B747-400
Dispatch Dispatcher
Training / Qualification; Confusion; Communication Breakdown
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural FAR; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
General None Reported / Taken
Manuals; Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
Responding to a Dispatcher's inquiry on how to properly apply OpSpec B043; I discovered a flight may have been released inappropriately using B043. The flight in question; operating in North Pacific Airspace along A590; would not have been able to reliably fix its position; at least once each hour; along the entire route. The dispatch release shows 45 minutes of reserve fuel; indicating that no area along the route of flight was excluded from modified reserve fuel calculation. Upon further inquiries; it appears that there may have been discussions between Dispatch personnel and operations management that may have led to a misinterpretation of the rule. The belief appears to have been; OpSpec B050 allows the use of B043 relief in the North Pacific area of operations. This may have led to the interpretation that B043 could be applied to the entire planned route of flight through the North Pacific. To prevent this from happening in the future; I would suggest that the operations management team review the appropriate operation specifications and the related guidance material to gain a complete understanding of OpSpec B043. Detailed processes and procedures for dispatchers and pilots should be developed and documented in the appropriate company Dispatch Manuals to ensure OpSpec B043 is applied appropriately. In addition; all dispatchers and pilots should be briefed and/or trained on any new procedures.
While researching a question from another Dispatcher the reporter discovered that--a few days earlier--a transpacific flight had been dispatched under aegis of FAA 'Operations Specification (OpSpec) B043' which allows the use of a hybrid mix of domestic and International fuel reserve requirements but is predicated on being able to precisely fix their position at least once each hour. In the instant case that degree of precision had not been possible for the entire flight and; thus; those portions of the flight during which such precision was not possible the appropriate international reserves had to have been aboard. The calculated reserve fuel on board had been just 45 minutes; consistent with precise navigation 100% of the flight.