A310
Dispatch Dispatcher
Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
General None Reported / Taken
Company Policy
DISPATCHERS; not Training and Standards; maintains operational control of flights. Fuel policy is very often NOT followed depending on various circumstances. It is simply a guideline; called a policy. In this case with the concurrence of my manager; I over tanker on a regular basis and will continue to do so for the following reasons:1. My manager and I stated the reasons of this over-tankering practice in last year's recurrent to the instructors of the class we both attended. 2. Aircraft has a 1.5 hour quick turn. Why possibly delay the flight?.... 3. Fuel truck would otherwise be called as soon as possible for the aircraft at destination to fuel if flight is to be on time. 4. We often fuel Airbus aircraft above this tankering parameter more than 1.5 hours prior to push. There is not policy against such fueling. The former policy stipulated do not tanker more only if more than 12 hour before the next flight. That former policy DID make sense but only while aircraft leaks issues remained. 5. This destination is an Islamic terrorist hotbed. We try not to overnight crews there if possible. And I read the news.... 6. Tankering enhances safety/security in this situation. All performance parameters are being met. Safety and Security takes precedence. 7. Tankering when indicated (as in this case) saves the company money and makes 'fuel sense'.I recommend changing the fuel tankering policy to reflect these realities. At the very least acknowledge the operational control in this situation of the dispatcher. This fuel policy as the others must take a back seat to the actual flight dispatchers operational control and best judgment as stipulated in the FAR's. Get rid of the confusion on who should make such decisions ('what caused this event') as I suspect the reports were added to the system by someone in Training and Standards.
Dispatcher reported that company policy concerning fuel tankering to international destinations needed to be clarified.