There is considerable ambiguity with how much fuel was on board KAL-007 when it departed Anchorage. The Flight release sheet shows a total fuel on departure of 253,700lbs. Which is 4500 pounds less than the computerised recommendation. (Captain Chun has many calculations to arrive at new oddly lower figure)
However the weight and balance manifest shows an amount 10,000lbs greater than that of the Flight release sheet. I.e 263,000lbs. Fuel Distribution Chart compiled by dispatcher is not included in ICAO report which should be standard in pre flight paperwork and any accident investigation.
The actual fuel on board on departure may have been much greater:-.
- A last minute cancellation of 1800lb paid load
- A small note next to maximum take off weight calculation -2525 lbs
- Differences between 007 and 015 in runway used for takeoff. KE-007 took off at 13:00 and tower announced radar contact at 13:01:12, KE-015 took off at 13:14 but radar contact was announced at 13:14:27. From ATC cleared for takeoff to radar contact 2 mins 27 secs for KE-007 vs 1 min 7secs for KE-015 – Brun page 165
- Time to reach cruising altitude: KE-007 took 29mins 28sec to reach 31,000ft, KE-015 reached 33,000ft in 24mins (or about 31,000ft in 22mins) – Brun, page 158
- Korean airlines announcing plane had 12 hrs fuel on board when it was late arriving in Seoul. The ‘trip’ fuel as per 7 hrs 53 mins and including all contingency fuel a total flying time of 9hrs 50mins. Where did this extra fuel come from?
The weight and balance shows payload 87,767lbs
170lbs per passenger + 70lbs baggage = 240lbs per passenger. There is also ambiguities with the passenger and crew count. As per the weight and Balance manifest there were 240 passengers. Total passenger payload = 57,120lbs If the official passenger and crew count is used (269) this would put payload of 64,560lbs
Was the extra 30,117lbs (or 23,207) was fuel?