An A320 captain asserted that improper handling by ZJX caused him to declare minimum fuel.

Attributes
ACN	588739
Time
Date	200307
Day	Fri
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	atc facility : zjx.artcc
State Reference	FL
Altitude	msl single value : 35000
Environment
Weather Elements	Turbulence Thunderstorm Rain
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	A320
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Navigation In Use	other
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Route In Use	enroute : on vectors
Flight Plan	IFR
Aircraft 2
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zjx.artcc
Make Model Name	Any Unknown or Unlisted Aircraft Manufacturer
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
ASRS Report	588739
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Events
Anomaly	inflight encounter : weather non adherence : published procedure
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : declared emergency
Supplementary
Problem Areas	ATC Human Performance Weather
Primary Problem	ATC Human Performance

Narrative:

ZJX wanting to fly flight XXXX into thunderstorms. Unable to take their vectors, so ZJX had us do a 360 degree turn. Then ZJX still tried to vector us into the same thunderstorm, unable his vector. ATC called traffic alert, we asked for lower. ATC unable lower, so traffic passed 10 DME east of our flight. Because of the 360 degree turn and the way flight XXXX was being handled we thought the best course of action was to declare minimum fuel. We hadn't even left florida and jax was burning up our reserve fuel. When I declared minimum fuel jax asked what our alternate was? I explained that one was not required because the WX in chicago was clear. This controller doesn't understand that we don't fly around with full tanks. We also don't fly through thunderstorms.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN A320 CAPT ASSERTED THAT IMPROPER HANDLING BY ZJX CAUSED HIM TO DECLARE MINIMUM FUEL.

Narrative: ZJX WANTING TO FLY FLT XXXX INTO TSTMS. UNABLE TO TAKE THEIR VECTORS, SO ZJX HAD US DO A 360 DEG TURN. THEN ZJX STILL TRIED TO VECTOR US INTO THE SAME TSTM, UNABLE HIS VECTOR. ATC CALLED TFC ALERT, WE ASKED FOR LOWER. ATC UNABLE LOWER, SO TFC PASSED 10 DME E OF OUR FLT. BECAUSE OF THE 360 DEG TURN AND THE WAY FLT XXXX WAS BEING HANDLED WE THOUGHT THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION WAS TO DECLARE MINIMUM FUEL. WE HADN'T EVEN LEFT FLORIDA AND JAX WAS BURNING UP OUR RESERVE FUEL. WHEN I DECLARED MINIMUM FUEL JAX ASKED WHAT OUR ALTERNATE WAS? I EXPLAINED THAT ONE WAS NOT REQUIRED BECAUSE THE WX IN CHICAGO WAS CLR. THIS CTLR DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THAT WE DON'T FLY AROUND WITH FULL TANKS. WE ALSO DON'T FLY THROUGH TSTMS.

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.