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Dispatcher questions authority of load planners to plan center tank fuel in the B757.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 727759 |
| Time | |
| Date | 200702 |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : zzz.airport |
| State Reference | US |
| Altitude | agl single value : 0 |
| Environment | |
| Weather Elements | other |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Operator | common carrier : air carrier |
| Make Model Name | B757-200 |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 121 |
| Flight Phase | ground : preflight |
| Flight Plan | IFR |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | other personnel |
| ASRS Report | 727759 |
| Person 2 | |
| Affiliation | company : air carrier |
| Function | flight crew : captain oversight : pic |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | non adherence : company policies |
| Independent Detector | other other : 1 |
| Supplementary | |
| Problem Areas | Company |
| Primary Problem | Company |
Narrative:
Load planner called to inform me he had planned this flight with 1.0 structural check fuel in the center tank. Planned total fob is 17.6; which does not require fuel in the center tank. There are no known maintenance issues with the aircraft. The center tank boost pumps are operable. The inbound leg sfo/san; planned with 22.1 and no center tank fuel; landed with 14.4. Therefore; I can only assume a fueler put 1.0 in the center tank and created an abnormal fueling situation. Why? I believe the B757 a.D. Is no longer in effect so; unless there is a maintenance issue; any fuel in the center tank is not trapped; therefore burnable. This instance does not fall under fom definitions. Furthermore; load planning now considers center tank fuel as structural for each and every fleet; not just the B757's. Why? This practice is sloppy; inaccurate; and an infringement of my licensed duties. As a certificated airman and licensed dispatcher; it is my responsibility to plan the fuel required for each flight under my operational control; not the fuelers or load planners. Why are they changing it without my authorization? I know of no far which gives any person other than a dispatcher or captain the authority to plan or change fuel. I need a clear explanation of what center tank fuel is on each fleet and who is responsible for it.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: DISPATCHER QUESTIONS AUTHORITY OF LOAD PLANNERS TO PLAN CENTER TANK FUEL IN THE B757.
Narrative: LOAD PLANNER CALLED TO INFORM ME HE HAD PLANNED THIS FLIGHT WITH 1.0 STRUCTURAL CHECK FUEL IN THE CENTER TANK. PLANNED TOTAL FOB IS 17.6; WHICH DOES NOT REQUIRE FUEL IN THE CENTER TANK. THERE ARE NO KNOWN MAINTENANCE ISSUES WITH THE AIRCRAFT. THE CENTER TANK BOOST PUMPS ARE OPERABLE. THE INBOUND LEG SFO/SAN; PLANNED WITH 22.1 AND NO CENTER TANK FUEL; LANDED WITH 14.4. THEREFORE; I CAN ONLY ASSUME A FUELER PUT 1.0 IN THE CENTER TANK AND CREATED AN ABNORMAL FUELING SITUATION. WHY? I BELIEVE THE B757 A.D. IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT SO; UNLESS THERE IS A MAINTENANCE ISSUE; ANY FUEL IN THE CENTER TANK IS NOT TRAPPED; THEREFORE BURNABLE. THIS INSTANCE DOES NOT FALL UNDER FOM DEFINITIONS. FURTHERMORE; LOAD PLANNING NOW CONSIDERS CENTER TANK FUEL AS STRUCTURAL FOR EACH AND EVERY FLEET; NOT JUST THE B757'S. WHY? THIS PRACTICE IS SLOPPY; INACCURATE; AND AN INFRINGEMENT OF MY LICENSED DUTIES. AS A CERTIFICATED AIRMAN AND LICENSED DISPATCHER; IT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO PLAN THE FUEL REQUIRED FOR EACH FLIGHT UNDER MY OPERATIONAL CONTROL; NOT THE FUELERS OR LOAD PLANNERS. WHY ARE THEY CHANGING IT WITHOUT MY AUTHORIZATION? I KNOW OF NO FAR WHICH GIVES ANY PERSON OTHER THAN A DISPATCHER OR CAPTAIN THE AUTHORITY TO PLAN OR CHANGE FUEL. I NEED A CLEAR EXPLANATION OF WHAT CENTER TANK FUEL IS ON EACH FLEET AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR IT.
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.