American Airlines managers today met with the carrier’s pilots union to discuss concerns over possible fuel gauge problems on the airline’s fleet of Boeing MD-80s.
The carrier has been investigating what it calls an “insignificant” problem with an undisclosed percentage of MD-80 fuel sensors that are registering more fuel than actually in the tanks. Bacteria are blamed for this problem.
Allied Pilots Association (APA) leaders until today had stayed silent on the issue, but now are requesting a minimum ramp arrival fuel of no less than 3,400kg (7,500lb), around a 50% increase on normal levels.
“The APA board of directors directs the APA president and the APA safety chairman to immediately address [American] chairman and chief executive Gerard Arpey and the [American] flight department in writing and in person as soon as practicable of our concerns regarding the MD-80 fuel indication problem,” the union says in a message to members.
“Furthermore, the APA [board] directs the APA president and the APA safety chairman to seek immediate guidance from the APA [board] as to what further action to take if a mutually agreeable solution is not forthcoming in an expeditious manner.”
American says the flight department and MD-80 fleet managers met yesterday with APA officials. No more information will be available until after the weekend.
Both sides say the fuel shortage issue is limited to a small number of the carrier’s 327 MD-80 aircraft, and that the false readings are around 10% below the 2,272kg (5,000lb) fuel reserve normally expected on landing.
American, Boeing and the US Federal Aviation Administration says they are investigating the problems, but have no definite reason for the spread or dispersion of the microbes (which attach the fuel measuring sensors). The MD-80’s wing design and fuel contamination have been mooted as possible reasons.
DARREN SHANNON / WASHINGTON, DC
Source: Flight International
