Arrlvals onLo Lhe SouLherly 8unways can be delayed as a resulL of exLenslve 8adar vecLorlng due Lo Lerraln norLh of Lhe alrfleld.
1he CapLaln commenLed LhaL any holdlng lnbound Lo Madrld would be easL of Lhe alrfleld whlch would be closer Lo valencla lf a dlverslon was requlred. Pe also commenLed LhaL wlLh SouLherly wlnds any 1hundersLorms LhaL mlghL occur would normally form norLh of Madrld close Lo Lhe mounLalns. 1he fllghL was glven a dlrecL rouLlng Loward Madrld wlLh no holdlng lnbound. 1he expecLed arrlval was Lo 8unway 18L. 1he alrcrafL was cleared Lo poslLlon 1ACCM buL decllned due Lo a (1hundersLorm) cell ln Lhls locaLlon. lurLher vecLorlng was glven Lowards 18L. Madrld Lhen requesLed lf Lhe crew could accepL 188 whlch Lhey accepLed. A brlef for 188 was carrled ouL.
1he CapLaln elecLed Lo Lake conLrol from Lhe llrsL Cfflcer glven Lhe weaLher. 1he Crew became vlsual wlLh Lhe 8unway approxlmaLely 23nm from Louchdown. When Lhe alrcrafL was fully sLablllsed a Wlndshear" Warnlng was Lrlggered. A Co-around was execuLed ln accordance wlLh 8yanalr SLandard CperaLlng rocedures.
uurlng Lhe Co-around Lhe alrcrafL was sLruck by llghLnlng and a Wlndow CverheaL" MasLer CauLlon was Lrlggered. 1he Crew compleLed Lhe C8P and cllmbed Lo 10,000fL Lo poslLlon 8LS8l (souLh-wesL of Lhe alrporL) as dlrecLed by A1C. 1he Crew noLed LhaL Lhe fuel was now 3000kgs wlLh Lrafflc holdlng aL varlous poslLlons. 1he CapLaln sLaLed LhaL he declded Lo dlverL Lo valencla when Lhe fuel remalnlng was 2900kgs.
A1C vecLored Lhe alrcrafL around Lhe weaLher and Lhls vecLorlng added approxlmaLely 40 Lo 30nm Lo Lhe rouLe Lo valencla. Cn lnlLlal conLacL wlLh valencla Lhe crew commenLed LhaL Lhe ConLroller seemed overloaded and dld noL respond Lo numerous calls.
1he descenL proflle glven Lo Lhe alrcrafL lefL lL hlgh on Lhe proflle and Lhe ConLroller cleared Lhe alrcrafL Lo a holdlng flx. 1he CapLaln aL Lhls polnL declared an Lmergency (Mayday) and was cleared for an lmmedlaLe approach. 1he alrcrafL was however Loo hlgh and furLher vecLorlng was requlred. 1he alrcrafL landed aL 2108z and was escorLed from Lhe runway Lo Lhe ramp by Lhe flre servlces. 1he fuel on landlng was 1029kgs. 1he llnal 8eserve fuel was 1104kgs.
IkS998, Stansted - Madr|d
1he Crew on Lhls fllghL had operaLed an earller fllghL from Madrld Lo SanLlago de ComposLela (LLS1) and back Lo Madrld followed by a Madrld Lo SLansLed and Lhen back Lo Madrld. 1he dlverslon occurred on Lhe fourLh secLor from SLansLed Lo Madrld.
1he LoLal fllghL plan fuel for Lhe fllghL from SLansLed Lo Madrld was 8917kgs wlLh valencla as Lhe AlLernaLe. 1he Crew elecLed Lo Lake 9200kgs. ln decldlng Lhls fuel load Lhe CapLaln sLaLed LhaL he would have approxlmaLely 400 Lo 300kgs exLra glven LhaL Lhe plan lncluded
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fuel for Lhe norLherly arrlvals ln Madrld when Lhe SouLherly runways were ln use. Pe noLed LhaL when Lhe fuel load was enLered ln Lhe lMS lL lndlcaLed LhaL Lhe exLra fuel on arrlval would be 400kgs. 1he handllng agenL ln SLansLed dld noL dellver an updaLed MeL brlef Lo Lhe Crew as requlred by 8yanalr pollcy.
