Reply #38: Speedball is running on luck

[panzerfaust]

You might recall a BA crew's recent decision to head out from LAX with 3 out of 4 engines on a 747. They ALMOST made it to London

http://www.aaib.dft.gov.uk/publications/bulletins/june_2006/boeing_747_436__g_bnlg.cfm

They are not bound by US FARs, which would have prohibited the flight. The speculation at the time was that the crew continued, after talking to BA OPS, because of new (at the time) UK regulations relating to reimbursement of passengers because of flight delays.

In spite of the UK's investigatory whitewash, with a moment of thought it is pretty clear that it was a foolish choice, which ended with a low fuel emergency divert, and could have ended with the plane down in the North Atlantic.

It was better when they were "Speedbird"