A Public Service Safety Reminder

(With appropriate apologies to the late Harry Edward Nilsson III.)

Fuel Tank

Someone got into de plane, de plane was short on gas
Dey then took off in de plane, ended up in de grass

Not enough gas in de plane’s fuel tank, dey took it right up
Not enough gas in de plane’s fuel tank, dey took it right up
Not enough gas in de plane’s fuel tank, engine start to sputter
Not enough gas in de plane’s fuel tank, call de tower, voice aflutter

Say “Tower – ain’t there nothin’ I can do?”
Dey say “Tower – de runway make it to?”
Dey say “Tower – ain’t there nothin’ I can do?”
Dey say “Tower – de runway make it to?”

“Now lemme get this straight
Not enough gas in de plane’s fuel tank, you took it right up?
Not enough gas in de plane’s fuel tank, you took it right up?
Not enough gas in de plane’s fuel tank, you took it right up?
And when the engine start to sputter, call de tower, woke ’em up?

And say, ‘Tower, ain’t there nothin’ I can do?’
You say ‘Tower, de runway make it to?’
You say ‘Tower, ain’t there nothin’ I can do?’
You say ‘Tower, de runway make it to?’

Next time you check out de plane’s fuel tank, before you take it off!
With enough in de plane’s fuel tank, your landing should be soft.
With no gas in de plane’s fuel tank, you in a world of hurt.
With no gas in de plane’s fuel tank you can end up in the dirt.”

Woo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo
Oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oo

Someone got into de plane, dey took off right away
Not enough in the plane’s fuel tank, took off anyway.

Not enough gas in de plane’s fuel tank, engine start to sputter
Not enough gas in de plane’s fuel tank, call de tower,voice aflutter
And say “Tower, ain’t there nothin’ I can do?’
And say, “Tower, de runway make it to?”
And say, “Tower, ain’t there nothin’ I can do?”

Then say Tower, “Now lemme get this straight –
Not enough in de plane’s fuel tank, but still you did take off?
Not enough in de plane’s fuel tank, and now de engine cough?
Not enough in de plane’s fuel tank, you took it right up
Without enough in de tank? You such a silly doofus!

Enough gas in de plane’s fuel tank and it will fly much better.
Enough gas in de plane’s fuel tank, you can land it on a letter.
Enough gas in de plane’s fuel tank, you can safely bring her down.
Enough gas in your plane’s fuel tank you won’t end up short of town.”

“Woo, ain’t there nothin’ I can do?”
Dey say,”Woo, de runway make it to?”
Dey say, “Well, woo, ain’t there nothin’ I can can do?”
Dey say, “Woo woo, de runway make it to?”
Dey say, “Yow, ain’t there nothin’ I can do?”
Dey say, “Wow, de runway make it to?”
Dey said “Tower, ain’t there nothing I can do?”
Dey said, “Tower, de runway make it to?”
Dey said, “Tower, ain’t there nothing I can do?”
Dey said, “Tower, I’m in a bad position!”

Check de gas in de plane’s fuel tank before you take it off
Have enough in de plane’s fuel tank and de engine should not cough
Have enough in de plane’s fuel tank it help de plane to land
With enough in de plane’s fuel tank your landing will be grand

You can call de airport gas truck
You call de airport gas truck, dey come and sell you gas
Call de airport gas truck, dey come and sell you gas
Call de airport gas truck, dey come and sell you gas
Call de airport gas truck, dey come and sell you gas
Call de airport gas truck, dey come and sell you gas

 

OK, time to be serious.  Errors regarding having sufficient fuel to  complete a flight safely are apparently relatively common.  In 2003, there were apparently 132 such aviation incidents   – 91 from fuel exhaustion, and another 41 from fuel starvation.  (There were a few others due to fuel contamination.)  Many of the incidents led to fatalities or serious injuries.  Here are a few other more recent such incidents.

 

http://www.postregister.com/articles/featured-news-daily-email/2015/09/10/gov%E2%80%99t-report-plane-crash-caused-lack-fuel

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-30035659

http://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/AAR1302.pdf

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/jet-airways-plane-lands-with-insufficient-fuel-pilots-suspended/

http://www.newstalk.com/reader/47.301.341/16069/0/

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-31871462

 

Remeber:  it’s best to always check the gas, oil, and other fluid levels before you travel by privately-owned vehicle.  That’s true if you’re driving, riding – and especially if you’re flying.

Because if you’re flying, the stakes are WAY higher.  Running out of fuel (or breaking down due to low fluid levels) while driving or riding is generally only a major inconvenience.  However, it’s often deadly when you’re flying – for both the careless pilot and other innocent parties.

Hey, I don’t generally much care if someone I don’t know is stupid or careless and ends up offing himself/herself.  But I do care that their stupidity might take me – or someone I care about – with them.

Category: Pointless blather, Reality Check, Who knows