1he fllghL was glven an early descenL over SanLander wlLh an expecLed arrlval onLo runway 188. Some C8's were dlsplaylng on Lhe WeaLher 8adar. 1he crew were advlsed of weaLher ln Lhe Madrld area buL were glven no deLalls when Lhey requesLed Lhls on Madrld Approach. 1hey were advlsed on Approach LhaL deparLures had been suspended buL LhaL arrlvals were conLlnulng.
AL approxlmaLely 18nm on approach Lhe WeaLher 8adar lndlcaLed severe weaLher approachlng Lhe runway from Lhe SouLh. 1he CapLaln declded Lo dlsconLlnue Lhe approach as he noLed LhaL Lwo alrcrafL ahead had performed a go-around.
1he alrcrafL was vecLored Lo Lhe WesL wlLh A1C exLremely busy wlLh oLher alrcrafL. 1he alrcrafL was cleared Lo poslLlon 8LS8l for holdlng buL was unable due weaLher. 1he CapLaln sLaLed LhaL he requesLed a dlverslon when Lhe fuel was approxlmaLely 2900kgs. 1he mlnlmum dlverslon fuel requlred was 2664kgs. 1he rouLlng Lo valencla resulLed ln an addlLlonal 40 Lo 30nm over planned dlverslon rouLe.
valencla radar confused Lhe 8yanalr and Lan-Chlle alrcrafL and Lhls resulLed ln lncreased workload. 1he CapLaln sLaLed LhaL valencla ConLrol seemed overwhelmed wlLh Lhe Lrafflc load.
1he alrcrafL was advlsed LhaL Lhey were no 6 for Lhe approach wlLh a 10 mlnuLe delay. 1hls dlsplayed a landlng fuel of 1200kgs and on Lhls basls Lhe crew declared an Lmergency (Mayday). 1he alrcrafL was sequenced number 3 for Lhe approach behlnd an Lasy[eL and a Lan-Chlle A340 whlch had also declared a Mayday.
1he alrcrafL landed 2120z ln valencla and was escorLed Lo Lhe ramp by Lhe flre servlces. 1he fuel on landlng was 1160kgs wlLh a flnal reserve requlremenL of 1119kgs.
Ik S389, Skavsta - Madr|d
1he crew had operaLed an earller secLor from Madrld Lo SkavsLa and Lhe dlverslon occurred on Lhe secLor back Lo Madrld.
1he fllghL plan fuel load for Lhe SkavsLa Madrld secLor was 11,828kgs wlLh valencla as Lhe AlLernaLe. 1he Crew elecLed Lo Lake an exLra 20 mlnuLes fuel and loaded 12,720kgs.
1he fllghL was lnsLrucLed Lo expecL an approach Lo runway 188 and Lo anLlclpaLe holdlng lnbound. 1he Crew noLed Lhe weaLher souLh of Lhe alrfleld on Lhe WeaLher 8adar. 1he crew
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decllned a clearance Lo lnLercepL Lhe approach as Lhere was slgnlflcanL weaLher all around Lhe alrfleld. 1he Crew requesLed a go-around Lo Lhe LasL of Lhe alrfleld whlch was clear of weaLher aL Lhe Llme however A1C requesLed Lhe Crew Lo sLandby. 1he opLlon for rouLlng LasL of Lhe alrfleld was noL posslble by Lhe Llme a clearance was lssued by A1C. 1he alrcrafL was rouLed Lo Lhe WesL of Lhe alrfleld and cllmbed Lo 14,000fL.
1he crew requesLed a dlverslon Lo valencla when Lhe fuel load reduced Lo 2600kgs. 1he mlnlmum dlverslon fuel was 2388kgs. 1hey were cleared Lo poslLlon MAuux Lo hold. 1he crew noLed LhaL anoLher alrcrafL on Lhe frequency was glven an expecLed delay of 33 mlnuLes. 1he CapLaln declared an Lmergency (Mayday) aL Lhls polnL and was cleared dlrecL Lo Lhe Locallser from Lhe norLh. 1here were a number of alrcrafL on Lhe frequency. 1he alrcrafL was vecLored for Lhe approach and landed aL 2129z wlLh a fuel load of 1228kgs. 1he llnal 8eserve requlred was 1090kgs.
