While the pilot dumps fuel, what do YOU do?
 

Now that that UA897 has landed, and everyone appears to be okay, I was curious as to what you do during the hour or so the pilot is dumping fuel. Even after 1.3 million miles, I've never had an on-board emergency (not surprising, statistically). Do you re-read the safety card? Break the rules and call your loved ones? Write your will? Open the duty-free bottle of gin you bought? Cry? Pray?

Does anyone have a first-hand experience they would like to talk about?

Topic for TravelBuzz, perhaps? ;)

I had an inflight emergency once. The door flew open after take-off. :eek:

But I was the pilot, and the plane was a single-engine Piper. :D

I spent the next 30 seconds yelling at my friend in the passenger seat to quit trying to reach for the door handle, because his knee kept bumping the flight yoke. Then I re-entered the traffic pattern and landed the plane.

Of course, if I were in an commerical airliner and we were dumping fuel, I don't think I would panic. As long as one engine is working, all the pieces of the plane are still attached, nothing is on fire, and the plane isn't already out of control, you'll probably be fine.

Continue reading my book, or sleeping. In 99% of cases, everything is OK. In tghe other 1%, it really doesn't matter what you do.

Eh, absolutely nothing. As a pilot I know that there was no danger WHATSOEVER, so would act the same as I would any other flight.

I don't follow the 'No Danger' and the '99%' thinking.

I agree there's not much you can do.

As for what people would actualy do if they knew it was all over, I think Sky-phone/cellphone calls are high on the list.

Continue listening to channel 9, assuming the captain leaves it on. Otherwise, switch to channel 3.

-David

Where does the fuel go? If overland, does the pilot dump fuel on people down below?? :confused:

I'm sure others know more details but I do believe it evaporates before reaching the ground.

Usually dumped over a body of water, I believe.

WHILE HE IS DUMPING, I MAY WELL BE DUMPING!!

I'm not too familiar with it myself, but here's a nice wikipedia article about it
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuel_dump

"Actual fuel dumping operations are coordinated with air traffic control (ATC), and precautions are taken to keep other aircraft clear of such areas. Fuel dumping is usually accomplished at a high enough altitude where the fuel will dissipate before reaching the ground. Fuel leaves the aircraft through a specific point on each wing, usually closer to the wingtips and further away from engines, and initially appears as more liquid than vapor. Here are still photos of fuel dumping from a 747, A340, and L-1011. Fuel dumping on a Boeing 767 can be seen about 2 minutes into this video."

Fuel will vaporize. It will never hit the ground or water. It does not matter where the pilot dumps it. This happens far more often than you think (Dumping fuel) though not in emergency dump quanteties.

What would I do? Get to a window and take pictures. That fuel will create one heck of a pretty rainbow.

Same here. There is still SOME added danger when the aircraft is not running 100% as it was designed.

I'd try to figure out a way to collect it & sell it back to UA at $4.50 a gallon! :D