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A FUEL REPORT by the Irish Airport Authority (IAA) confirmed that Ryanair aircraft carried extra fuel and complied fully with European Union operations procedures when inspected in Spain last July.
Aviation and transport authorities from Spain and Ireland met yesterday to discuss safety standards at the airline following a number of Ryanair aircraft citing technical difficulties made unplanned landings in Spain this month.
The three aircraft that were inspected had been diverted to Valencia en route to Madrid after declaring an emergency when the calculated usable fuel on landing at Valencia was less than final reserve.
The IAA report into the three emergency landings in Valencia confirmed that all three aircraft carried fuel in excess of flight plan fuel requirements and diverted to Valencia with more than final diversion fuel.
It also said the aircraft correctly declared emergency procedures in accordance with EU operations regulations.
In a statement today, the Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary called on the Spanish Ministry (Fomento) to take up its invitation to send a team of inspectors to Dublin to examine its operations.
“We hope that the Fomento will now accept Ryanair’s invitation to inspect our operations in Dublin in order to put an end to the false claims and misinformation in the Spanish media in recent weeks about Ryanair’s outstanding 28 year safety record,” he said.
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A win for Ryanair? Good for the image.
How much free publicity will this generate for Mick?
o Leary for taoiseach
Don’t cry wolf too often O’Leary.
Wayne stop sticking your nose in where you haven’t a clue,they carried well over 30mins extra fuel as they already were in a holding pattern for an hour plus a trip to valencia. I hate any aviation related stories in the media because people who don’t work or have a clue about the industry come on these public forums commenting about their mates knows a pilot,engineer etc etc who said this and that.I said it before,the spanish are none too happy about Ryanair putting all their carriers out of business or on the brink of.Anyone interested should look to the recent emergencies Iberia and Vueling had recently and did you see them in the spanish media immediately????? over and out.
http://www.ryanair.com/doc/news/2012/iaa_report_valencia_EN.pdf
Down in the report it also states Easyjet and LAN Chile aircraft declared maydays too at the same time.enough said.
I never made any comparison with Iberia to Ryanair Mick, I am not taking my information from Spanish media and this is a public forum so I can freely make whatever comments I like. In fact I am an engineer (not an aeronautical engineer but an engineer nonetheless) and you are a barman but I would never have the arrogance to suggest that somebody with your particular skill set shouldn’t make a comment on a public forum. And what’s with the “over and out” crap? This isn’t the army. #gobs1te
Never said you compared Iberia,I did,I am a licensed Aircraft Engineer so therefore I probably know a lot more about it than you,over and out
Jaysus Mick, you are a busy man. Barman of the year, a licensed Aircraft Engineer and a Bull with military lingo to boot. How do you get the time to post here. Mick ‘The Walter Mitty’ Daly more like.
All over the Spanish media questioning safety record, just wondering if Spanish government are teaching Ryanair a lesson and trying to keep them in their place……..
Teach them a lesson about what?
Ryanair have pulled routes from Reus Girona and Valencia etc. because local councils have stopped paying Ryanair subsidies, although Ryanair is the largest airline carrier in Spain they don’t have the best relations with local authorities and government
Chris, Ryanair play the “airport charge” card everywhere. They typically agree a deal with an airport for reduced landing charges for the first couple of years of operations in order to assist the route in achieving profitability. Once the deal expires, Ryanair are expected to pay the published charges – instead however, they make waves about high charges and threaten to pull out. Given Spain’s economic issues, the last thing local governments need is to be subsidising O’Leary’s very healthy profits.
Surely thats good business. When your contract expires you always try to get the best deal possible for you/your company etc.
I never said it wasnt good business, but when the “deal” involves tax payer support, and threats, sometimes the airports will fight back a bit. Ryanair go for the juggular in their press statements, often deriding the local authorities. The last thing Spain needs now is a spoiled airline holding them over a barell demanding subsidies under threat of removal of business. If Ryanair wanna play dirty, why cant the Spanish?
It’s hard to say what the issue is here. There were a couple of other issues recently enough. Just Google “Ryanair, loss of cabin pressure”.
Do you know how many other airlines suffered loss of cabin pressure this year? loss of cabin pressure is an extremely rare occurrence which can happen to any airline. Ryanair been one of the largest airlines in the world is gonna have notably more incidences!
I don’t John but maybe you could enlighten me. I do, however, know that Ryanair had not one but two issues with cabin pressure in the last year which I am told, by an aeronautical engineer, is unprecedented. I have also been told that the according to the European standards for aviation safety that a minimum amount of fuel of 30 minutes longer than the required journey should be carried. This is for passenger safety. These incidents and the three emergency landings in one day due to minimum fuel policy is what had Spanish officials over speaking with the IAA recently.
