Narrative:

The flight planned fuels are often insufficient for actual conditions. See attached letter given to dispatch manager. Dispatchers are being pressured into giving low fuels. At approximately XA00 pm today flight XXX (ord departure.) called me on the telesis and informed me that they would possibly have to flagstop for fuel due to the fact that they would be arriving with 800 pounds. The release had no alternate listed (none required) and no additional fuel with 5 mins holding fuel. The captain was informed to use his discretion with regards to making a flagstop. He then informed me that he would be landing in tol, which he subsequently did. The captain cited the following reasons for the discrepancy between the first officer's computed fuel and the actual burned: firstly, he was vectored around until giper VOR (sbn) on departure and his computed ground speed was off 30 KTS. His airspeed was 174 KTS compared to the 190 KTS shown on his release. The captain also stated that the aircraft are often kept down low across the lake, often 5000 ft. They are frequently unable to get to the assigned altitudes. (Example: filed for 15000 ft and ord won't permit going higher, actually fly at 8000 ft.) deducting his 255 pounds for taxi, the flight is fuel planned for approximately 1300 pounds which is insufficient according to him. (Note the attached for the same day showing the block time for 1 hour 34 mins.) the flight arrived 1 hour 3 mins later than scheduled.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: DISPATCHER RPT ON AIRLINE MGMNT POLICY THAT DISALLOWS PROPER FUEL REQUIRED FOR MDT OPS TO DEST ARPT.

Narrative: THE FLT PLANNED FUELS ARE OFTEN INSUFFICIENT FOR ACTUAL CONDITIONS. SEE ATTACHED LETTER GIVEN TO DISPATCH MGR. DISPATCHERS ARE BEING PRESSURED INTO GIVING LOW FUELS. AT APPROX XA00 PM TODAY FLT XXX (ORD DEP.) CALLED ME ON THE TELESIS AND INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD POSSIBLY HAVE TO FLAGSTOP FOR FUEL DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY WOULD BE ARRIVING WITH 800 LBS. THE RELEASE HAD NO ALTERNATE LISTED (NONE REQUIRED) AND NO ADDITIONAL FUEL WITH 5 MINS HOLDING FUEL. THE CAPT WAS INFORMED TO USE HIS DISCRETION WITH REGARDS TO MAKING A FLAGSTOP. HE THEN INFORMED ME THAT HE WOULD BE LNDG IN TOL, WHICH HE SUBSEQUENTLY DID. THE CAPT CITED THE FOLLOWING REASONS FOR THE DISCREPANCY BTWN THE FO'S COMPUTED FUEL AND THE ACTUAL BURNED: FIRSTLY, HE WAS VECTORED AROUND UNTIL GIPER VOR (SBN) ON DEP AND HIS COMPUTED GND SPD WAS OFF 30 KTS. HIS AIRSPD WAS 174 KTS COMPARED TO THE 190 KTS SHOWN ON HIS RELEASE. THE CAPT ALSO STATED THAT THE ACFT ARE OFTEN KEPT DOWN LOW ACROSS THE LAKE, OFTEN 5000 FT. THEY ARE FREQUENTLY UNABLE TO GET TO THE ASSIGNED ALTS. (EXAMPLE: FILED FOR 15000 FT AND ORD WON'T PERMIT GOING HIGHER, ACTUALLY FLY AT 8000 FT.) DEDUCTING HIS 255 LBS FOR TAXI, THE FLT IS FUEL PLANNED FOR APPROX 1300 LBS WHICH IS INSUFFICIENT ACCORDING TO HIM. (NOTE THE ATTACHED FOR THE SAME DAY SHOWING THE BLOCK TIME FOR 1 HR 34 MINS.) THE FLT ARRIVED 1 HR 3 MINS LATER THAN SCHEDULED.

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.