Narrative:

Scheduled block time, X00; actual block X23. Scheduled air time, 3:16; approximately air time, 3:50. Whenever I fly into the northeast corridor I always expect some vectoring for spacing/sequencing. On this day, however, the vectoring turned out to be excessive. Near empyr intersection on the milton 5 arrival to lga we were given a clearance to descend to 7000' MSL and turn south heading 180 degrees and to slow to 180 KIAS which necessitated the use of slats. We were given vectors to fly that resulted in a large box pattern approximately 45-50 NM from our destination. At 1 point we even had to climb back up to 9000' MSL for approach control's airspace requirements. When it became apparent that I was going to have to go into my reserve fuel, I informed the controller that we were 'minimum fuel.' he asked if I was declaring an emergency and I told him no! He then asked for my fuel status in mins and I told him '45 mins.' later in the approach I heard another airliner being given a vector to make room for a 'priority fuel.' I believe that ATC unilaterally declared an emergency for me west/O informed me giving rise to my belief that they do not understand the 'minimum fuel' statement as outlined in the aim. Planned reserve, 4600#; landed with 3700 pounds, shutdown fuel, 3500 pounds.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR MLG PIC COMPLAINS OF APCH CTLR MOVING OTHER TRAFFIC OVER SO THAT MLG HAS PRIORITY AFTER PIC HAD ISSUED A MINIMUM FUEL ADVISORY. FELT THAT EMERGENCY WAS DECLARED BY CTLR.

Narrative: SCHEDULED BLOCK TIME, X00; ACTUAL BLOCK X23. SCHEDULED AIR TIME, 3:16; APPROX AIR TIME, 3:50. WHENEVER I FLY INTO THE NE CORRIDOR I ALWAYS EXPECT SOME VECTORING FOR SPACING/SEQUENCING. ON THIS DAY, HOWEVER, THE VECTORING TURNED OUT TO BE EXCESSIVE. NEAR EMPYR INTXN ON THE MILTON 5 ARR TO LGA WE WERE GIVEN A CLRNC TO DSND TO 7000' MSL AND TURN S HDG 180 DEGS AND TO SLOW TO 180 KIAS WHICH NECESSITATED THE USE OF SLATS. WE WERE GIVEN VECTORS TO FLY THAT RESULTED IN A LARGE BOX PATTERN APPROX 45-50 NM FROM OUR DEST. AT 1 POINT WE EVEN HAD TO CLB BACK UP TO 9000' MSL FOR APCH CTL'S AIRSPACE REQUIREMENTS. WHEN IT BECAME APPARENT THAT I WAS GOING TO HAVE TO GO INTO MY RESERVE FUEL, I INFORMED THE CTLR THAT WE WERE 'MINIMUM FUEL.' HE ASKED IF I WAS DECLARING AN EMER AND I TOLD HIM NO! HE THEN ASKED FOR MY FUEL STATUS IN MINS AND I TOLD HIM '45 MINS.' LATER IN THE APCH I HEARD ANOTHER AIRLINER BEING GIVEN A VECTOR TO MAKE ROOM FOR A 'PRIORITY FUEL.' I BELIEVE THAT ATC UNILATERALLY DECLARED AN EMER FOR ME W/O INFORMED ME GIVING RISE TO MY BELIEF THAT THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE 'MINIMUM FUEL' STATEMENT AS OUTLINED IN THE AIM. PLANNED RESERVE, 4600#; LANDED WITH 3700 LBS, SHUTDOWN FUEL, 3500 LBS.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 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.