I did not know that airlines are flying planes without full fuel tanks. To save weight, they calculate the least amount of fuel needed to get a plane to its destination.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/aug/09/bz-pilots-say-airlines-are-cutting-fuel-levels-dan/ -via Waiter Rant, where the author had a brush with a similar occurrence.
(image credit: Drewski2112)
With fuel prices now their biggest cost, airlines are aggressively enforcing new policies designed to reduce consumption.
In March, for example, an airline pilot told NASA he landed his regional jet with less fuel than required by FAA regulations.
"Looking back," he said, "I would have liked more gas yesterday." He also complained that his airline was "ranking" captains according to who landed with the least amount.
A month earlier, a Boeing 747 captain reported running low on fuel after meeting strong headwinds crossing the Atlantic en route to John F. Kennedy International Airport. He said he wanted to stop to add fuel but continued on to Kennedy after consulting his airline's operations manager, who told him there was adequate fuel aboard the jet.
When the plane arrived at Kennedy, the captain said it had so little fuel that had there been any delay in landing, "I would have had to declare a fuel emergency" - a term that tells air traffic controllers a plane needs immediate priority to land.
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/aug/09/bz-pilots-say-airlines-are-cutting-fuel-levels-dan/ -via Waiter Rant, where the author had a brush with a similar occurrence.
(image credit: Drewski2112)
"Here's one way to exploit people's fear of flying: Tell them airlines are saving money by skimping on fuel."
http://www.salon.com/tech/col/smith/2008/04/25/askthepilot274/index.html
MW-- what do you mean "somehow?" along with decreased demand, gas prices ARE the reason for higher ticket prices.
And yes they calculate the needed fuel for the flight, always been that way.
I agree that this article is just scare-mongering. A 777 isn't your family minivan; it's not 'safer' or 'better' with a full fuel tank than an empty one; in fact, smaller planes are safer with less fuel since they lack fuel dump capability.
Take a look at this case, for example, and imagine how bad it could have been with a full tank of fuel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JetBlue_Airways_Flight_292
A 777 isn’t your family minivan; it’s not ’safer’ or ‘better’ with a full fuel tank than an empty one;
Assuming the empty part of the gas tank isnt filled with oxygen now anyhow... Not that that risk is all that high relative to driving to the airport.