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Not normally.

This is an emergency procedure sometimes done because the maximum takeoff weight is usually larger than the maximum landing weight on aircraft carrying large passenger or freight loads.

The dumping of fuel is one action that can be used in an inflight emergency; however, I can guarantee that the takeoff weight of ANY aircraft (unless refueled in flight) is ALWAYS greater than said aircraft's landing weight. Fuel used enroute will always reduce the gross landing weight.

Aircraft are generally serviced with enough fuel to make its primary destination and an alternate runway (due of emergency). The landing weight can be adjusted by dumping fuel (normally) in case of damage to the aircraft or destination runway conditions (snow/ice, rain) requiring a lighter aircraft gross landing weight.

Naval aircraft operating from Carriers routinely dump fuel to adjust for landing conditions (wet deck, reduced landing area, slower ship speed into the wind, etc...).

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Q: Do aircraft dump fuel before landing?
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Do commercial jets dump its fuel before landing?

In general: no, not on a normal flight. Any fuel "left over" in the tanks will be used for the next flight. Airliners only dump fuel when they are too heavy to make a safe landing - and this situation only occurs when the landing happens much earlier than planned, such as a diversion or an emergency landing. Not all commercial airliners can dump fuel, some have no option but flying around for a while to "burn off" fuel before being light enough to make the above-mentioned early landing.


Is a contrail formed by dumping fuel from the plane before landing?

A contrail is not caused by dumping fuel from a plane before landing, it occurs as a result of a visible condensation of moisture in the wake of an aircraft, missle, or rocket.


Does airplanes dumped fuel when landing?

If you mean do they let the fuel fall out of the plane then no, because that could cause a giant mess or fire. LOL Yes, they do. In cases of Emergency and the aircraft has to land immediately after take-off, then the aircraft has to dump fuel in order for it to get its weight below the Maximum Landing Weight. This usually only applies to large passenger air liners. Large military aircraft can also dump fuel. If the aircraft lands at too heavy weight then the gear may break or it will not have enough braking energy to stop the aircraft and it will run off the end of the runway---unless the airport has plenty of runway length. An emergency that would require fuel dump would be if the engine quite. Remember the airplane that landed in the Hudson River in New York. It lost both engines due to a bird strike. If it had been a little higher in altitude, the crew would probably have started the emergency fuel dump procedure. Another reason to dump fuel is that if the aircraft has a serious problem with landing gear or failed structure and it is expected to crash on to the runway, then it is safer if the aircraft has very little fuel in it in order to reduce the threat of post-accident fires. Will it create a mess? The experts say it will not. Fuel dumped into the atmosphere at high altitudes will dissapate as vapor. It would be about the same as pouring a little amount of fuel onto a concrete parking lot and the heat evaporating it into the air.


I live under a flight path and keep getting brown circular dots of stuff on my car you have been told its jettisoned plane fuel Is that possible?

It is possible to dump fuel from some commercial aircraft. This is only done during emergency procedures to get the aircraft under a safe landing weight. The brown spots are not jet fuel, airline would not dump fuel unless it was a definite emergency. As we all know fuel is expensive and airlines cannot afford to just dump the fuel. The spots are possibly acid rain or tree particulate. If this is something that you must solve, I would look for a more simple answer.


Do aircraft become charged?

Yes, and this is dispersed through static wicks on the landing gear which discharge static charges into the ground on landing. Fuel tankers are also fitted with ground-lines which are connected to the aircraft before re- fueling takes place.


Why does a crashing plane need to dump fuel?

It makes the aircraft lighter, and minimizes the effect of an explosion if it crashed.


What is the difference between the range and the endurance of an aircraft?

Range - Max distance an aircraft can fly between take off and landing for the given amount of fuel . Endurance - Maximum time an aircraft can cruise for the given amount of fuel


What is a forced landing?

A forced landing is any unplanned landing. They are typically caused by fuel starvation or a mechanical problem. A forced landing is different than a crash because there should be minimal damage to the aircraft.


Can an airplane be too heavy to land?

Yes. The aircraft is designed with a Maximum Takeoff Gross Weight and a Minimum Landing Weight. Therefore, if a large airliner has an emergency and must return to the airport, such as one engine quites, then they have to dump fuel before they can SAFELY land. Some aircraft have to circle the airport to burn off fuel. However, sometimes this is done in order to give the flight crew time to solve the problem. This is usually true if they have a landing gear problem and want to try to get the gear to come down. Yes and no. As the foregoing answer points out, manufacturers have maximum landing weight specifications for their aircraft, and under normal and most emergency situations, the flight crews need to reduce the aircraft weight so as not to exceed these weights. On the other hand, some situations require getting the aircraft on the ground as soon as possible, and in these cases, any airplane can be landed at any weight...assuming there is enough runway. In these cases, a report of the overweight landing must be made and "overweight landing inspections" must be completed prior to flying the airplane again.


Why airplanes burning off fuel before landing?

they do that if it crashes or doesn't make a proper landing and if it catches fire there is no fuel to burn and there is a lot less chances of it blowing up


What general steps should you follow after an aircraft engine failure in flight?

Alarms! A= Airspeed. Reduce to best glide speed for your aircraft L= Landing Location. Look for closest alternative landing site. A= Air Restart. Check for fuel tank selector valve error, attempt restart R= Radios (121.5, ATC and 7700 Squawk Code M= Mayday Give altitude and location S= Secure aircraft for landing


Why does the wheel goes up when the plane is flying?

That would be retractable landing gear. They're present on aircraft because retracting the landing gear makes the aircraft more aerodynamic by eliminating the drag which would be caused by having the gear permanently fixed or extended. This saves fuel and improves cruising speeds.