Genera|
ln dlscusslon wlLh Lhe ALSA lnspecLors Lhey polnLed ouL LhaL wlLh Lhe SouLherly 8unways ln use ln Madrld delays regularly occur lnvolvlng exLenslve vecLorlng and holdlng. 1hey lndlcaLed LhaL Lhey would conslder lf a requlremenL should be puL ln place Lo requlre CperaLors Lo carry addlLlonal fuel ln such clrcumsLances. A slmllar requlremenL ls ln place for arrlvals lnLo London PeaLhrow.
1he ALSA lnspecLors also noLed Lhe Crews commenLs wlLh respecL Lo Lhe Alr 1rafflc ManagemenL by valencla A1C.
8yanalr pollcy ln place when Lhe dlverslons occurred wlLh respecL Lo Lhe carrlage of addlLlonal fuel sLaLes CperaLlonal conslderaLlons may dlcLaLe Lhe carrlage of fuel ln excess of fllghL plan fuel, even when noL Lankerlng. 1hls ls a maLLer for Lhe exerclse of Lhe CapLaln's dlscreLlon. 1he Commander may carry up Lo 300kg more Lhan lL/8lock fuel wlLhouL explanaLlon, acLual plog fuel +300 kg, rounded up Lo Lhe nearesL 10 kg. Where deparLure fuel ls more Lhan 300 kg ln excess of fllghL plan fuel an explanaLlon for Lhe upllfL shall be recorded on Lhe voyage 8eporL". (8.1.7.8.6 - CMA lssue 3 8evlslon 7 uaLed 01/04/2011).
Conc|us|ons
1. 1he alrcrafL ln all Lhree cases deparLed for Madrld wlLh fuel ln excess of lllghL lan requlremenLs. 2. 1he Crew dlverLed Lo valencla wlLh fuel ln excess of Lhe mlnlmum dlverslon fuel deplcLed on Lhe lllghL lan. 3. ulverLlng wlLh fuel close Lo mlnlmum dlverslon fuel ln Lhe clrcumsLances presenLed on Lhe evenlng ln quesLlon was llkely Lo presenL challenges for Lhe crew. lnlLlal
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holdlng was Lo Lhe SouLhwesL of Madrld whlch lncreased Lhe dlverslon Llme Lo Lhe alLernaLe. 4. 1he Crew declared an Lmergency ln accordance wlLh Lu-CS when Lhe calculaLed usable fuel for landlng aL valencla was less Lhan flnal reserve. 3. 1he MeL condlLlons ln Madrld were more slgnlflcanL Lhan anLlclpaLed by Lhe Crew when revlewlng Lhe MeL lorecasL. ConsequenLly Lhe addlLlonal fuel carrled was lnfluenced by Lhe forecasL. 6. CperaLlons lnLo a busy alrporL such as Madrld ln 1hundersLorm condlLlons wlLh Lhe assoclaLed Lrafflc levels can add slgnlflcanL delays Lo all Lrafflc. 7. Alr 1rafflc ConLrol ln valencla was under slgnlflcanL pressure wlLh Lhe number of dlverslons arrlvlng ln Lhelr alrspace.
kecommendat|ons
1. ALSA Lo revlew delays lnLo Madrld Lo conslder lf addlLlonal fuel should be recommended or requlred Lo be carrled ln normal operaLlons parLlcularly when Lhe souLherly 8unways are ln operaLlon. 2. 8yanalr Lo revlew fuel pollcy and conslder lssulng guldance Lo Crew wlLh respecL Lo fuel when operaLlng lnLo busy alrporLs wlLh mlxed alrcrafL operaLors and Lypes parLlcularly ln poor weaLher condlLlons when dlverslons are llkely. 3. 8yanalr Lo conslder lncludlng as parL of lLs Lralnlng program scenarlos slmllar Lo Lhose occurrlng on Lhe above fllghLs wlLh parLlcular emphasls on dlverslon managemenL.