Aviation Safety & Fuel Management
🚨 An Indigo flight (Guwahati-Chennai) declared a fuel emergency (Mayday) and diverted to Bengaluru due to low fuel and inability to land in Chennai, highlighting ongoing aviation concerns.
✈️ A Vistara flight in July 2019 faced a near-disaster, landing with only 348 kg of fuel (approx. 9-10 minutes of flight time) after multiple diversion attempts due to severe weather.
💨 Strong tailwinds and wet runways significantly impact landing safety and fuel consumption, often leading to go-arounds and diversions.
🔄 Conflicting alternate airport information between official flight plans and transit briefing sheets can complicate pilot decision-making during emergencies.

Fuel Planning & Regulations
⛽ Aircraft fuel loads are precisely calculated based on multiple factors, including aircraft weight, NOTAMs, airspace restrictions, expected weather, and anticipated delays.
📊 Standard fuel components include Taxi Fuel (~200kg), Trip Fuel (e.g., 5 tons), Contingency Fuel (5% of trip fuel), and Alternate Fuel (e.g., 1500kg) for diversion.
⏱️ A Final Reserve Fuel of 30 minutes of flying time (~1200kg) is a mandatory, non-negotiable emergency reserve.
✈️ Company-discretion fuel and Captain's discretion fuel allow for additional fuel uplift based on historical data or real-time operational changes.

Emergency Protocols & Divergence
📉 The Minimum Diversion Fuel (MDF), calculated as Alternate Fuel plus Final Reserve (e.g., 2700kg), is the critical point for initiating a diversion to an alternate airport.
⚠️ Pilots declare "Minimum Fuel" when the landing fuel at the committed alternate drops to the Final Reserve level (e.g., 1200kg), indicating an inability to accept further delays.
🚨 A "Mayday" emergency is declared if the aircraft's fuel drops below the mandatory Final Reserve (e.g., below 1200kg), triggering an official investigation.
📡 Air Traffic Control (ATC) plays a crucial role in providing timely information and guiding diversions, potentially averting critical fuel situations.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ Meticulous fuel planning and strict adherence to regulatory minimums are paramount in aviation to prevent mid-air emergencies and ensure passenger safety.
➡️ Pilots must maintain constant situational awareness regarding fuel levels, weather, and traffic, being prepared to declare emergencies or divert proactively.
➡️ The Final Reserve Fuel acts as the ultimate safety buffer; its breach necessitates a "Mayday" declaration and triggers a comprehensive investigation.
➡️ Effective communication and coordination between pilots and ATC are crucial for managing complex weather diversions and preventing critical fuel situations.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Jun 28, 2025, 15:25 UTC