Page 21 - January 2015 Volume 9, Number1

calculations must always be based on the side with the lesser amount of fuel.
For example, if the FBO’s fuel truck broke down, leaving our B200 with about 1,300 pounds on one side (full main), but only 700 pounds on the other, instead of basing our fuel calculations on the total 2,000 pounds the airplane contains, we’d need to plan our flight based on an available fuel load of 1,400 pounds, double the low side figure. This assumes the two engine’s fuel consumption rates are the same, which is a reasonable assumption.
On the other hand, suppose we departed with the fuel imbalance – that a little aileron trim would easily handle – and by the time we set up cruise at top-of-climb we are now down to 500 pounds on the low side and 1,100 pounds on the high side. If we now use crossfeed to supply the high side fuel to both engines, in about an hour 600 pounds will have been consumed, the fuel would be balanced; we could stop crossfeeding and proceed with the original 2,000 pounds usable.
Do you see why it’s quite desirable to have that crossfeed arrow in your quiver of alternatives?!
If you are ever going to do this – of course, in direct violation of the POH limitation – it would surely be a bummer to forget that you were now feeding both engines
JANUARY 2015
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 19