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FedEx Flight 1311 DEN-MEM: What's the deal with this route?
Stalking some FedEx flights, I came across FedEx 1311, an Airbus A300 nightly flight from DEN to MEM for the nightly sort. Does anyone have any good ideas as to why dispatch has this route going the wrong way, southbound, for 200 miles before turning towards MEM? Obviously it could be for the MEM arrival, but this seems a little dramatic considering this is one of the earliest flights into MEM. (flightaware.com) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
"Sweep" flight, available to pick up excess packages at any station that finds themselves in a pinch.
Take a look at some of the later ones...one stopped in El Paso, another in Oklahoma City. "Sweeper" makes sense.
So flying a set pattern, that allows the flight to land at certain airports along the way IF NECESSARY. Interesting.
If these are sweep flights, able to be redirected to airports along the way (while enroute), I also find it intereting that these flights are folliwing the jet stream's flow as it is currently blowing.
Not sure why the stops and pickups aren't set up in advance, even if only a few hours earlier
But if the idea is to keep the plane in the air and available, following the wind, would cost the least fuel, while keeping the plane in the air the longest. Though, thought that happened more during the holiday shopping season.
If these are sweep flights, able to be redirected to airports along the way (while enroute), I also find it intereting that these flights are folliwing the jet stream's flow as it is currently blowing.
Not sure why the stops and pickups aren't set up in advance, even if only a few hours earlier
But if the idea is to keep the plane in the air and available, following the wind, would cost the least fuel, while keeping the plane in the air the longest. Though, thought that happened more during the holiday shopping season.
Check out reply #5: http://www.airlinepilotforums.com/cargo/64461-fedex-commuting-sweep-flight.html
Thanks! So, it's clearly a sweep flight, and is known for it's very indirect routing.
Now, with that settled. Is the almost perfect match between the recent flight paths (last 2 weeks) and the current position of the jet stream intentional or coincidental? That is, does the routing change up to reflect prevailing winds, or does that sweep flight have to fly along a particular corridor consistently to be near to certain airports that the flight covers, no matter where the winds blow?
Now, with that settled. Is the almost perfect match between the recent flight paths (last 2 weeks) and the current position of the jet stream intentional or coincidental? That is, does the routing change up to reflect prevailing winds, or does that sweep flight have to fly along a particular corridor consistently to be near to certain airports that the flight covers, no matter where the winds blow?
The light might be available to pick up packages as necessary. But as new destinations are added, flight oaths would be calculated and provided to the flight crew for each new flight segment.
However the flight, for the last couple of weeks, has been fairly consistent. The paths happen to combine well with the jet steam as it currently flows.
However the flight, for the last couple of weeks, has been fairly consistent. The paths happen to combine well with the jet steam as it currently flows.