In
Flight Emergency Fuel Release
Another
common, but infrequent, procedure is the release, or venting,
of fuel as a safety measure. If an in-flight emergency (IFE)
is declared, a pilot will want to land the aircraft with as
light a load as possible to prevent the possibility of damaging
the aircraft and/or causing a fuel leak on landing. In order
to lighten the fuel load a pilot can continue to fly until
the fuel is burned or vent the fuel into the atmosphere. Fuel
that is released, or vented, typically atomizes into a fine
spray as it is released and typically evaporates before it
reaches the ground. JP-8 jet fuel released at low altitudes
appears as a fine mist and may not volatilize before reaching
the ground surface. The release of fuel does not produce a
contrail and appears more like a smoke pattern that dissipates
quickly.
|
