Narrative:

Takeoff with less than dispatch fuel load. Required 15100 pounds, actual 12100 pounds. In climb, note fuel gauges appeared to read less than expected for that phase of flight. Checked gauges and required fuel load and discovered a 3000 pound difference. Computed burnoff to that point to confirm. I recall fuel total in chocks was 12100 pounds and used that as base line. Call bos operations to confirm fueling. They said we had been fueled to 15100 pounds. We rechked our figures and the fuel gauges and could not agree it pointed to at 12100 pound fuel load. Attempted a phone patch with several operations stations bos-pvd-lga-phl and could not communicate with any. Tried commercial radio, no side tone. Used ACARS to type message. We asked dispatcher to rerelease us with 12100 pounds, he could not. We advised him it looked like we would arrive dca with required fuel reserve. He thought we had fuel gauge problems and asked we divert to phl. We assured him gauges were ok and we would arrive dca with 4000 pounds or more fuel -- well within the required reserve of 3500 pounds. He concurred we could continue. Landing was made with 4700 pounds. No emergency was declared nor any special handling. However, we did get direct routing when able from ATC. WX was excellent in daylight. No alternate was required, and we had many airports en route to divert to if required.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF AN MLG TOOK OFF WITH LESS FUEL THAN PLANNED AND SHOWN ON DISPATCH RELEASE. ERROR NOTED DURING HIGH ALT CRUISE. RECALCULATED FUEL REQUIREMENT SHOWED SUFFICIENT FUEL FOR DEST AND RESERVES WHICH PROOFED OUT AFTER LNDG.

Narrative: TKOF WITH LESS THAN DISPATCH FUEL LOAD. REQUIRED 15100 LBS, ACTUAL 12100 LBS. IN CLB, NOTE FUEL GAUGES APPEARED TO READ LESS THAN EXPECTED FOR THAT PHASE OF FLT. CHKED GAUGES AND REQUIRED FUEL LOAD AND DISCOVERED A 3000 LB DIFFERENCE. COMPUTED BURNOFF TO THAT POINT TO CONFIRM. I RECALL FUEL TOTAL IN CHOCKS WAS 12100 LBS AND USED THAT AS BASE LINE. CALL BOS OPS TO CONFIRM FUELING. THEY SAID WE HAD BEEN FUELED TO 15100 LBS. WE RECHKED OUR FIGURES AND THE FUEL GAUGES AND COULD NOT AGREE IT POINTED TO AT 12100 LB FUEL LOAD. ATTEMPTED A PHONE PATCH WITH SEVERAL OPS STATIONS BOS-PVD-LGA-PHL AND COULD NOT COMMUNICATE WITH ANY. TRIED COMMERCIAL RADIO, NO SIDE TONE. USED ACARS TO TYPE MESSAGE. WE ASKED DISPATCHER TO RERELEASE US WITH 12100 LBS, HE COULD NOT. WE ADVISED HIM IT LOOKED LIKE WE WOULD ARRIVE DCA WITH REQUIRED FUEL RESERVE. HE THOUGHT WE HAD FUEL GAUGE PROBS AND ASKED WE DIVERT TO PHL. WE ASSURED HIM GAUGES WERE OK AND WE WOULD ARRIVE DCA WITH 4000 LBS OR MORE FUEL -- WELL WITHIN THE REQUIRED RESERVE OF 3500 LBS. HE CONCURRED WE COULD CONTINUE. LNDG WAS MADE WITH 4700 LBS. NO EMER WAS DECLARED NOR ANY SPECIAL HANDLING. HOWEVER, WE DID GET DIRECT ROUTING WHEN ABLE FROM ATC. WX WAS EXCELLENT IN DAYLIGHT. NO ALTERNATE WAS REQUIRED, AND WE HAD MANY ARPTS ENRTE TO DIVERT TO IF REQUIRED.

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.