DFW to Sydney

[Ben Hunwicks]

How do these guys at Quantas do this day in/day out?

Qantas have 6 B747-400ERs, the only 6 passenger ERs in the world, and they have a slightly longer ranger than a regular -400. On an ultra long-range flight like this, they will use a reclearance-in-flight procedure, whereby the flight will be dispatched with as much fuel as possible, with a decision point declared somewhere in the last portion of the flight. Once the aircraft reaches that point, the crew will see based on the winds aloft and the fuel consumption they have achieved whether they have sufficient to continue to the intended destination, or if they have to land at the declared along-route alternate.