Run out of fuel ?

manavdotcom · 11th January 2007, 13:26

If a Boeing 767 runs out of fuel at 41,000 feet what do you have? Answer: A 132 ton glider with a sink rate of over 2000 feet-per-minute and marginally enough hydraulic pressure to control the ailerons, elevator, and rudder.

Read the complete story at

Gimli Track Info

I'm sure such things must have happened with most of us while driving with no Fuel pump in sight and tank getting empty.

n_aditya · 11th January 2007, 15:28

Awesome article... hats off to the pilots for safely landing the plane with absolutely zero injuries...

a really good article.... thanx a ton mate...

Akshay1234 · 11th January 2007, 15:48

really good. that pilot sure has some skill.

ajitkommini · 11th January 2007, 15:49

"...After approximately $1M in repairs, consisting primarily of nose gear replacement, skin repairs and replacement of a wiring harness..."

Did they get a Skoda dealer to fix it?

sreenivass · 11th January 2007, 16:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by manavdotcom

If a Boeing 767 runs out of fuel at 41,000 feet what do you have? Answer: A 132 ton glider with a sink rate of over 2000 feet-per-minute and marginally enough hydraulic pressure to control the ailerons, elevator, and rudder.

Read the complete story at

Gimli Track Info

I'm sure such things must have happened with most of us while driving with no Fuel pump in sight and tank getting empty.

It was a brilliant and astounding effort from Pearson and Quaintal. I hope they were presented with some honorary awards. Even they saved quite a few millions for Air Canada.

Good find manav

jkdas · 11th January 2007, 16:11

it happened 11years ago!

sreenivass · 11th January 2007, 16:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by jkdas

it happened 11years ago!

True, the writeup does not mention if their valiant efforts were recognized. Their efforts had saved many lives and quite a few millions for Air Canada.

ajitkommini · 11th January 2007, 16:34

The incident is also a tribute to the designers at Boeing. For something as complex as a jet airplane to be pushed so far beyond its normal operating limits and emerge relatively undamaged speaks volumes about the engineering that goes into it.

akroy · 11th January 2007, 16:49

I saw this incident in natGeo Investigates...

Abhi

BWN · 11th January 2007, 17:37

Yaa.... I too could remember this incident shown on natgeo.... the program was "last minutes" if i am right....

Great effort by the pilots.... But I wonder how Boeing has not mentioned about Engine failure in QRH... Airbus has it right from its inception.Hmm... now dont ask me how i know it..... i have the luxury of reading QRH's anyways

ghostrider4385 · 11th January 2007, 18:32

Phew! This thing could go as a script for some action movie! The narration was fabulous, let me at the edge of the seat till the end. Reminded me of one of them Tom Clancy type novels, a wee bit shorter though! :P

Of course, the engineers' van running out of gas at the end was the icing on the cake!

manavdotcom · 11th January 2007, 22:04

Here is another picture of the plane.

JetPhotos.Net Photo » C-GAUN (CN: 22520) Air Canada Boeing 767-233 by Carlos Fuentespina

Red Bull · 12th January 2007, 14:10

thanks manav for sharing this,
Brilliant article

jat · 12th January 2007, 15:11

I remember reading this news long before. The investigation report showed that the aircraft crew did not know how to do calculations in metric system, while they were always flying planes which were calibrated in metric system (seemed that those guys did not know multiplication table of 10). The end result is in the article. As per the report, the sad part was that the tanks were "dipped" number of times and then the fuel suppliers and the pilots did the calculations number of times and in spite of getting the error, they did not try to cross check with anybody else and took the risk.

11th January 2007, 13:26	#1
manavdotcom BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 145 Thanked: 14 Times	Run out of fuel ? If a Boeing 767 runs out of fuel at 41,000 feet what do you have? Answer: A 132 ton glider with a sink rate of over 2000 feet-per-minute and marginally enough hydraulic pressure to control the ailerons, elevator, and rudder. Read the complete story at Gimli Track Info I'm sure such things must have happened with most of us while driving with no Fuel pump in sight and tank getting empty.
	() Thanks

11th January 2007, 15:28	#2
n_aditya Senior - BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Namma Bengaluru Posts: 5,348 Thanked: 3,684 Times View My Garage	Awesome article... hats off to the pilots for safely landing the plane with absolutely zero injuries... a really good article.... thanx a ton mate...
	() Thanks

11th January 2007, 15:48	#3
Akshay1234 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 10,265 Thanked: 12,317 Times	really good. that pilot sure has some skill.
	() Thanks

11th January 2007, 15:49	#4
ajitkommini BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 490 Thanked: 124 Times	"...After approximately $1M in repairs, consisting primarily of nose gear replacement, skin repairs and replacement of a wiring harness..." Did they get a Skoda dealer to fix it?
	() Thanks

11th January 2007, 16:11	#6
jkdas Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Thiruvananthapu Posts: 9,687 Thanked: 1,492 Times View My Garage	it happened 11years ago!
	() Thanks

11th January 2007, 16:34	#8
ajitkommini BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 490 Thanked: 124 Times	The incident is also a tribute to the designers at Boeing. For something as complex as a jet airplane to be pushed so far beyond its normal operating limits and emerge relatively undamaged speaks volumes about the engineering that goes into it.
	() Thanks

11th January 2007, 16:49	#9
akroy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA, USA Posts: 2,423 Thanked: 85 Times View My Garage	I saw this incident in natGeo Investigates... Abhi
	() Thanks

11th January 2007, 17:37	#10
BWN BHPian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Toulouse Posts: 114 Thanked: Once	Yaa.... I too could remember this incident shown on natgeo.... the program was "last minutes" if i am right.... Great effort by the pilots.... But I wonder how Boeing has not mentioned about Engine failure in QRH... Airbus has it right from its inception.Hmm... now dont ask me how i know it..... i have the luxury of reading QRH's anyways
	() Thanks

11th January 2007, 18:32	#11
ghostrider4385 BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Hyderabad Posts: 389 Thanked: 12 Times	Phew! This thing could go as a script for some action movie! The narration was fabulous, let me at the edge of the seat till the end. Reminded me of one of them Tom Clancy type novels, a wee bit shorter though! :P Of course, the engineers' van running out of gas at the end was the icing on the cake!
	() Thanks

11th January 2007, 22:04	#12
manavdotcom BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chennai Posts: 145 Thanked: 14 Times	Here is another picture of the plane. JetPhotos.Net Photo » C-GAUN (CN: 22520) Air Canada Boeing 767-233 by Carlos Fuentespina
	() Thanks

12th January 2007, 14:10	#13
Red Bull Newbie Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pune Posts: 15 Thanked: 0 Times	thanks manav for sharing this, Brilliant article
	() Thanks

12th January 2007, 15:11	#14
jat BHPian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: SINGAPORE Posts: 265 Thanked: 7 Times	I remember reading this news long before. The investigation report showed that the aircraft crew did not know how to do calculations in metric system, while they were always flying planes which were calibrated in metric system (seemed that those guys did not know multiplication table of 10). The end result is in the article. As per the report, the sad part was that the tanks were "dipped" number of times and then the fuel suppliers and the pilots did the calculations number of times and in spite of getting the error, they did not try to cross check with anybody else and took the risk.
	() Thanks