Every Airline’s loadsheets have the Fuel figures on them. They can only LMC +/- 300kg from this figure before a new loadsheet is required.
The ACARS system is not used to send weather to dispatch, it’s the other way around. The weather is obtained from the ACARS system for the flight crew to digest. The weather is totally irrelevant to a flight dispatcher.
What fuel is loaded onto an aircraft is a command decision, not a dispatch decision. What the dispatcher can do though is see what the underload is for a flight, (but only when the flight is closed) and if the commander wants more fuel the dispatcher can ensure they are still on or under weight. The dispatcher will not decide what fuel the aircraft takes – period.
There are many reasons for too much fuel being loaded onto an aircraft to make it overweight. Such reasons can be the refueller misheard what was told him (yes this does happen) and loads a different fuel figure. You can plan for a certain amount of fuel for a trip, then once the fuel is on be told that for whatever reason there are alot more passengers getting on because of a tech or cancelled flight (this happens alot). Plus many other reasons. It is never as black and white as the media make it out to be, and anyone who believes this kind of hysteria needs their heads read.
Dean
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