Video of a 777 dumping fuel.

[HardDrive]

A 777 headed for Korea has a flame out on one engine today, while climbing out of Seatac.

Link to the story below. Cool video in the middle of the page of the 777 circling above Elliot Bay dumping fuel. Not something you see everyday.

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/44020502.html

[sand_man]

Seriously relieved that ended well, but cracking up over the name of that reporter, "Luke Duecy"!! Not to mention he appears to be eight feet tall!

[masraum]

According to the Department of Ecology, most of the fuel dumped by the plane likely evaporated, leaving only a small amount to end up in the Puget Sound. Ecology officials plan to charter a helicopter to check for any areas that may have been hit harder than others.

The department said it received reports of droplets of the fuel falling in several areas, including the ferry Wenatchee while sailing near Bainbridge Island. The fuel droplets pose no health risks, the department said.

Evaporated, huh? So does evaporated mean disappeared into a parallel dimension never to be seen or heard from again? I kind of thought that meant, now you're breathing it instead of drinking it or swimming in it.

And that's great to know that jet fuel is not a health risk. I'd like to see the folks that made that statement take a jet fuel shower followed by a glass of jet fuel. It's totally healthy. Maybe it's the next "Red Bull". You know, it gives you wings.

Sounds like the BS meter is pegged to me.

[dhoward]

Jet Fuel = Saki.

Mmmm......

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by masraum

Evaporated, huh? So does evaporated mean disappeared into a parallel dimension never to be seen or heard from again? I kind of thought that meant, now you're breathing it instead of drinking it or swimming in it.

And that's great to know that jet fuel is not a health risk. I'd like to see the folks that made that statement take a jet fuel shower followed by a glass of jet fuel. It's totally healthy. Maybe it's the next "Red Bull". You know, it gives you wings.

Sounds like the BS meter is pegged to me.

There's probably a lot worse stuff in the air. Likely that fuel DID evaporate before it hit the ground, with the airspeed it probably atomized as soon as it left the aircraft. Ever notice how quickly spilled gasoline evaporates? Or would you prefer that the 777 simply land overweight with a full fuel load and crash?

[Amail]

That's very cool! I'd always imagined the fuel dumping out the belly in a big whoosh. Guess that comes from seeing borade bombers do their thing.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

There's probably a lot worse stuff in the air. Likely that fuel DID evaporate before it hit the ground, with the airspeed it probably atomized as soon as it left the aircraft. Ever notice how quickly spilled gasoline evaporates? Or would you prefer that the 777 simply land overweight with a full fuel load and crash?

This is Jet-A not gasoline. Diesel doesn't "evaporate" without heat. And at altitude, you have cold. It is like rain. So, somewhere, there will be a rain of diesel fuel.

[TechnoViking]

Yea, the harmless-evaporate story seems like total BS.

Why don't they just say "It's an environmental mess, but we saved a bunch of lives today so it was worth it"?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by red-beard

This is Jet-A not gasoline. Diesel doesn't "evaporate" without heat. And at altitude, you have cold. It is like rain. So, somewhere, there will be a rain of diesel fuel.

I can't watch the video (work firewall), what altitude are they at?

[vash]

Originally Posted by dhoward

Jet Fuel = Saki.

Mmmm......

saki is japanese...korean = Soju....not as yummy.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by red-beard

This is Jet-A not gasoline. Diesel doesn't "evaporate" without heat. And at altitude, you have cold. It is like rain. So, somewhere, there will be a rain of diesel fuel.

Diesel?

Jet fuel is like kerosene. Doesn't evaporate quite as quickly as gasoline.

[tcar]

Originally Posted by Amail

That's very cool! I'd always imagined the fuel dumping out the belly in a big whoosh. Guess that comes from seeing borade bombers do their thing.

If they did that, instead of borate, they'd be dumping suitcases.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

There's probably a lot worse stuff in the air. Likely that fuel DID evaporate before it hit the ground, with the airspeed it probably atomized as soon as it left the aircraft. Ever notice how quickly spilled gasoline evaporates? Or would you prefer that the 777 simply land overweight with a full fuel load and crash?

I'd prefer that folks not die in a horrible death of twisted Aluminum, but trying to tell me that hundreds of pounds of fuel dumped into the atmosphere is "harmless" is a load of crap that I'm not buying.

[TechnoViking]

I'd prefer that folks not die in a horrible death of twisted Aluminum, but trying to tell me that hundreds of pounds of fuel dumped into the atmosphere is "harmless" is a load of crap that I'm not buying.

A quick search indicates a 777 carries about 64,000 pounds of fuel. FWIW.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by tcar

Diesel?

Jet fuel is like kerosene. Doesn't evaporate quite as quickly as gasoline.

True. Kerosene is a slightly lighter distillate, but still very much like diesel.

[HardDrive]

Personally I think it would be cool if they could light the fuel from nozzles on the trailing edge of the plane. I wonder if that would panic people?

[Embraer]

if you throw jet-a on the tarmac, it doesn't really evaporate....it forms a greasy spot on the ground. 100LL on the other hand, evaporates almost instantly.

[widebody911]

Originally Posted by tcar

If they did that, instead of borate, they'd be dumping suitcases.

Borade is Gatorade for the apathetic.

[fingpilot]

The rate of evaporation does depend on air temp, but it does dissipate. Most likely you'd smell it in the air on the ground, but not see it unless it was dumped at very low altitude. Most ops require 8000 feet altitude minimum, but the E word gives you a lot of latitude. You would also be surprised at how many times a day fuel is dumped worldwide.