Flight Crew Total 12098; Flight Crew Type 214
Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Inflight Event / Encounter Fuel Issue
General None Reported / Taken
Aircraft; Human Factors
On ferry flight prep the fuel panel was improperly set to tank to engine with the uncommonly low fuel load. Override pumps were never turned on to allow for 'tank to engine' EICAS prompt and cross feed valves were improperly left open. This resulted in a 'fuel qty low' EICAS warning at top of descent due to low fuel in main tanks 1 and 4. Total fuel quantity was plentiful with but we declared min fuel out of an abundance of caution. Landed uneventfully with 1.5 hours of fuel.
During descent on the first ferry leg of a charter day; we received a low fuel warning for the number one tank. Upon observing that the fuel in number one was less than 1;500 pounds; and even though all crossfeeds were open and there was plenty of fuel in the center tanks; we declared minimum fuel as a safety precaution. The landing was executed without further incident. Upon further discussion after landing; we determined that because of the non-standard fuel load different than we are used to on the long haul flights; the fuel system logic was improperly set to manage our fuel.
The B747 flight crew declared 'minimum fuel' when they received a 'fuel quantity low' EICAS warning. There was more than enough fuel on board; but the fuel panel had been set incorrectly.