KIAD to FAOR | Will I Make It or Shall the Pax have a Tiresome Walk Across the Desert?

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Hello IFC!

I come to you as a grade 5 user who’s logged nearly 1k hours on Infinite Flight. I have a very simple question about a flight I am embarking on, and to skip the hassle of the unwanted Q&As, I’ll provide as much information that pertains to this question about me and this flight right from the get go. This may seem like a basic question to some, and yes it may be, but I believe we are all still learning and even though I’ve logged many hours in IF and I am a student pilot “IRL”, I’m still learning and I’m seeking input from those who have more experience in these untra-long-hauls

Background info about me and Long-Hauls

The longest flight I’ve ever done in IF was about 12 hours.
I’ve logged 950+ hours, ~700,000 XP, 2078 landings and as stated I’m a grade 5.
You’ll typically find my flying the 787 family. (Which is much more fuel efficient than the A333 which I’m using on this route)

Information about this flight

Departure: KIAD
Arrival: FAOR
Aircraft: Airbus A333
Fuel on board: 172,013 lbs
Pax: 269
Cargo: 3,800
Estimated Flight time: 15.5 hrs
Initial cruising alt: FL350
Cruising speed: M.82
ETE to dest: 13h09m
Fuel remaining in hh:mm: 12:18
My route:

Click HERE for routing

KIAD RIGNZ JCOBY GRIIM RIISE DOCTR AGARD SIE 3855N/7348W OVAPI 3700N/6500W 3600N/6000W 3100N/5000W 2640N/4240W 2350N/3500W ULTEM GAMBA IREDO CVS ORABI MOGSA INIRO TITOR LIMEL AKDAK LIPOG EGAGA DEMAR SOLDA VONAS ARLEM EMTAL GAPEL APNUK AVIGI UDMON DIMIX IBLOK DUGNU UTROL OKSUN VEDRY EGMAS USUNO GENUD EPMAX APKOV TETUS 2536S/2615E PEDIL AVAGO D320M 2559S/2817E FAOR

My Question

You’ve read this far, congrats! What I am asking you, the IFC, is given the information above, do you think I’ll be able to make it to my destination? This question is mainly aimed to those who’ve done many ultra long hauls longer than thirteen or fourteen hours. I know there are plenty of variables such as wind, traffic at destination, etc. FPLtoIF seems to think I’ll be fine, but my gut says otherwise and I’m not sure which to listen to. I’m also sure that the pax would rather not have to hike across the desert to their destination, and I know the pilot would rather not rack up a few violations during his rest period.

Any help is greatly appreciated!

With Gratitude,
Gabriel

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Sounds like you took off already, and have around a 1-2ish hour gap, you should make it as you burn off fuel, but it’ll be close if you don’t step climb in a few hours to like FL370 and when you do that slowly climb up, at like 500vs yea it’ll take 4 minutes to reach it, but you’ll save fuel in doing so

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That’s correct, I’m already in the air. It could just be the design of the plane, but it felt very sluggish climbing to 350. The next altitude FPLtoIF wants me to be at is FL370 (as you said) at ULTEM which is in about 4 hours. Unfortunately I’m about to head off to get some shuteye and I’ll likely be back in 8 hours which at that point I should be climbing to FL390, so I’m really hoping she’ll behave at 350 until I get up.

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Well FL350 for a flight of that length is a little high, so sluggish wouldn’t surprise me, and hope you make it, just remember to climb slow, and if fuel is tight when at TOD start it either out further from the airport and have a gradual descent, or closer and have a semi unrealistic descent:)

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I guess I’ve been spoiled with the 787 family being able to climb FL350 as it’s initial no problemo!

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Winds aren’t on your side over the Atlantic, though like said before you should have put enough fuel so I believe step climbing will do the job. Remember if the ETE to destination turns amber you should make it with at least half an hour left of fuel. When step climbing ensure to so do slowly in order to not burn unnecessary amounts of fuel. Realistically your VS should be at 100. It does sounds like it isn’t that much, though you should should reach FL370 in 20 minutes. That is if you haven’t already started your step climb. Don’t be too worried if your fuel under the ETE is red at the initial parts of the flight, as you get lighter you will burn less fuel and it will most likely not stay that way. Hope I helped :)

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If she is behaving right now at FL350, she should behave herself throughout the entire time you rest. Although she will be less fuel efficient by delaying the climb to FL370 or skipping it and going to FL390 at the appropriate time, you should still be able to make it if you packed the amount of fuel Fpltoif gave you!

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As you go through your flight, you will be lighter which means less thrust. Step climbing will.help as said above. Good luck!

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Hey all! Thanks for your responses and advice. I just got up with 4 hours left in the flight, 6 hours of fuel left, so this shouldn’t be a problem, the pax won’t have to endure a long and boring walk and the pilot won’t be racking up a few violations. I’ll keep in mind everything said here for future flights and when flying the A333.

Seeing as this is now resolved, I’ll now request this topic to be closed. I’ll leave you with this, a photo of the flight approaching Africa over the Atlantic Ocean!

IMG_0DBD19EB9C9D-1
IMG_0DBD19EB9C9D-1942×480 167 KB

With Gratitude,
Gabriel

:)

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Well idk you should try though

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OP requested