Narrative:

In operations; I noted our flight plan included 3800 pounds reserve; 900 pounds alternate; 500 pounds taxi and 500 pounds extra for total release fuel of 20600 pounds. Because of the low visibility; I called dispatch to discuss takeoff alternates. I also told the operations agent something like 'if the fueler slops a little extra on; it's ok.' at the aircraft; during preflight; we began to hear tower reporting RVR 1000 ft (1600 ft required to depart). Tower asked if we could push as soon as possible; as company aircraft under tow was on the taxiway waiting for our gate. We were headed for an early pushback in below minimums WX so we could line up somewhere on the aerodrome and wait for an indeterminate time for the RVR to improve. I began to wish I had a little more 'extra' fuel. I asked operations to see if dispatch would put more fuel on for the fog; but they said we had enough. It was just 'extra' fuel so we pushed to allow company under tow into the gate then taxied into the departure line-up to wait out the WX. After using about 400 pounds of 'taxi' fuel with the RVR still 1000 ft; I decided to shut down both engines until conditions improved. 8-10 mins went by; then the RVR improved to 1600 ft. We started engines while the jet ahead got his takeoff clearance and departed. Before tower could say another word; the RVR sank back to 1000 ft. Tower then had no idea when it might improve. We shut down engines again. A couple more mins went by and we noticed a definite improvement in conditions so we started engines a third time. We completed all our checks and departed. Had we not shut down; we would have consumed all our taxi fuel and extra fuel and more. After a typical climb out; several hold downs; speed restrs; and a spacing vector we were on our way. At the top of descent; the FMC showed a 'using reserve fuel' message. We landed with 200 pounds less than the flight plan reserve plus alternate fuel.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: B737-400 CAPT QUESTIONS COMPANY'S DENIAL OF HIS REQUEST FOR EXTRA FUEL DUE TO FOG AT THE DEP ARPT.

Narrative: IN OPS; I NOTED OUR FLT PLAN INCLUDED 3800 LBS RESERVE; 900 LBS ALTERNATE; 500 LBS TAXI AND 500 LBS EXTRA FOR TOTAL RELEASE FUEL OF 20600 LBS. BECAUSE OF THE LOW VISIBILITY; I CALLED DISPATCH TO DISCUSS TKOF ALTERNATES. I ALSO TOLD THE OPS AGENT SOMETHING LIKE 'IF THE FUELER SLOPS A LITTLE EXTRA ON; IT'S OK.' AT THE ACFT; DURING PREFLT; WE BEGAN TO HEAR TWR RPTING RVR 1000 FT (1600 FT REQUIRED TO DEPART). TWR ASKED IF WE COULD PUSH ASAP; AS COMPANY ACFT UNDER TOW WAS ON THE TXWY WAITING FOR OUR GATE. WE WERE HEADED FOR AN EARLY PUSHBACK IN BELOW MINIMUMS WX SO WE COULD LINE UP SOMEWHERE ON THE AERODROME AND WAIT FOR AN INDETERMINATE TIME FOR THE RVR TO IMPROVE. I BEGAN TO WISH I HAD A LITTLE MORE 'EXTRA' FUEL. I ASKED OPS TO SEE IF DISPATCH WOULD PUT MORE FUEL ON FOR THE FOG; BUT THEY SAID WE HAD ENOUGH. IT WAS JUST 'EXTRA' FUEL SO WE PUSHED TO ALLOW COMPANY UNDER TOW INTO THE GATE THEN TAXIED INTO THE DEP LINE-UP TO WAIT OUT THE WX. AFTER USING ABOUT 400 LBS OF 'TAXI' FUEL WITH THE RVR STILL 1000 FT; I DECIDED TO SHUT DOWN BOTH ENGS UNTIL CONDITIONS IMPROVED. 8-10 MINS WENT BY; THEN THE RVR IMPROVED TO 1600 FT. WE STARTED ENGS WHILE THE JET AHEAD GOT HIS TKOF CLRNC AND DEPARTED. BEFORE TWR COULD SAY ANOTHER WORD; THE RVR SANK BACK TO 1000 FT. TWR THEN HAD NO IDEA WHEN IT MIGHT IMPROVE. WE SHUT DOWN ENGS AGAIN. A COUPLE MORE MINS WENT BY AND WE NOTICED A DEFINITE IMPROVEMENT IN CONDITIONS SO WE STARTED ENGS A THIRD TIME. WE COMPLETED ALL OUR CHKS AND DEPARTED. HAD WE NOT SHUT DOWN; WE WOULD HAVE CONSUMED ALL OUR TAXI FUEL AND EXTRA FUEL AND MORE. AFTER A TYPICAL CLBOUT; SEVERAL HOLD DOWNS; SPD RESTRS; AND A SPACING VECTOR WE WERE ON OUR WAY. AT THE TOP OF DSCNT; THE FMC SHOWED A 'USING RESERVE FUEL' MESSAGE. WE LANDED WITH 200 LBS LESS THAN THE FLT PLAN RESERVE PLUS ALTERNATE FUEL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 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.