Wayne, 2 cabin pressure incidents with a busy fleet of almost 300 aircraft is definitely not unprecedented. In fact, i’d say its lower than average given Ryanair’s busy schedule.
Wayne you are aware on that day in question those flights were diverted as were many others some of which also had to declare a mayday due to fuel.The facts are available online if you care to search.
I don’t know Norm, if I am I aware as you suggest, then I hardly need to search the facts. Besides, I don’t think those Spanish lads just popped over for an in-flight meal or to catch some rays.
There are a few notable incidents RE Ryanair and cabin pressure, yes. All incidents were dealt with by the book – release the oxygen masks, descend to 10,000ft. There’s s Daily Mail article which says that the speedy descent was terrifying (4,000 feet per min, as opposed to about 1,800 normally), it would have been a heck of a lot more terrifying had they not descended or descended slower.
Ryanair is one of the safest airlines in the world when you take into account the passenger numbers flown and the number of active aircraft in their fleet.
Like them or loathe them, I really don’t think anyone need worry about their safety record – its absolutely impeccable.
Wayne so you’re not aware of the facts?but feel justified in posting a comment in ignorance, well done you!
more to do with the aircraft its self, the 737-800 has had a lot of these incedents, google southwest airlines 737 800.
@Wayne. Best to read the facts first though instead of posting drivel!
http://avherald.com/h?article=454af355/0000&opt=0
Wayne all I’m going to say is “unprecedented” my ass. Try this for size – 6 loss of cabin pressure incidents that I know about in the last two weeks(I’m sure there’s lots more I have not heard)
1. Moskovia Airlines B737 15th Sep
2. Malaysia Airlines A330 15th Sep
3. Kuwait Airways A310 13th Sep
4. China Airlines A330 12th Sep
5. Asiana Airlines A321 9th Sep
6. Ryanair B737 7th Sep
Congratulations on meeting the MINIMUM acceptable safety standards…
“It also said the aircraft correctly declared emergency procedures in accordance with EU operations regulations.”, the aircraft?? 3 separate aircraft, of the same design, from the same airline……
Hi Conor,
I wouldn’t say my views are unfairly biased. I have a passing interest in aviation safety and I also have an interest in current affairs. The recent Ryanair emergency landings have had quite a bit of media exposure and I had a conversation with an Aeronautical Engineer where I actually argued that Ryanair are one of Europes youngest airlines and that they have zero fatalities. The arguments that were presented to me regarding the sheer volume of incidents reported about Ryanair to aviation authorities recently and consequently in the media has lead me to believe that the person, which I originally thought was just hopping on the band wagon with the Ryanair bashing brigade, is correct (especially given their profession).
You are correct in saying I have a choice to fly with whatever airline I decide fit and I like most other I exercise my right to that choice but I also have a right to comment and have an opinion and in opinion there are too many Ryanair stories in the media these days for comfort.
The reality is that Ryanair have zero fatalities thus far but with the recent events I wonder when will be their first.
What we need to do here is have a holistic look at the situation. There is much comment about ‘Ryanairs impeccible safety record’ and lots of use of phrases like ‘second to none’ which are all meaningless in context.
Safety is not measured by number of incidents but the likelyhood of having an incident. Statements that Ryanairs safety receive is impeccible is simply not true. Ryanair have written of an aircraft in 1 particular incident, picture below.
Two more incidents being investigated (technical issue and engine fault). Are these vast number of issues in less than one year not enough? Does it actually require fatalities to be critical of this airline? Andrew is right – in this case minimum is not enough. There are peoples lives at stake and just meeting requirements or getting the minimum legal amount of fuel isn’t good enough.
I know if I was asked would I prefer to save some cash or some lives what my answer would be.
if they we’re carrying minimum how we’re they able to enter a holding pattern at Madrid, divert to Valencia enter another holding pattern and land with 30mins fuel remaining?? I think you’re still confused mate!
It seems that you are the confused one John. We’re = we are. Legal minimum does not mean the exact amount for the flight only.
In this particular instance, if what you are saying is correct, then I won’t argue but you should note that Ryanair have been ordered to review their minimum fuel policy as a result of multiple emergency landings recently – cause (according to cabin crew): insufficient fuel. There have also been a number reported incidents regarding loss of cabin pressure and other technical difficulties. These are the facts.
Wayne in all fairness an airline with over 230 planes will expect a certain amount of issues like this. A small airline like Aer Lingus for example you won’t hear about that often as they have a much smaller number of aircraft in the fleet i.e less than 50.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I am by no means a fan of Ryanair but their safety record is beyond reproach. If you don’t like them then don’t fly with them but don’t try and impose your unfairly biased views on the rest of us.
have your say