EuropeSouth AsiaAsia PacificAmericasMiddle EastAfricaBBC HomepageWorld ServiceEducation
News image
News image
News image
News imageNews image
News image
Front Page
News image
World
News image
UK
News image
UK Politics
News image
Business
News image
Sci/Tech
News image
Health
News image
Education
News image
Sport
News image
Entertainment
News image
Talking Point
News image
In Depth
News image
On Air
News image
Archive
News image
News image
News image
Feedback
Low Graphics
Help
News imageNews imageNews image
Wednesday, May 12, 1999 Published at 20:57 GMT 21:57 UK
News image
News image
UK
News image
Airline offers fuel report
News image
There are minimum fuel levels for landing at airports
News image
Malaysia Airlines has agreed to provide weekly reports of fuel levels in its planes arriving in Britain after allegations that it breached international safety rules.

The agreement was reached at a top-level meeting between the airline and Department of Transport officials.

Earlier this week, it was alleged that a Far Eastern Boeing 747 arrived at London's Heathrow Airport with two empty fuel tanks.

In a report, ground handling agents said it was not the first time that the unnamed carrier had allegedly landed with low fuel levels, contravening international aviation rules.

Malaysia, which denied that its aircraft had broken any fuel regulations, promised to present its records to officials.

Weekly checks

It has now agreed that weekly checks should become part of its operating terms, the Department of Transport said.

Aviation minister Glenda Jackson said: "Malaysia Airlines has co-operated fully in reviewing their fuel policy and examining why, on very few occasions, low fuel levels have been recorded at the completion of a flight.

"Their offer to provide us with weekly reports of fuel levels for all their aircraft arriving in the UK has been incorporated in their conditions for operating into the country."

Extra inspections

Ms Jackson also announced that the Civil Aviation Authority would be carrying out extra inspections of foreign aircraft arriving in Britain after long-haul flights.

The Far Eastern jumbo was reported to have landed at Heathrow with 3.34 tonnes of fuel on board. Aviation experts said this would have been insufficient if the plane had been forced to divert to another airport or suffered delays.

But Malaysia insisted that it was obeying Malaysian, British and American rules, saying that the average amount of fuel on its jets arriving in London from Kuala Lumpur in the past six months had been 9.7 tonnes.



News image


Advanced options | Search tips


News image
News image
News imageBack to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage |
News image

News imageNews imageNews image
UK Contents
News image
News imageNorthern Ireland
News imageScotland
News imageWales
News imageEngland
News imageNews image
Relevant Stories
News image
10 May 99�|�UK
Airline fuel levels 'dangerously low'
News image

News image
News image
News image
News imageInternet Links
News image
News imageNews image
London Heathrow Airport
News image
Department of Transport
News image
Malaysian Airlines
News image
Civil Aviation Authority
News image
News imageNews image
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.

News image
News image
News image
News imageIn this section
News image
Next steps for peace
News image
Blairs' surprise over baby
News image
Bowled over by Lord's
News image
Beef row 'compromise' under fire
News image
Hamilton 'would sell mother'
News image
Industry misses new trains target
News image
From Sport
Quins fightback shocks Cardiff
News image
From Business
Vodafone takeover battle heats up
News image
IRA ceasefire challenge rejected
News image
Thousands celebrate Asian culture
News image
From Sport
Christie could get two-year ban
News image
From Entertainment
Colleagues remember Compo
News image
Mother pleads for baby's return
News image
Toys withdrawn in E.coli health scare
News image
From Health
Nurses role set to expand
News image
Israeli PM's plane in accident
News image
More lottery cash for grassroots
News image
Pro-lifers plan shock launch
News image
Double killer gets life
News image
From Health
Cold 'cure' comes one step closer
News image
From UK Politics
Straw on trial over jury reform
News image
Tatchell calls for rights probe into Mugabe
News image
Ex-spy stays out in the cold
News image
From UK Politics
Blair warns Livingstone
News image
From Health
Smear equipment `misses cancers'
News image
From Entertainment
Boyzone star gets in Christmas spirit
News image
Fake bubbly warning
News image
Murder jury hears dead girl's diary
News image
From UK Politics
Germ warfare fiasco revealed
News image
Blair babe triggers tabloid frenzy
News image
Tourists shot by mistake
News image
A new look for News Online
News image

News image
News image
News image