Narrative:

We had to hold because of unplanned weather in phx. We immediately started to figure out our options. Almost immediately we got a text from dispatch concerning using ZZZ as an alternate including fuel. Later they told us the fuel estimate was wrong. As we progressed toward phx; we held at several points along the way. That is when we started to get texts from dispatch about every 30 seconds. Almost all were not accurate or not needed. I believe sending encouraging texts concerning optimistic outlooks concerning the conditions at phx helped lead me down a path that my first officer helped me get out of when she insisted we divert when fuel started to get low. I credit my first officer for helping get us to tus before fuel got critical.I feel the texts from dispatch were distracting and contained inaccurate information concerning fuel estimates and field conditions. A simple estimate of options to alternates and fuel needed would have been useful. Too bad they were overpowered by the deluge of unnecessary texts from dispatch that were distracting at a time when we needed a little information and time to discuss and think. I need to be less concerned about getting the mission accomplished and more concerned about safety and low fuel situations. I'm glad I listened to my first officer. I think our training helped me listen and react to my first officer's concerns. I also need to know when to tune out distractions such as too many texts from dispatch.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737 flight crew reported diverting to an alternate when high winds and a dust storm affected their destination.

Narrative: We had to hold because of unplanned weather in PHX. We immediately started to figure out our options. Almost immediately we got a text from Dispatch concerning using ZZZ as an alternate including fuel. Later they told us the fuel estimate was wrong. As we progressed toward PHX; we held at several points along the way. That is when we started to get texts from Dispatch about every 30 seconds. Almost all were not accurate or not needed. I believe sending encouraging texts concerning optimistic outlooks concerning the conditions at PHX helped lead me down a path that my FO helped me get out of when she insisted we divert when fuel started to get low. I credit my FO for helping get us to TUS before fuel got critical.I feel the texts from Dispatch were distracting and contained inaccurate information concerning fuel estimates and field conditions. A simple estimate of options to alternates and fuel needed would have been useful. Too bad they were overpowered by the deluge of unnecessary texts from Dispatch that were distracting at a time when we needed a little information and time to discuss and think. I need to be less concerned about getting the mission accomplished and more concerned about safety and low fuel situations. I'm glad I listened to my FO. I think our training helped me listen and react to my FO's concerns. I also need to know when to tune out distractions such as too many texts from Dispatch.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.