When the flight crew of an large transport declared to ATC a minimum fuel status, and only 12 mins o...

Attributes
ACN	326146
Time
Date	199601
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : ewr
State Reference	NJ
Altitude	agl bound lower : 1000 agl bound upper : 1000
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : n90
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Large Transport, Low Wing, 3 Turbojet Eng
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : second officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : flight engineer pilot : atp
ASRS Report	326146
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other controllera other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	none taken : detected after the fact
Consequence	faa : investigated faa : reviewed incident with flight crew
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

I was the so on a B727 flight to newark, nj. We were being vectored by ATC for the approach to runway 22L at newark (ewr). We were asked to maintain 180 KTS till the marker. We commenced the approach, shortly thereafter we were asked if we had our traffic in sight, 4 mi ahead. We were in the rain and unable to see traffic. Told ATC that we did not have the traffic. We were then told to go around. We initiated the go around and declared 'minimum fuel' to ATC. ATC asked how much fuel was on board and we replied, enough for 1 more approach and then we'll have to proceed to our alternate. We were then asked how much time that was. We replied 12 mins, meaning 12 mins for the approach before we had to proceed to our alternate. The controller seemed to understand this. We were then switched to another controller and again declared 'minimum fuel.' we also verified with ATC that we had 12 mins for the approach before we would need to proceed to our alternate. This was acknowledged. We were then vectored for the approach, landed, and asked to call the FAA. Apparently, ATC thought we had 12 mins total time in fuel left. This was a communication problem now. When asked how much time we had, we should have said 1 hour total 12 mins for the approach. Also, perhaps ATC could have verified 'is that 12 mins total, or 12 mins for the approach?' at no time did we ever declare emergency fuel. We, the crew, thought ATC understood what we were saying. I guess the solution would be for both parties to be clear and verify your status.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: WHEN THE FLC OF AN LGT DECLARED TO ATC A MINIMUM FUEL STATUS, AND ONLY 12 MINS OF FUEL LEFT FOR THE APCH BEFORE NEEDING TO GO TO ALTERNATE ARPT, ATC CLRED TFC AND VECTORED THEM FOR ANOTHER APCH THINKING THAT THE ACFT HAD ONLY 12 MINS OF TOTAL FUEL REMAINING!

Narrative: I WAS THE SO ON A B727 FLT TO NEWARK, NJ. WE WERE BEING VECTORED BY ATC FOR THE APCH TO RWY 22L AT NEWARK (EWR). WE WERE ASKED TO MAINTAIN 180 KTS TILL THE MARKER. WE COMMENCED THE APCH, SHORTLY THEREAFTER WE WERE ASKED IF WE HAD OUR TFC IN SIGHT, 4 MI AHEAD. WE WERE IN THE RAIN AND UNABLE TO SEE TFC. TOLD ATC THAT WE DID NOT HAVE THE TFC. WE WERE THEN TOLD TO GAR. WE INITIATED THE GAR AND DECLARED 'MINIMUM FUEL' TO ATC. ATC ASKED HOW MUCH FUEL WAS ON BOARD AND WE REPLIED, ENOUGH FOR 1 MORE APCH AND THEN WE'LL HAVE TO PROCEED TO OUR ALTERNATE. WE WERE THEN ASKED HOW MUCH TIME THAT WAS. WE REPLIED 12 MINS, MEANING 12 MINS FOR THE APCH BEFORE WE HAD TO PROCEED TO OUR ALTERNATE. THE CTLR SEEMED TO UNDERSTAND THIS. WE WERE THEN SWITCHED TO ANOTHER CTLR AND AGAIN DECLARED 'MINIMUM FUEL.' WE ALSO VERIFIED WITH ATC THAT WE HAD 12 MINS FOR THE APCH BEFORE WE WOULD NEED TO PROCEED TO OUR ALTERNATE. THIS WAS ACKNOWLEDGED. WE WERE THEN VECTORED FOR THE APCH, LANDED, AND ASKED TO CALL THE FAA. APPARENTLY, ATC THOUGHT WE HAD 12 MINS TOTAL TIME IN FUEL LEFT. THIS WAS A COM PROB NOW. WHEN ASKED HOW MUCH TIME WE HAD, WE SHOULD HAVE SAID 1 HR TOTAL 12 MINS FOR THE APCH. ALSO, PERHAPS ATC COULD HAVE VERIFIED 'IS THAT 12 MINS TOTAL, OR 12 MINS FOR THE APCH?' AT NO TIME DID WE EVER DECLARE EMER FUEL. WE, THE CREW, THOUGHT ATC UNDERSTOOD WHAT WE WERE SAYING. I GUESS THE SOLUTION WOULD BE FOR BOTH PARTIES TO BE CLR AND VERIFY YOUR STATUS.

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.

When the flight crew of an large transport declared to ATC a minimum fuel status, and only 12 mins of fuel left for the approach before needing to go to alternate airport, ATC cleared traffic and vectored them for another approach thinking that the aircraft had only 12 mins of total fuel remaining!