20 AUGUST 2012

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Article from BTNews 20 AUGUST 2012

Ryanair low fuel

Air safety, always a priority with Ryanair, seems to have been compromised with no less than three aircraft forced to make emergency landings at Valencia (Spain) within minutes of each other in late July when the aircraft ran low on fuel.  Mayday calls were made (although the authorities have yet to confirm).

Ryanair spokesman, Stephen McNamara, agreed the low-fuel emergencies to the Dublin-based Sunday Independent newspaper.

He said: “Due to thunderstorms over Madrid on Thursday (July 26), Spanish ATC (air traffic control) instructed Ryanair aircraft to divert to Valencia where they were placed in a hold pattern.

“Sometime later the aircraft advised ATC that they would not have sufficient fuel reserves to return to Madrid and were permitted to land in Valencia.

“All aircraft landed normally.  Ryanair sincerely apologises to the passengers affected by these diversions, which were due to adverse weather”.

It appears that Ryanair has adopted an ‘efficiency drive’ that ‘discourages’ excess fuel being put on the aircraft, according to a staff memorandum.  This policy has been resisted by some pilots.  Carrying extra fuel only adds to the overall cost of the operation by making the aircraft heavier “at very marginal rate” according to an experienced former Boeing 737 pilot. www.ryanair.com

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