BeefBear

After having attended a CASA seminar at the local Aero Club re: Fuel Management, it struck me that most of our guys fly around( according to the stories I hear from them) without any real fuel management strategy. Should there be a stronger emphasis on fuel management rather than useing the "oh we can autorotate if we run out of fuel"?

It was interestig to note that in fixed wing aircaft, there has been an increasing trend of fuel starvation and exhaustion since CASA no longer required a fixed reserve to be carried. And before you ask me, starvation is when you run out of fuel but not out of usable fuel while Exhaustion is run of of all usable fuel.

The stats showed that Ag Aircraft had the highest incidence of starvation and exhaustion, and one can understand why. Flying at between 110 and 150 knots at very low altitude, there's not must room for error. Since Gyro's also tend to fly at the lower end of the altitude scale compared to normal fixed wing should we have greater training and fuel management skills?

Ted

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Birdy2

Like you said Ted, run'n outa fuel is only an inconveniance in a gyro. :sad:
but if you are always opperate'n low and can't afford to be caught out with a fuel problem coz the job requires you to stay up there till its done, then there are couple o safe guards that make a difference.
I only use time to gauge me fuel supply, leav'n bout 20 mins in reserve, for those occasions of continuious full tap.
But that don't protect you from blocked filters or a suddenly dieing pump, so I fly a fuel pressure switch, hooked in just before the carbs, so if the pump dies or the filter blocks, I get warning before, giv'n me a chance to hopefuly git it sorted before I end up out in the scrub with a quiet rotax.

BTW, after 8 years n 2500 odd hours, I'm yet to run outa fuel.[ bet theres not many cow chases that can boast that.] :mrgreen:

BeefBear

Well there you go. I over karma'd you Birdy and the system told me to get a life.

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