All of us have probably been so mission oriented that we hung it way out to
dry...<G> I landed the 02 after a sortie and had less than 6 gallons on
board. Not one to learn quickly, I flew a SAR mission a few years later in
the KC-135 and landed with less than 6000lbs on board. I no longer make that
mistake.
I have had dispatchers tell me that I run a bit lean on fuel but the truth
is, I have a plan and I am not afraid to declare minimum fuel if I have to
or to divert if it comes to that. But I have a plan that is in place
awaiting the time when I have to pick up the mike. I coordinate it dispatch
and other agencies before I have to say, "Okay.. plan B...."
I have to tell one war story... walking across the ramp at Bien Hoa after
trying to get some new sunglasses, I ran into an old buddy of mine who had a
new pair. He explained that I didn't get a new pair because I didn't know
the regulation and had let some airman bluff me. He said, "Wiley... the regs
work for you if you know them and know how to use them.. most people never
spend the time studying them and thus they are easily bluffed."
We work in a complex environment filled with regulations and it is almost
impossible to know the intricacies of all of them.. but many pilots
*believe* they *have* to accept any clearance that comes over the radio..
that they have no choice but to comply. That is their own short coming and
undoing.....