Narrative:

Filed from dfw to ewr along J42. Approaching bna, was told we were going to fly to rod J29 doret J584 fqm arrival (approximately). The rerte added approximately 20 mins to the flight. Nearing rod, we were given 3 20-degree vectors to the left for traffic, putting us on a 360 degree heading. After asking how long we were to be on the last vector, the controller said for as long as it would take to clear the traffic. We then were cleared direct cxr (not on our flight plan), which was not towards slt and added more time. To the best of my recollection we were then given vectors away from chardon (055 degrees). When the controller had given us a vector to 035 degrees, I informed him that, based on fuel concerns, I would not be able to accept that heading. They then said to remain on the 035 degree heading (away from cxr). After remaining on this heading for several mins, I told the controller I would need to turn towards nyc. I also declared minimum fuel, because I could no longer accept any undue delays. After deleting jfk as the alternate with the dispatcher, reserve fuel was less than 5000 pounds. Arrival fuel at ewr was 5800 pounds. On descent, I was told to contact the ZNY watch supervisor. I did, and explained the situation to him and tried to eliminate the confusion. ZOB thought I rejected the heading because I didn't want to be vectored anymore. However, I did explain that it was due to fuel considerations and the watch supervisor did seem to understand.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: A SUPER 80 CAPT DECLARED MINIMUM FUEL DURING VECTORS FOR EWR.

Narrative: FILED FROM DFW TO EWR ALONG J42. APCHING BNA, WAS TOLD WE WERE GOING TO FLY TO ROD J29 DORET J584 FQM ARR (APPROX). THE RERTE ADDED APPROX 20 MINS TO THE FLT. NEARING ROD, WE WERE GIVEN 3 20-DEG VECTORS TO THE L FOR TFC, PUTTING US ON A 360 DEG HDG. AFTER ASKING HOW LONG WE WERE TO BE ON THE LAST VECTOR, THE CTLR SAID FOR AS LONG AS IT WOULD TAKE TO CLR THE TFC. WE THEN WERE CLRED DIRECT CXR (NOT ON OUR FLT PLAN), WHICH WAS NOT TOWARDS SLT AND ADDED MORE TIME. TO THE BEST OF MY RECOLLECTION WE WERE THEN GIVEN VECTORS AWAY FROM CHARDON (055 DEGS). WHEN THE CTLR HAD GIVEN US A VECTOR TO 035 DEGS, I INFORMED HIM THAT, BASED ON FUEL CONCERNS, I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO ACCEPT THAT HDG. THEY THEN SAID TO REMAIN ON THE 035 DEG HDG (AWAY FROM CXR). AFTER REMAINING ON THIS HDG FOR SEVERAL MINS, I TOLD THE CTLR I WOULD NEED TO TURN TOWARDS NYC. I ALSO DECLARED MINIMUM FUEL, BECAUSE I COULD NO LONGER ACCEPT ANY UNDUE DELAYS. AFTER DELETING JFK AS THE ALTERNATE WITH THE DISPATCHER, RESERVE FUEL WAS LESS THAN 5000 LBS. ARR FUEL AT EWR WAS 5800 LBS. ON DSCNT, I WAS TOLD TO CONTACT THE ZNY WATCH SUPVR. I DID, AND EXPLAINED THE SIT TO HIM AND TRIED TO ELIMINATE THE CONFUSION. ZOB THOUGHT I REJECTED THE HDG BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO BE VECTORED ANYMORE. HOWEVER, I DID EXPLAIN THAT IT WAS DUE TO FUEL CONSIDERATIONS AND THE WATCH SUPVR DID SEEM TO UNDERSTAND.

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.