JAKARTA (Yosefardi) – Indonesia’s Navigation Service Provider Agency or AirNav dismissed earlier statements that pilot of the missing AirAsia QZ 8501 asked for higher altitude because of weather problems.
Wisnu Darjono, director of safety and standard of AirNav Indonesia, said the pilot didn’t mention about weather problems when he asked to take the airplane from 32,000 feet to 38,000 feet. “He only requested for high altitude,” said Wisnu Monday (Dec 29).
Wisnu said it is normal for pilots to ask for higher altitude so the airplane could fly closer to its economic level (fuel consideration). Flying 1,000 feet lower from economic level would cost additional fuel consumption of 2%.
“Say that economic level is 35,000 feet. If someone flies at 30,000 feet, fuel consumption should grow 10%. If someone flies 1000 feet above economic level, fuel saving would be 1%,” Wisnu explained.
All pilots, according to Wisnu, would ask to fly at economic level. “Some, however, are not allowed,” he argued.
As reported earlier, AirAsia QZ 8501 had initially secured approval from ATC to move from flight plan due to weather problems before missing from the radar and lost contact with ATC, but yet to get approval to move up from 32,000 to 38,000 feet.