I've noticed several SLC fuel stops this week. Are temps high in SLC or winds aloft causing problems for Delta A320s?
Delta 2791 06/06:
www.flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2...1/history/20160606/2306Z/KSLC/KOMA
Delta 2791 06/05:
www.flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2...1/history/20160605/2300Z/KSLC/KMCI
Delta 2360
www.flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2...0/history/20160606/2250Z/KSLC/KOMA
Delta 2359
www.flightaware.com/live/flight/DAL2...9/history/20160607/1130Z/KDCA/KOMA
Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
RE: SLC Fuel Stops
Loading more fuel to be diversion-ready for East Coast storms?
-
- redzeppelin
- Posts: 1215
- Joined:
RE: SLC Fuel Stops
SLC has been hot for the past few days, with temps in the low 90s (F). But it's not unusual to break 100 here, especially in July and August, so I wouldn't blame the heat for a few A320 diversions.
It looks like two of the flights on the list were operated by the same aircraft: N309US operated SLC-OMA-DCA on 6/6 and then flew DCA-OMA-SLC the next morning. The original departure from SLC looks to have been delayed by about 40 minutes. Perhaps the aircraft had a maintenance issue that prevented them from flying non-stop?
The logs are a bit confusing, but it looks like the same plane did the whole trip:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N309US
http://www.flightradar24.com/reg/n309us
[Edited 2016-06-07 09:04:06]
It looks like two of the flights on the list were operated by the same aircraft: N309US operated SLC-OMA-DCA on 6/6 and then flew DCA-OMA-SLC the next morning. The original departure from SLC looks to have been delayed by about 40 minutes. Perhaps the aircraft had a maintenance issue that prevented them from flying non-stop?
The logs are a bit confusing, but it looks like the same plane did the whole trip:
http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N309US
http://www.flightradar24.com/reg/n309us
[Edited 2016-06-07 09:04:06]
-
- Transpac787
- Posts: 1423
- Joined:
RE: SLC Fuel Stops
DL has two variants of A320's; A320-211 and A320-212. During the summer, DL tries to rotate only the big-motor -212's through SLC, given the demanding hot & high performance requirements.
If a smaller-motor -211 shows up flying SLC to the east coast, it will take a significant payload penalty, or needs an intermediate fuel stop in order to go full. N309US is one of the small-motor birds, and is likely why those diversions happened.
Ships 3209-3233 and 3277-3278 are the small motor -211 variant, where 3234-3276 are all the big motor -212 variant.
If a smaller-motor -211 shows up flying SLC to the east coast, it will take a significant payload penalty, or needs an intermediate fuel stop in order to go full. N309US is one of the small-motor birds, and is likely why those diversions happened.
Ships 3209-3233 and 3277-3278 are the small motor -211 variant, where 3234-3276 are all the big motor -212 variant.
RE: SLC Fuel Stops
Just curious...if it is due to high temps how is the stop explained to passengers who likely wouldn't understand the engine performance limitations? Does the pilot try to explain or is this something relayed by the gate agent prior to boarding
RE: SLC Fuel Stops
| Quoting kgaiflyer (Reply 2): Back in the days when I flew DL, I spent many a night diverted in CHA waiting for thunderstorms to pass. |
Back when our nonstops out of SLC were done with 727-232As, as I recall, BHM was usually the diversion point on almost every flight plan. I don't remember the 727s having to ever divert because of fuel, however.......at least out of or into SLC.
The hottest part of the day can be from about noon until about 1800, with the temps starting to rise around 1000 to 1100. This would be in July or August. Unusual to see real high temps this early in the summer.
RE: SLC Fuel Stops
| Quoting Transpac787 (Reply 4): N309US is one of the small-motor birds, and is likely why those diversions happened. |
N309US is in fact the oldest Airbus in Delta's fleet. Coincidence?
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: 817Dreamliiner, AA737-823, AC77X, blrBird, calpsafltskeds, dabpit, eastafspot, flight152, FLJ, FLYFIRSTCLASS, JeremyB, jrfspa320, Luxair747SP, mhkansan, MrHMSH, Oykie, Phobia07, porkchop, Puissance, RMTAviation, seansasLCY, sportzbar, TWA772LR, wacgocrazy, YoungDon and 241 guests