Does every airliner have fuel dump capability?

Question

Because sometimes you hear in the news that some aircraft circle an airport for a certain time to get the fuel burnt and get lighter so they could land.

Answer 1

No. None of the 737s or 757s have that capability. Try to find it on the fuel schematic. It just isn't there. You won't find the dump valve switches in the cockpit either, 'cause they don't exist.  You either burn down to your max landing wt. or land overweight and have the inspection done.

I don't think that the A-320 and related versions have that capability either. At least not what I've seen on the fuel management panel when I've jumpseated on 'em. You'll have fuel pumps, crossfeed valves, but no way to dump fuel overboard from the cockpit.

The 727 and 747 did have the ability to dump fuel. Not sure about the L-1011 or the DC-10, but I'm guessing that they could.

Answer 2

some dc-9 30 & 40 did have the ability to do it at one time,  Look at a nwa a/c flap hinge cover you will see the jettison port. There 747 can do it to cause they pay alot of fines in mn cause of dumping in the wrong area. It`s funny i got thumbs down especially when i was the person how did the mods on there aircraft to remove the jettison system off the dc9`s. I got a free carwash in mn cause of the 747 mishap. Ask the capt`s on the -40`s what that little panel is by there right heel. It`s not the gear free fall ,that`s on the f/o side.

Answer 3

No, they do not all have that.  Most do, but some do not, even though those same ones could have maximum takeoff weights that are greater than the landing weights.  When the situation arises where a crew needs to bring an airplane back to the departure airport, for landing, and is over the landing weight, they need to fly around and burn the fuel off.  You can extend the flaps and landing gear to increase the fuel burn.  I once had to do this for 30 minutes before I could land.  If it is a real emergency, like a fire or engine failure, than the crew has procedures for how to make an overweight landing.  It is not desirable to make an overweight landing, so we only do it if we really have to.

Answer 4

Yes, they do. Transport category aircraft have a maximum take off weight, which is higher than the maximum landing weight (for obvious reasons ~ gravity and inertial energy).

So, in an emergency they must have a method short of opening the door and throwing out the luggage to shed weight to get to landing weight.

Answer 5

Far more airliners are delivered without fuel dump capability than with it.  The reason nobody can agree about specific aircraft types is that it is an available option on most types.  There are, for example B737s that have it, though the majority are not so equipped.

The same can be said for many common types.  Fuel dump is so rarely needed that most buyers elect not to have it.  I used to fly old radial engine prop airliners, and they all had fuel chutes, but only a few jet airliners have them.

Answer 6

It is not every Airliner but every aircraft manufacturer design to have it or not. Like the 747 have it, the A340 have it while the A330 doesn't have it "it can land even on its take-off weight" that is how powerful  its  engines are GE80 surprisingly with the 777 having a GE90 it may also have no dumping valve or facility.

So again it is not the airliner's decision to have it or not but the aircraft manufacturer.  

Answer 7

Nope, I fly one that doesn't.  If we elect to land at a weight over the maximum landing weight, it's probably because we have an emergency.  An overweight landing isn't desirable, but it's just an inspection that is required to get us back in the air.  If I'm landing because of an emergency, a simple inspection is going to be the last thing on my mind.  If we have time, we can burn off fuel by flying around.

PS, I just heard from someone that all the new aircraft after a certain date do not have fuel dumping.  Apparently, there was an accident that involved the crew dumping fuel by mistake, so the FAR's no longer allow aircraft to be manufactured with any fuel dumping capability.  I didn't' verify that, but it sounded plausible enough for me to put it out to the other experts out there.

Answer 8

I do not know about all aircraft, but I do know that the B-737-100/200 do, despite what Cherokee says.

For safety's sake, in case where immediate landing is necessary, even right after take-off, there must be a way to get rid of weight to get the aircraft down to maximum landing weight, so fuel dumping is the only way to do this, since cargo and passengers cannot be jettisoned.

Regards,

Dan

Answer 9

Yes, they do.

Answer 10

I can not ever remember seeing a 737 with fuel dump,   you can see the dump "mast" protruding off the trailing edge of the wing on most planes that have it.  That being said... I would not doubt that if you ordered a 737 from Boeing and required that it have dump capability it could be arranged.  

Kisss  makes the very good point that all it is in *most* cases is an overweight landing inspection... but there can be other reasons... such as a short runway and concern about post crash fire... if you have "had the schnitzel"  and you are going down and all you are really concerned about is survivability... and post crash fire is a real threat, then getting all the fuel you can OFF the airplane is a good idea as well.

Then too.. you don't really need a fuel dump on an airplane that:

Doesn't have a large seperation between MTOW and MLW... odds are that by the time you take off you will have burned off enough fuel to qualify for being under MLW.

You may be flying an airplane that even though it has a max landing weight.. it has been modified for some other reason and the aircraft is capable of landing at a much higher weight.... which means that the inspection would be nothing more than looking to see if the tires were flat.

Also,  fuel dumping is a MAJOR pain in the ***....  the fuel is supposed to atomize as it comes down and dissipate... HAH.. don't believe it....   you have to go to the charts (THANK GOD for F/e's) and see what your dump rate is.. what your dump speed is (there is another V speed for that other guy) and then locate and verifiy your dump area/track,  confirm with ATC that you are going to be dumping fuel... notify when you start and stop..  and get ready all you answer hounds...because here comes the next question for you.... someone is going to ask what happens when a jet flies underneath another jet dumping fuel...  ATC is not going to let that happen... or let you dump over a populated area... etc...  and that fuel doesn't always LEAP off the airplane either... in some cases,  you can really get rid of it.. and in others.. it is still a slow process but faster than burning it off.

Most operators wil chose to burn it off it they have the choice, because if you dump... you are going to get a visit from the EPA and they are going to blame birthdefects and extinction of the yellow beaked bark grabber on your decision to dump fuel.

Answer 11

Nope, some Airliners like the A320, A330(optional) whose MTOW(Maximum Take-off Weight) is very close to its Maximum landing weight don't have fuel dump capacity because in case of an emergency, they can just land close to their take- off weight...